Food supplements in hunting dogs, is it right or wrong to give him supplements?
We are often led to see our hunting dog through the eyes of a trainer as if the dog were a full-fledged athlete. This may lead us to believe that food supplements are good for our pet, but this is not always the case. Of course it is true that supplements can be useful but to assess whether this is the case of our dog we only need to pay attention to the type of diet we usually give him.
In fact, if we feed our hunting dog with the ready-to-eat foods that the industry makes available to us, there is no need to give him food supplements as well.
The foods on the market, in fact, be they dry foods or wet foods, are aimed at satisfying the needs of the dog according to its weight, age and above all the lifestyle it carries out. This type of targeted diet contains in itself all the mineral and vitamin principles that the dog needs and to rest assured just follow the instructions in terms of quantities that are shown on the labels of the food we buy.
If, on the other hand, we feed our dog with homemade food, the situation changes a lot. In this case, in fact, we cannot be sure that the dog receives all the necessary nutrients and, therefore, food supplements could be useful. This is especially true for the period of growth and for periods of intense physical activity. During the growing season it is important to give the puppies vitamin A, vitamin D, phosphorus and calcium as they may not get enough if fed at home. As for females, it is important to supplement their diet with calcium both during pregnancy and during lactation periods. As for hunting dogs that have to recover after a period of illness or dogs in advanced age, it is always better to ask your trusted veterinarian for advice.