When to Start Giving Your Puppy Vitamins – And Why
Many of us humans take vitamins every single day to make sure we get enough essential nutrients and improve our health. But what about our fur families? When should you start giving your new puppy vitamins?
When Should You Start Giving Your Puppy Vitamins? – The Answer
Paws down, this is the most popular question that we’ve been asked. After all, you want your puppy to grow healthy and strong. So here’s the answer (*cue drumroll):
Some puppy supplements are safe to begin at just a few weeks or months old! Of course, always consult your vet and follow the recommendations of your specific supplement.
Although many dogs become sexually mature by 6 months old, dogs are physically mature between 1 and 2 years old, depending on the breed. So, the early months and years are vital to your dog's development and especially the development of the brain.
A recent study has concluded that supplementation of DHA fatty acids found in fish oil enhances cognitive functions in puppies, so adding fish oil to the young pup's diet on a daily basis makes them smarter!
"The DHA fatty acid, derived from marine sources such as algae and cold-water fish, can be widely incorporated into the brain, especially during the cerebral developmental phase, directly influencing the individual’s cognitive function... The study concluded that DHA-concentrated fish oil supplementation in puppies can positively influence the learning ability, with enhanced cognitive function as evaluated by the object discrimination test. Furthermore, the DHA supplementation promoted an increase in serum EPA + DHA concentrations without causing a change in total antioxidant capacity."
Does Your Puppy Really Need Vitamins? And Why Start So Soon?
We’d like to think that our new bundle of fluff was born with perfect, puppy health and will stay that way for years to come. However, genetics and environmental factors can get in the way of your dog growing to their full potential.
In an ideal world, our puppies would get all their nutrition from healthful food. The reality is, even the best quality dog foods on the market miss the mark when it comes to filling our pet’s nutritional needs. Some large breed puppies are prone to problems with their joints. At a young age, they may appear active and limber. But due to genetics, their joints may begin showing early signs of wear and tear.
Daily Supplements And Their Ingredients
The right supplements contain important minerals to support your puppy's growth and any emerging health issues. For example, calcium helps with proper bone formation and nerve impulse transmission. Phosphorus plays an important role in growing healthy bones and teeth.
Tanya, Pawsomely Healthy’s co-founder and Certified Canine Nutritionist, explains, “The third largest mineral constituent [in dogs] is magnesium.” Unfortunately, she explains that “Magnesium deficiency is quite common in animals.
”She adds, “It's manifested clinically in a wide range of disorders which include retarded growth, hyper-irritability, anorexia, muscle incoordination, and convulsions.” Clearly, this important mineral needs to be in your puppy’s diet!
Vitamin C is widely used for its antioxidant properties and immune support. Although dogs can produce this vitamin on their own, an extra boost of vitamin C is needed when their bodies are undergoing stress, like the important growth phase in puppies. In addition, vitamin C supports healthy collagen levels, an essential as your puppy grows strong joints!
Supplements for Allergies And Inflammation
Some young dogs struggle with allergies and chronic inflammation. Thankfully, there are natural ingredients that successfully address these issues too.
Fatty acids, like those found in Omega-3 fish oil, can help promote healthy hearts, keep coats shiny, and manage allergy symptoms in puppies. Omega 3 also has amazing anti-inflammatory properties. Omega-3 fatty acids also aid in preventing and improving inflammation-related conditions such as arthritis, allergies, and digestive problems.
You might think health issues, like arthritis, are reserved for older dogs. However, even puppies can experience the effects of arthritis and joint deterioration.
When Will I See Results From My Puppy’s Vitamins?
Patience is key. Unlike traditional medicines, natural supplements don’t provide immediate results. It takes time for the ingredients to do their job and unleash your puppy’s full potential.
After about a month of regular use, you and your puppy will begin to notice some paw-some changes: healthier skin, lustrous coats, better poops, improved digestion, and consistent energy.
The Final Woof
Some puppy vitamins and supplements are safe to begin using at just a few weeks or months old. Omega-3 by Pawsomely Healthy sourced from anchovies wild-caught in cold waters of the South Pacific to deliver the most authentic and nutritionally effective form of fish oil. It has a high concentration of omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA, essential "good" types of fat that help your dog’s body and brain.
Our Omega-3 is unique: while other fish oil supplements contain oil that can quickly become rancid, Omega-3 from Pawsomely Healthy is spray-dried and capsulized to retain purity, freshness, and nutritional integrity. It's convenient and mess-free: you can either feed the capsule whole to your pup or open it and sprinkle the powder on your dog’s food.
Supplementing with Omega-3 fatty acids is an early investment in your puppy’s health and training and yields the best return as they grow into a healthy, active adult!