What Supplements Do Your Gun Dogs Need?

We’re all looking for the next, latest and greatest hack, add, or trick to help our gun dogs hunt better, stronger, and longer; and in doing so, many look to supplements to add that extra edge to their performance. It’s almost a $3 billion industry, so how do we navigate through the marketing hype and know what is best for our beloved bird dogs?

To level set, if your dog is eating a complete and balanced pet food from a reputable manufacturer, they are likely receiving all the macro- and micro-nutrients they need to meet basic energy requirements. That said, our bird dogs are more athletic than most pet dogs and may benefit from added support for key body systems like their joints, GI tract, and immune system when they are afield.

Here are a few key factors to consider when selecting supplements for your bird dog.

Know the Manufacturer

The supplement industry is loosely regulated; and knowing the manufacturer is the first step in making a decision on which supplement to give your dog. Recent studies have shown that there is huge variability in both ingredient purity and concentration across all supplements. Ensuring that not only are active ingredients included, but perhaps more importantly, that there are no toxic ingredients added is paramount to keeping our bird dogs safe.

Looking for a third-party verification so that what is on the label matches what’s inside the container will help to ensure the purity of the supplement. The National Animal Supplement Council is a non-profit organization that offers its quality seal to products from manufacturers who are committed to the quality and safety of the supplements for companion animals. This is one piece of information that contributes to the validity of the supplement you may choose to give your bird dog.

As a veterinarian, my license is on the line when I recommend a specific supplement, so looking to your veterinarian for guidance is another outlet when trying to decide.

What Ingredients are Used?

There’s lots of hype out there about the next superfood that is going to make your bird dog find more birds, run faster, listen better, and maybe even live longer. Check that there is published research to support that the specific ingredient is actually going to do what the label says it will. For Example, EPA and DHA, omega-three fatty acids from fish oil, have solid research to showcase their role in both vision and brain development in puppies as well as pain and inflammation reduction in arthritic joints.

For supplements like probiotics, use caution; different strains of the same species of bacteria can have very different effects, e.g. not all Lactobacillus are created equally. Think of it like cousins in large family—there can be a wide variety of personalities!

Use the Effective Dose

As mentioned above, EPA and DHA (omega three fatty acids), have been shown to reduce inflammation. However, just because there is fish oil in the supplement, it might not be at a high enough amount to actually have the desired effect. On the flip side of that, too much of a good thing can be harmful. Too high of a dose of fish oil or certain vitamins and minerals can be toxic to our bird dogs, reinforcing why it is paramount to select a supplement from a reputable manufacturer.

How the Supplement is Administered

How the supplement is given is another key factor to consider. There may be compelling research to show that an ingredient has a tremendously positive effect when it is given by injection, however, that doesn’t mean that it will have the same effect if you give it to them by mouth. Similarly, just because an ingredient works in a petri dish doesn’t guarantee it will be effective in the same way once inside the dog’s body. Once again, reinforcing the importance of doing a little research and having a conversation with your veterinarian before choosing a supplement for your dog.

The Areas to Consider when it Comes to Supplements

Given the stress and strain our bird dogs put on their bodies, joint supplements are strongly encouraged. While there is little published research to support that they prevent disease like arthritis; supplements with ingredients like therapeutic doses of fish oil (EPA and DHA), hyaluronic acid, glucosamine, and chondroitin can set their joints up for healthy success in their athletic endeavors. Weaving a joint supplement into your bird dog’s routine may be very beneficial for their mobility long term.

Gut health is another area that can often use support in our bird dogs. Whether it’s the stress of travel, the excitement of the hunt, or the buffet of a range of animal species excrement, the g.i. tract of a bird dog can be challenged in all sorts of ways when they are afield.  Approximately 70 percent of the immune system begins in the digestive system, so having a healthy g.i. tract is paramount to overall health.  Probiotics are a live bacterial supplement that help to restore balance in the intestines, and some even help to boost the immune system. Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets FortiFlora is the number one probiotic recommended by veterinarians because of its quality, safety, and research. It also can be used to enhance the palatability of food and/or water when our bird dogs get finicky.

In summary, taking the time to do some research and talk with your veterinarian can have big benefits for our bird dogs’ health when it comes to choosing the right supplement.

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