Dr. Erica Irish - Labrador Retriever Society

Just like humans, a Labradors health can greatly benefit form taking supplements. We've put together a vet recommended list of our favorite supplements for Labradors that could be of help to your dog. Keep in mind that supplements aren't always necessary, but there are many dogs that rely on them to assist and increase their quality of life. Almost all dogs get their essential nutrients from commercial dog diets. However, not every diet is “one size fits all,” and in many cases, supplements may be necessary. Provided below is a list of the best supplements available for your dog. Our Pick Purina Pro Plan Calming Care View on Amazon Purina Pro Plan Calming Care is my top pick with the best probiotic available. It's available in powder form that is measured into individual serving packets. This makes it really easy for you to just sprinkle a serving into your dogs food once daily. For best results, use Calming Care every day for at least three to four weeks. You can use it with other recommendations from your vet and is safe for Labs at any age. Keep going to find some of the best supplements out there in the market. Best Supplements Joint, fiber, and probiotic supplements are some of the most important supplements for Labradors. These aid in many ailments that are common in Labradors including digestion, allergies, joint issues, and much more. Here are some of the best options for you depending on your budget and what you are looking for in a supplement. Our PicksBrandBest Probiotic Supplement for LabradorsPurina Pro Plan Calming CareBest Fiber Supplement for LabradorsGlandex Soft ChewsBest Overall Joint Supplement for LabradorsMOVOFLEX Hip & Joint supplementBest Tablet Joint Supplement for LabradorsDasuquin AdvancedBest Tasting Joint Supplement for LabradorsGlycoflex 3 Hip & JointBest Budget Joint Supplement for LabradorsCosequin Maximum Strength Best Probiotic Supplement: Purina Pro Plan Calming Care Purina Pro Plan Calming Care is the best choice for probiotic supplements for Labradors. Probiotics have become a big thing in both human and vet care. People and animals both have "good" and "bad" bacteria in their gastro systems. When there is disease or inflammation, harmful or pathogenic bacteria can displace the beneficial type, causing further illness. Probiotics are live cultures of beneficial bacteria that can displace most types of harmful bacteria and can facilitate faster response times from the immune system. Product features: An effective probiotic that benefits the digestive tract Has an anti-anxiety effect after three to four weeks of use Comes in powdered form in individual packets Purina’s Calming Care probiotic stand out from other competitors in its arena. The active ingredient known as Bifidobacterium longum BL999 works like most other probiotic cultures, but also has a naturally calming effect. This makes it an effective probiotic for dogs that have gastrointestinal issues as well as behavior issues. The main reason why Calming Care works is because there is a neurological connection between the gastrointestinal tract and the brain. Studies in mice show that when gastrointestinal bacteria from anxious mice were transferred to the gastrointestinal tracts of calm mice, the latter group began to demonstrate anxiety. Once the clinical trials were performed for use of B. longum BL999 in Labradors, the results showed significant improvement for day-to-day anxiety for the dogs who received B. longum in the study. Purina’s Calming Care probiotic comes in a powder pre measured into individual servings. All you have to do is sprinkle a full serving on your dog's food once a day. For best results, use Calming Care every day for at least three to four weeks. It's ok to use this with other recommendations from your vet and is safe for Labradors at any age. Pros: Promotes a healthy GI tract and is beneficial for dogs with diarrhea Helps with anxiety disorders such as fear, aggression, and separation anxiety Safe, easy to use, and won’t interfere with other treatment recommendations Cons: Dogs with severe anxiety or behavioral disorders may need additional treatments/supplements Dogs with severe gastrointestinal disorders may require additional treatments/supplements Best Fiber Supplement: Glandex Soft Chews Best Fiber Glandex Soft Chews View on Amazon If your Labrador has problems with his anal glands, he may have problems with allergies or his digestive tract. In both cases, using a fiber supplement can really help your Lab's anal gland health. From our findings Glandex Soft Chews are one of the best fiber supplements available. Product features: Contains ingredients to help improve stool quality and promote GI health Helps natural anal gland expression by improving stool quality Available in a tasty chewable treat or powder form Anal glands are the small marble-shaped glands within the anus of a dog. They excrete a viscous (and smelly) fluid that helps make the passing of stools easier. However, when dogs have digestive tract problems or issues with allergies, these glands can become inflamed and more difficult to express. Anal glands can also become impacted and form painful abscesses that require immediate medical attention. Glandex eats more like a treat for your dog. It's soft with high amounts of fiber and pumpkin. Both of these ingredients absorb water which results in bulkier, healthier stools. These bowel movements promote the natural expression of your dog’s anal glands so that they are less likely to become infected. Glandex also contains omega 3 fatty acids which can help prevent inflammation. It also contains probiotics like Lactobacillus acidophilus to promote a healthy digestive tract. Pros: Ingredients can help improve your Labrador’s digestive tract health Decreases the likelihood for full or impacted anal glands Available in two forms – powder or soft chew treat Cons: May cause an increase in frequency of bowel movements May temporarily increase flatulence or gas May take three to five weeks of use for best results Best Joint Supplement: MOVOFLEX Hip & Joint supplement Best For Joints MOVOFLEX Hip & Joint supplement View on Amazon Orthopedic disease is something that will effect nearly every dog in their lifetime. Labrador Retrievers actually have a higher risk of inherited orthopedic issues such as elbow and hip dysplasia. Older Labradors will most certainly develop arthritis over time. Joint supplements can delay the progression of these issues and help improve joint function, thereby alleviating discomfort and helping quality of life. MOVOFLEX Hip & Joint supplement is one such supplement that combines the elements of many joint supplements into a single chewable treat. Product features: Eggshell membrane supports joint flexibility. Think of it as glucosamine for dogs. Zanthin protects against joint damaging free radicals. Boswellia Serrata supports structural integrity of joints & connective tissues. Hyaluronic Acid works as a cushion and lubricant in the joints. Vitamin D3 is vital for good bone health. Available in a tasty chewable treat Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) are naturally occurring building blocks for cartilage in your dog’s body, and they also inhibit the production of cartilage-destroying enzymes and inflammatory mediators. Glucosamine, chondroitin, methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), and hyaluronic acid are four of the most common GAGs found in dog joint supplements. MOVOFLEX contains hyaluronic acid but also has eggshell membrane to support joint flexibility. MOVOFLEX also contains Boswellia Serrata, a plant that has been shown to support the structural integrity of joints & connective tissues and natural astaxanthin, a potent antioxidant meant to protect against free radicals and nitric oxide. MOVOFLEX takes these five incredible ingredients and puts them into a chewable, tasty treat that dogs love. This makes supplement time an enjoyable experience for both you and your Lab. All of this makes this one of the more complete supplements for Labrador's joint health. Pros: Combines multiple ingredients into one treat Has other health benefits besides helping dogs with arthritis Tasty, easy to give No need for a prescription from your veterinarian Cons: May take 4-6 weeks of use to achieve full effect Does not contain omega 3 fatty acids One of the more expensive supplements Best Tablet Joint Supplement: Dasuquin Advanced Joint Tablet Dasuquin Advanced *Prescription Required View Price Tablets, while they are a little more difficult to administer, tend to have a much longer shelf life than chewable supplements. Dasuquin Advanced is the best joint supplement tablet available. It remains effective for a year after opening the bottle, but it also provides an effective combination of glycosaminoglycans and herbal ingredients that are proven to help dogs with arthritis. Product features: Combines three GAGs with herbal ingredients to provide an anti-inflammatory effect Also includes manganese, an effective antioxidant ingredient Comes in 64 or 140 count bottles and is effective for dogs of all sizes Dasuquin Advanced can only be acquired through your veterinarian by prescription only. It contains glucosamine, chondroitin, and MSM, all of which have a protective effect on joint cartilage. Dasuquin also contains herbal ingredients such as Boswellia serrata and Curcuma longa, also known as turmeric. These anti-inflammatory ingredients are used in human supplements as well, and there is scientific research that proves their effectiveness for dogs with arthritis pain. Dasuquin also contains manganese, an antioxidant which helps rid the body of harmful free radicals. Dasquin needs to be taken for 4-6 weeks in higher doses before it becomes fully effective. That may seem like a long time, but it's on par with most joint supplement. After that time period, you will cut the daily dose in half for your Labrador. Larger sized bottles are more cost effective and have a shelf-life of one year and four months. Pros: Contains multiple GAG ingredients plus herbal anti-inflammatories and an antioxidant Available in large quantities and is shelf-stable for over one year Larger sized tablets are ideal for large breed dogs like Labrador Retrievers Cons: Only available with a prescription from your veterinarian May take 4-6 weeks of use to achieve full effect Difficult to quarter the tablets for smaller dogs Best Tasting Joint Supplement: Glycoflex 3 Hip & Joint Tasty For Dogs Glycoflex 3 Hip & Joint View on Amazon Labs don't tend to be picky eaters, but if you have a stubborn one on your hands, Glycoflex 3 is one of the tastiest chew treats available. It is a great pain reliever for arthritis pain due to its highly effective ingredients. Product features: Highly palatable supplement chews that are small and easy to administer Combines GAG ingredients with green-lipped mussel Comes in bags of 120 chews Glucosamine and MSM are the two main glycosaminoglycans contained within Glycoflex 3. It also contains an ingredient known as green-lipped mussel (GLM). GLM is a kind of shellfish that is native to New Zealand and has many uses in human medicine because it is known for its anti-inflammatory effects. It also is a rich source of omega 3s and also some GAGs such as glucosamine and chondroitin. Studies show that GLM can help dogs with pain due to osteoarthritis. Pros: Has a highly palatable chicken liver flavor Combines GAGs with GLM, which is scientifically proven to help dogs with arthritis Available online through Amazon.com Cons: May take 4-6 weeks of use to achieve full effect Multiple chews are needed for large dogs, so the bag may finish quickly Contraindicated for dogs with chicken allergies Best Budget Joint Supplement: Cosequin Maximum Strength Best Budget Cosequin Maximum Strength View on Amazon While some dogs only need supplements for short periods of time, that's no always the case. In the instance of orthopedic procedures, arthritis, and chronic illnesses, your Labrador may need to take a joint supplement for the rest of his life. This can be very costly over time, especially for large breed dogs like Labs! Cosequin Maximum Strength is an effective supplement that won’t break the bank due to how much it cost per serving. Product features: Contains three GAG ingredients plus an antioxidant Highly bioavailable ingredients and safe for all dogs Available in 60, 132, 180, and 250 count bottles Cosequin’s GAG ingredients are glucosamine, chondroitin, and MSM. Each of the three are provided in high doses for maximum joint support. It also contains manganese, which is an antioxidant. While it does not contain some of the herbal ingredients or omega 3s found in other supplements, Cosequin is still highly bioavailable which means that your Labrador may start to show results a little sooner than the four to six-week mark. Also, fewer ingredients mean a lower overall cost. Pros: Contains high amounts of glycosaminoglycan ingredients Available in larger quantities and is very cost effective Can be purchased online through Amazon.com Cons: May take 4-6 weeks of use to achieve full effect Contains fewer anti-inflammatory ingredients compared to other supplements What Are Supplements For Labradors Supplements are dietary products that are meant to provide extra ingredients for the benefit of your dog. Like vitamins, they aren't really meant to "treat" specific illnesses, but they can help lessen the severity of certain clinical signs. Most commercial diets provide a balanced amount of vitamins and minerals, so owners need to be mindful when giving supplements to their dogs. Certain vitamins like A, D, E, and K are fat-soluble vitamins, meaning that your dog can develop health problems if he is overdosed. Joint supplements for dogs have grown in popularity over the past few decades while fiber supplements and probiotics have recently played an important role in various gastrointestinal ailments. Each of these products contains ingredients that are ancillary to your dog’s diet, and therefore, many of them are safe to give. Conclusion From fiber to joint and probiotic supplements, there are simply too many products available to remember them all. Even a healthy Labrador can benefit from these supplements, and so it is in your pup’s best interest to be aware of some of the top products. Be sure to check that you are feeding your Labrador the right amount of food as well. Read our Labrador Retriever Feeding Chart to learn more. Remember that if you’re unsure about a product or what your Labrador Retriever might need, talk with your veterinarian for more information.