Are human supplements good for dogs too?

Ever wondered if sharing your multivitamins or supplements with your pet could give them an added health boost? After all, what’s good for us is usually good for them. Right?

Wrong. That’s not a fact. It’s fluff.

In fact, human supplements can be harmful to our pets for a few different reasons.

Some human supplements can be toxic for your pets.

Human supplements cater to human taste and metabolism, often containing artificial sweeteners and other additives that make them more appealing for us but toxic for pets. Take xylitol, for instance, a sweetener that’s incredibly toxic to dogs and can result in rapid blood sugar drops and liver failure. In severe cases, it can even cause death.

Dogs and cats need different essential nutrients than humans.

Essential nutrients are vital for health and have to come from food since the body can’t produce them. While dogs and cats generally need the same types of nutrients we do, they don’t necessarily need to get them in the same amounts from their diet. For instance, unlike humans, they can synthesise vitamin C internally, reducing concerns like scurvy.

It is also possible to have too much of a good thing. Giving pets human supplements can lead to harmful nutrient overdoses. For instance, dogs require less vitamin D than humans. Excessive vitamin D intake can cause kidney failure and other serious health issues.

Things like human probiotics are also less useful in pets as they have a very different gut microbiome to humans and benefit more from species-specific options.

Stick to pet-specific supplements unless your vet advises otherwise.

If your pet is on a complete commercial diet, they probably don’t need extra supplements, unless recommended by a vet for a specific condition. Diets like The Nosh Project are designed to fulfill all their nutrient needs for their life stage – no extras necessary.

That said, there are some valid occasions when supplements might help:

• For arthritis management, consider glucosamine, chondroitin, and Omega-3 supplements
• Enhance skin and coat health with zinc, vitamin E, Omega-3, and Omega-6 supplements
• After a tummy upset, probiotics can restore healthy gut bacteria

Feeding your pet a homemade diet?

If you’re feeding a homemade diet, it’s likely you’ll need to add certain supplements to make sure they’re getting the nutrients they need. Nosh Dog Nourish²⁷ Balance is designed specifically to do that, providing all the essential vitamins, minerals and nutrients home cooked food may not have.

The Nosh Project recipes provide all the nutrients your pet needs for a happy, healthy life.

Whether you’re serving up Nosh bowls or whipping up homemade meals with Nourish Meal Balancer, your pet’s getting all the vital nutrients they need.