My healthy dog eats a balanced diet. Should I give supplements?

There is more to compiling a balanced diet than counting the total calories and generally treats should be just occasional offerings as they seldom contain a balance of nutrients. It would be advisable to contact a specialist nutritionist, especially if the supplements have been prescribed for a particular health condition. A good quality, balanced diet should not need to be excessively supplemented

It isn't recommended to give a multivitamin to a dog when they are already on a completed and balanced diet. Your dog will be getting all the nutrients they need to be healthy (keep in mind you feed twice a day, so there is a continuous supply of vitamins and minerals), and too many can have toxic effects. I wouldn't give your dog a multivitamin unless specifically prescribed by a vet due to a nutritional deficiency.

Truth be told, no pet needs multivitamins if they are on a high quality dog food. Because unlike people, pets eat a well balanced diet day in and day out; therefore supplementation without any underlying deficiency present, will lead to over-supplementation and possible negative effects. I would refrain from giving your pet any vitamins or vitamin b complex unless he has a detected iron deficiency anemia or other known deficiency that has been verified by your veterinarian. Also just to add, most true supplements don't contain any harmful chemicals. I hope that your pet Baloo does well moving forward. Best wishes and take care!

A heart supplement wouldn’t hurt but she probably doesn’t necessarily need one, particularly if she does not have documented heart disease. If you choose to use a supplement I would recommend VetriScience Cardio. You should always check with your vet before starting any supplement.

Hi there. If you're making your own food for Charlie, that's great! This can definitely be a good way to manage dogs who have food allergies or sensitivities. But, you do need to make sure that the diet you're feeding is complete and nutritionally balanced for long-term feeding. I would recommend using www.balanceit.com or www.petdiets.com to formulate an appropriate diet for Charlie, using the ingredients of your choosing. These websites will help you determine what ingredients are needed in what amounts, and will also advise you on any supplements that may need to be added.

Royal Canin is a complete, balanced food. It should not be necessary to add other supplements. Adding additional calcium or vitamins could actually be detrimental as it will throw off normal ratios. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach

A fully balanced diet such as large breed food formulated for the age of your dog (puppy or adult) would not need to be supplemented with any calcium supplement and indeed over supplementation can also cause problems. I suggest you speak to your local food suppliers to suggest a suitable, balanced diet in order to ensure all his needs are being met, not just calcium and phosphorous