by Tammy Wynn

Created on: September 02, 2008

Vitamin and mineral supplements are a healthy addition to your pet's diet. Pets eat highly processed foods. Many of the foods have artificial colors and other additives to make the food look pleasing to us, the pet owners. The origins of the ingredients in pet food is also questionable. Most pet food nutrition is based arbitrarily on a minimum daily amount. While some foods make the claim that they provide all that you pet needs nutritionally, reading the label tells us that none of them do. These minimum amount are not for optimal pet health and nutrition. High quality pet foods do exist, but these do not necessarily provide complete nutrition for your pet.

Vitamin and mineral supplements provide the nutrition to keep your pet happy, healthy, resistant to illness and to keep your pet looking beautiful. A lack of nutrition or vitamins is easily seen in pets. If your pet has poor skin and hair, then they may be lacking in vitamins A and B. Anemic, tired pets are many times lacking in Vitamin B and pets that are lacking vitamin D can develop cancer.

Vitamin C is a natural antioxidant and pain killer and a big contributer to the immune system function. Most mammals actually produce their own vitamin C, but cats and dogs produce this minimally. Minerals are important for digestion, growth, tissue repair and strong bones, teeth, claws, to name a few.

Vitamin and mineral supplements are also essential to give during stressful times for you pet, since stress can weaken the immune system. A pet that is sick often and given many antibiotics can greatly benefit from supplements that help build up their resistance, immune system and strengthen their overall health.

Supplying your pet with vitamin and mineral supplements make sense. However, pet owners must be careful that the supplement they are providing does not contain allergic ingredients, such as yeast. A responsibly pet owner must do some research and provide a good quality vitamin and mineral supplement for their pets.

Other natural supplements exist to help pets maintain good health and nutrition. Garlic tablets are a natural antibiotic, help maintain good skin and coat, aid in digestion as well as fight off fleas and other parasites. Greenleaf supplements can help older pets with arthritis and can be effective treating bladder and kidney problems.

Dietary supplements are essential for many pets health and nutrition. Supplements supply pets what is lacking in current processed foods as well as strengthen a pets overall health. Good health is essential for our pets.

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