Many dog parents believe that supplementing their pet's raw diet is necessary to prevent gaps in nutrition. However, multivitamin supplements generally contain the same elements found in raw diets that utilize the six essential components; muscle meat, raw meaty bones, seafood, liver, other secreting organs, and fur or fiber. 

The bioavailability of commercial multivitamins is poor, resulting in the excretion of most of the product in the urine. Although synthetic supplements can be beneficial under the right circumstances, they cannot be used to compensate for poor-quality ingredients in the dog's bowl.

Instead, it is recommended to identify specific nutritional deficits and fill them with whole meals or a high-quality, individual nutrient supplement.

Four Types of Supplements May Be Recommended

Specific whole foods may be inaccessible, too expensive, or improper for the particular animal based on its health and well-being. 

Alternatives for Raw Meaty Bones (RMB): While eating real bones provides dental benefits, there are times when bone substitutes are required for critical nutrients.

Raw Diets May Be Mineral Deficient: Homemade raw diets are frequently low in some minerals because they lack variety. While these minerals can be obtained from whole foods, a supplement is required when these foods are unavailable.

Raw Diets May Be Deficient in Vitamins: Aside from minerals, several vitamins may be lacking in raw diets. If whole foods are unavailable, these vitamins must be supplied through supplementation.

Supplemental Oils: Various fatty acids are necessary for a healthy diet. When whole foods are unavailable, supplemented oils may be required.

Calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium are all found in raw meaty bones. Feeding ground raw meaty bones is the next best thing to feeding entire raw meaty bones. Raw meaty bones, on the other hand, must be ground at home or acquired through pet food distributors and raw feeding cooperatives.

When entire or ground bones aren't an option, a different source of these minerals is required.

Bone-Meal Powder Can Be Used as a Substitute

Bone-meal powder is an alternative supplement that dogs can use at any age. It contains calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium, making it an excellent substitute for raw meaty bones for those who cannot consume RMB.

A calcium supplement is an alternative to raw meaty bones. However, they do not provide the same minerals as bones or bone meal powder. Except for seaweed calcium, calcium supplements solely supply calcium.

Because calcium supplements are low in phosphorus, they are an excellent alternative for pets with renal disease (a nutrient that must be moderated in renal diets). These supplements, however, are hazardous for puppies since they are deficient in phosphorus.

Incorporating More Fatty Acids into the Diet

Raw diets can be deficient in vital fatty acids. These fatty acids include EPA, DHA, and ALA, commonly found in whole food items such as fatty fish. However, supplement options for these essential nutrients are available.

Fish oil not only improves coat and skin health but is also known for improving cognition, behavior, and cardiovascular health. Unfortunately, fish oils and other fatty acids oxidize quickly when exposed to oxygen. Sourcing fish oil or Omega-3 fatty acid supplements from a reputable company that knows how to package the capsules correctly is imperative. 

Unfortunately, most essential fatty acids are destroyed in kibble-based diets due to the high heat necessary for processing. Even if your dog food does claim to have a proper Omega-6 to Omega-3 ratio, the moment the bag is opened and the food is exposed to oxygen; the fatty acids can quickly oxidize and become rancid.

It's also critical to note that the most bioavailable Omega-3 fatty acids are sourced from the ocean. Before purchasing a whole ocean-based food source, check the source and inquire whether a third party has checked for contaminants. If your dog is allergic to ocean-based foods, you can add Omega 3s by incorporating algal oil, the oil made from water algae, into the diet. 

Cod Liver Oil is Only Recommended if Absolutely Necessary

Cod liver oil is not suggested for use in raw diets that include liver due to its high Vitamin A level. With specific health issues, liver may need to be excluded from a dog's raw diet. If the diet is appropriately structured, cod liver oil can be utilized as a replacement for liver.

Although not a nutritional equivalent for organs and raw liver, cod liver oil is abundant in Vitamin A, Vitamin D, and Omega-3 fatty acids. Vitamin E is present in some products. Because it is an inexpensive option and often included in raw diet recipes. However, it must be used with caution to avoid Vitamin A toxicity.

Flaxseed oil can balance the lipids in raw meals for dogs. Bowls prepared with high poultry and pork fat levels require an Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA)  source to balance the Omega-6:Omega-3 ratios. If flaxseeds are used, you must crush them to allow digestion and assimilation.

Hempseed oil can also be used for raw meals containing a lot of fat, such as beef, lamb, goat, and other red meats. Like whole flaxseeds, hemp seeds have a protective shell that prevents the body from effectively digesting them. They must also be crushed for the dog to absorb the nutrients.

Raw Diets are Sometimes Lacking in Minerals. According to AAFCO Standards

Raw diets are frequently deficient in critical minerals compared to the AAFCO and NRC guidelines because of the difference in the mineral bioavailability of whole raw food versus that of kibble. Minerals are altered during the high-heat processing used in the manufacturing of kibble.  

The three minerals that may be deficient, according to the AAFCO guidelines, are zinc, manganese, and magnesium. However, most raw diet recipes include whole foods with adequate levels of these three nutrients. Dog parents can perform a mineral analysis with a Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis test. The report will detail the levels of these and other minerals allowing the decision for supplementation to be based on what is actually occurring within the dog.

Magnesium is commonly found in raw meaty bones, leafy greens, and seeds. However, a magnesium supplement is recommended for diets that do not include these elements.

Manganese Can Be Difficult to Incorporate from Whole Foods

Manganese deficiency is common in raw diets when items such as green tripe, blue/black mussels, or whole prey, including fur and feathers, are not provided. Furthermore, many dog parents may find these items costly or challenging. In these situations, a manganese supplement may be required.

Green tripe is often only available via pet food wholesalers or pet food cooperatives. According to the USDA, green tripe cannot be sold alongside human-grade food at retail grocery stores. The "tripe" sold in supermarkets and ethnic markets has been cleaned and is unsuitable for a raw diet.

Mussels, either blue or black, are a type of shellfish that humans commonly consume. For pet parents who live inland and don't have access to seafood markets, finding blue/black mussels can be challenging. 

Whole Food Sources High in Zinc Can Be Difficult to Find

Zinc deficiency is common in homemade raw diets, and oysters are the only whole food item with significant levels of zinc. Except for oysters, most entire meals do not contain enough zinc in accessible forms. As a result, oysters are the best whole food source of zinc when you need them.

Vitamin Supplements are Important in Certain Situations

The two essential vitamins commonly deficient in raw diets and require specialized whole foods to ensure recommended intakes are fulfilled are vitamin D and vitamin E. Whole foods are a good source of these nutrients. However, there are times when the whole food source of these nutrients is unavailable, and supplements can help in these situations.

You should address any vitamin deficiencies with whole foods rather than synthetic supplements whenever possible. The bioavailability of synthetic vitamins is not equal to that of whole foods. Natural vitamins are complex compounds that contain enzymes, coenzymes, transporters, and co-factors. Without the full complement of components, synthetic vitamins cannot perform their full range of biological processes. Supplements are not medications; they are not subjected to the same testing and regulation as pharmaceuticals.

Vitamin D Supplements Are Not Necessary When Fish is Fed

A Vitamin D supplement is usually not required when specific types of fatty fish are fed. However, certain raw diets do not include raw fish, and many dog parents prefer not to feed fish to their pets. In those circumstances, a supplement to deliver adequate quantities of Vitamin D in the diet is recommended.

Vitamin E Can Be Time-Consuming without a Supplement

Eating whole foods can be challenging to get enough Vitamin E on a raw diet. Vitamin E levels should be greater than suggested tolerances in diets high in dietary fat and essential fatty acids.

Vitamin E is found in grass-fed beef meat, liver, nuts, sunflower seeds, and almonds. However, several characteristics make nuts and seeds challenging as they must be prepared for maximum digestion, are high in calories, and contain many linoleic acids, which can interfere with the fatty acid balance.

Freezing nuts and seeds will diminish the Vitamin E content; therefore, preparing and freezing significant amounts ahead of time is not recommended. It is recommended that dog parents who do not want to struggle with the inconvenience of preparing nuts and seeds regularly give their pets a Vitamin E supplement.

Supplements should only be added when necessary. In most cases, whole foods can provide sufficient essential nutrients. Only when whole foods cannot meet nutritional needs should a supplement be incorporated into the raw food diet. 

The fecal microbiome and Hair Tissue, Mineral Analysis Tests are both valuable resources for determining gut microbiome contents and analyzing mineral levels, respectively. Low calcium levels may take months to years to detect through blood tests and clinical signs due to the body's continuing efforts to maintain mineral balances. In contrast, low levels will appear on a hair sample.

The addition of the gut microbiome test provides a comprehensive view of your dog's diet. A healthy bacterial flora in the gut indicates that your dog's diet is sufficient. Alternatively, the test may show deficiencies that require correcting dietary adjustments.

Annual veterinary visit that includes a complete physical examination and a comprehensive blood work panel that tests for the function of the liver, kidneys, pancreas, blood protein levels, electrolytes, calcium, and blood sugar will also detect any acute or chronic disorders.  

When all of these approaches are combined, a comprehensive evaluation of your dog is achievable. Share your information with your veterinarian to create a wellness plan for your dog. It's a great way to prevent future nutrition-related illnesses while also addressing already present ones.

What Happens if Supplements Aren't Added?

Not all dogs will need artificial supplements, especially if you are feeding various proteins and other components. 

Your dog is deficient and will show clinical signs of nutrition-related disorders.

If you are feeding your dog a variety of foods and regularly rotating every 2-3 weeks, the nutritional gaps should be filled in without using a supplement.

Just because you don't meet AAFCO and NRC's guidelines does not mean your dog is automatically deficient in vitamins and minerals.

Checking to see if your dog is deficient in a specific vitamin or mineral is critical to ensure you do not provide an excess of specific requirements, as it can do them more harm than good.

Habib, Rodney; Becker, Karen Shaw. (2021). The Forever Dog. HarperCollins. Kindle Edition. 

Brady, C. (2020). Feeding dogs dry or raw? The science behind the debate. Farrow Road Publishing.

Articles from future units will be accessible once you have completed that unit.

Unit 2 - How to Balance Omega 3s and Omega 6s  

Unit 2 - Vitamins Critical to Your Dog's Health  

Many dog parents believe that supplementing their pet's raw diet is necessary to prevent gaps in nutrition. However, multivitamin supplements generally contain the same elements found in raw diets that utilize the six essential components; muscle meat, <a href="https://feedreal.com/glossary/raw-meaty-bones">raw meaty bones</a>, seafood, liver, other secreting organs, and fur or fiber. 

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