Five Supplements for Senior Dogs Part 3 of 5

As your dog ages, their body starts to fail. They won’t get as much nutrition out of his food. Their liver won’t be able to push out as many toxins. And their brain will begin to slow down. That’s why senior dogs need a boost as they age. It helps them to get what they need to live a healthy and comfortable life.

So, let’s look at 5 important supplements you should consider giving your senior dog.

• Prebiotics and Probiotics
• Digestive Enzymes
• Antioxidants
• Vitamin C
• Omega 3 Fats

Antioxidants
As your dog gets older, his body becomes more susceptible to oxidative stress, especially in his brain. Oxidative stress happens when your dog’s body has an excess of free radicals. Free radicals are unstable molecules that attack other cells, damaging DNA, proteins, and cell membranes. This can lead to premature aging and chronic disease. 

To help prevent free radical damage your dog
needs antioxidants. Antioxidants help stabilize free radicals, which stops them from attacking healthy cells.
 
Berries are an excellent source of antioxidants. Blueberries are especially beneficial because they contain a powerful antioxidant called anthocyanins (wild blueberries are the best). What makes anthocyanin so special is that it can cross the blood-brain barrier. That means it’s one of the only dietary antioxidants that can protect your dog’s brain from oxidative stress. As an added bonus, berries are also prebiotic.

Another excellent antioxidant for senior dogs is astaxanthin. Astaxanthin is a plant pigment found in algae and pink seafood like shrimp and salmon. It protects cells to reduce free radical damage and it’s good for the:

• Eyes
• Joints
• Heart

Astaxanthin also contains Superoxide Dismutase (or SOD), which is one of the most powerful antioxidants you can give your dog. 

HOW TO INCREASE YOUR DOG’S ANTIOXIDENTS

To help boost your senior dog’s antioxidants, you want to feed antioxidant rich foods. This includes brightly colored fruits and vegetables like broccoli, berries, apples, spinach and kale.

Astaxanthin is a special antioxidant found specifically in red algae and the animals that eat it. But to make sure your dog is getting a healthy source of astaxanthin, consider a supplement. That way you don’t have to worry about finding seafood that is free of toxins and chemicals. 

Other antioxidants I have used for my dogs are Carbon 60 (C-60) and Black Seed oil, specifically Amazing Herbs Black Seed Soft Chews for Dogs.  Next article we will talk about Vitamin C