As we’re headed toward another New Year and resolution season, it’s a good time to talk about strategies for improving the health of our canine friends too. How do you feel about nutritional supplements for dogs? Here’s what I think. Plus, we’re doing a FREE giveaway for VitaHealth Adult Dog Vitamins (and other dog supplements from VitaHealth).

This is indeed a sponsored post, but all decisions about what to say and how to say it are mine. 

VitaHealth Adult Dog Vitamins Giveaway

Would you like a chance to win a FREE bottle of VitaHealth Adult Dog Vitamins or a bottle of VitaHip and Joint supplements?

Excellent! Post a comment (below) to this sponsored blog post. Say anything (nice!) that you’d like. Even “I hope I win!” is fine. Just let us know you’re interested. Then, after the comment deadline, we’ll do a random drawing to pick 2 winners.

Be sure to use a valid email address because that’s how we’ll contact you, if you win.

DEADLINE to comment / enter: Midnight (Mountain Standard Time) on Sunday, December 11, 2016.

One entry per person / email.

VitaHealth Adult Dog Vitamins and Supplements

VitaHealth sells a few different vitamins and supplements for dogs. Use these links to explore the whole line of products:

• VitaHealth Adult Dog Multivitamins
• VitaHealth Senior Dog Glucosamine Supplement
• VitaHip and Joint Supplement

The Big Business of Dog Supplements

Market research shows that the pet supplements market has been tepid in recent years, after seeing double-digit sales growth between 2000 and 2010.

However, Packaged Facts (a market research company with deep experience and history in the pet product markets) predicts strong growth over the next 5 years in the pet supplements market. They predict it will jump from $541 million per year in sales in 2014 to $697 million per year in sales by 2019.

In part, the growth will likely come from supplements for senior pets as our furry friends live longer. It’ll also be related to growing concerns over pet obesity and weight management as well as to the “premiumization” of natural and organic pet supplements.

My Thoughts on Dog Vitamins & Supplements

I’m a natural born skeptic, and I’m frugal. I do take some supplements myself, but not a lot … and in many cases, not every day.

My dogs take more supplements than I do, but they are targeted things like probiotics, fish oil, and cranberry supplements (when Clover was having bladder issues).

Personally, I am NOT a fan of treats masquerading as supplements. If I’m going to give a supplement, I want it JUST to be a supplement — like these vitamins from VitaHealth are.

If I’m giving a treat, I JUST want it to be a sort of healthy (or at least not-unhealthy) treat to use as a reward.

Because I feed a well-balanced COMMERCIAL dog food, I’m also not particularly drawn to pet foods with buzzword-type supplements included in the recipe. The one exception is if there is research to support that food’s formulation for a specific health benefit.

Maybe I’m weird like that.

I will use these VitaHealth Adult Dog Vitamin that VitaHealth sent me, but I probably will only give them to the puppy-girls a couple times a week, rather than every day.

Dog Supplement Advice

If you are going to give your dogs vitamins or supplements, here are my tips for doing so safely:

• Ask your vet if they have any concerns about the supplements that you want to or are already giving your dogs.
• Be careful about giving supplements to growing puppies because if you throw off the balances of nutrients they need (by, for example, giving them too much of something), you can cause growth and development issues that can last a lifetime.

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OK, pals. That’s it from me. Don’t forget to leave a comment below, if you want to be entered for a chance to win some VitaHealth supplements for your dog!