Do Dogs Need Supplements? The Truth About Glucosamine, Fish Oil, and Probiotics

Walk into a pet store, and you will see shelves of powders, pills, and chews promising to fix everything from anxiety to shedding. But if you are feeding a “Complete and Balanced” dog food, do you really need to add more?

The answer is: Maybe. Supplements are great for specific issues, but they aren’t magic.

1. Glucosamine & Chondroitin (Joints)

• The Claim: Rebuilds cartilage and reduces arthritis pain.
• The Verdict: TRUE (mostly). It works best as a preventative or for mild arthritis. It doesn’t fix bone-on-bone hips.
• When to start: Early! For large breeds, start at 1-2 years old.
• Tip: Look for “Cosequin” or “Dasuquin” (veterinary trusted brands).

2. Omega-3 Fatty Acids (Fish Oil)

• The Claim: Shinier coat, reduced itching, better brain function.
• The Verdict: TRUE. This is the “super supplement.” It is a potent anti-inflammatory.
• Tip: Buy pump bottles of Salmon or Krill oil. The Omega-3s in dry kibble oxidize (go rancid) once the bag is opened, so adding fresh oil helps.

3. Probiotics (Gut Health)

• The Claim: Cures diarrhea and boosts immunity.
• The Verdict: TRUE (for specific strains). Not all yogurt is good. You need canine-specific bacteria (like Enterococcus faecium). Great for stress diarrhea (boarding) or after antibiotics.
• Tip: Purina FortiFlora is the gold standard.

4. CBD Oil

• The Claim: Cures anxiety, seizures, and pain.
• The Verdict: UNCLEAR. The science is lagging behind the marketing. It seems promising for arthritis pain, but evidence for anxiety is anecdotal.
• Tip: Buy pet-specific CBD without THC (toxic to dogs).

5. Multivitamins

• The Verdict: SKIP IT. If you feed a quality commercial food, adding a multivitamin can actually cause an overdose of Vitamin A or D (which are toxic in high doses). Only use if you home-cook meals.

Summary

Supplements are “supplemental.” They cannot fix a bad diet or lack of exercise.

• Yes: Fish Oil, Joint Support (for big dogs).
• Maybe: Probiotics (for sensitive tummies).
• No: Random multivitamins.

Save your money for high-quality food first.