Supplements for Diabetic Dogs: Part 2
Supplements for Diabetic Dogs Part 2
Last week my blog Supplements for Diabetic Dogs Part 1 was about supplements for eye health, Methyl-B12 for diabetic neuropathy, omega-3 fatty acids, UTI prevention and digestive enzymes. Today I am going to finish up with hip and joint, liver, kidney and taurine supplements we can give our pups.
As you may or may not know, I am not a fan of chews because typically they are made with flours, yeast or starch products, and these will raise blood glucose levels. You need to decide if the temporary blood glucose increase is worth it or not. I have always chosen a powder or pill form that is not a soft chew because I did not want to raise Lucy’s BG levels.
Let’s dive into these supplements!
Hip and joint supplements – Cartilage cushions the joints and when it breaks down it causes osteoarthritis. Chondroitin, glucosamine and MSM (methylsulfonylmethane) are good supplements to give our dogs to help keep their joints healthy and help reduce pain levels due to osteoarthritis.
- Chondroitin – can prevent the breakdown of cartilage and stimulates repair.
- Glucosamine – builds and repairs cartilage.
- MSM (methylsulfonylmethane) – may relieve joint pain and reduce inflammation.
Nature's Pure Edge Hip & Joint & Turmeric Dog & Cat Supplement – comes in powder form.
Liver supplements are often discussed because the liver produces, stores and releases glucose. When the liver is bogged down by toxins or there is liver disease/illness there are supplements that may aid in detoxing the liver, helping it to repair itself and work better.
- SAMe (S-adenosyl-L-methionine) – naturally produced by the liver and helps break down chemicals in the brain, maintains cell membranes and it works with the immune system.
- Milk thistle – silymarin is a compound derived from milk thistle, silybin is part of this compound and promotes cell repair and is an anti-inflammatory. It is recommended to give milk thistle for three to six weeks with a one-to-three-week break.
Denamarin is a combination of SAMe and silybin. Silybin is found in milk thistle.
Vetriscience SAMe 225 mg – SAMe chewable tablets.
maxxiSAMe for dogs 150 g – SAMe powder that can be added to food.
Herbsmith Milk Thistle Liver Support for Cats and Dogs – powder form.
Coco and Luna Milk Thistle for Dogs and Cats – liquid form.
If you choose a human version of milk thistle, read all active and inactive ingredients to ensure that there is no xylitol in the product. Xylitol is extremely toxic to dogs.
Dosage for human grade milk thistle is as follows:
- Tincture: ¼ tsp per 20 lbs. per day.
- Powder (this includes veggie capsules): 2 – 5 mg. per lb. two to three times per day.
Kidney supplements – the kidneys filter toxins, regulate and filter minerals from blood, maintain fluid balance, create hormones that produce red blood cells, promote bone health and regulate blood pressure. Age is a contributing factor to the kidneys not functioning properly and senior dogs can have renal issues. Here are some supplements that can help with the kidneys.
Dr. Harvey’s Kidney Health – this is a powder form supplement.
Vetriscience Renal Essentials for Dogs – this is a chewable tablet.
Taurine is an amino acid that is necessary for the body. Certain breeds of dogs are prone to taurine deficiency and require taurine supplementation. There are also certain breeds that are predisposed to DCM, or dilated cardiomyopathy and studies show that added taurine supplements are beneficial to DCM. Animal proteins like red meats, heart and organ meats, seafood, fish and poultry all have taurine in them, but with cooking a fair amount of taurine is lost. You can supplement your dog’s meals with a lightly cooked protein, or a powder supplement.
Herbsmith Taurine Boost – this is a powder supplement.
The following are human grade taurine supplements you can give your dog.
Bulk Supplements Taurine Powder
Standard dose of taurine powder for dogs is as follows:
- 250 mg x 2 – small dogs
- 500 mg x 2 – medium dogs
- 750 mg x 2 – large dogs
You will have to purchase special measuring spoons for the human taurine powders listed above. These little measuring spoons can be purchased on Amazon. Measurements are as follows:
- Tad - 1/4 tsp.
- Dash - 1/8 tsp.
- Pinch - 1/16 tsp.
- Smidgen - 1/32 tsp.
- Drop - 1/64 tsp.
PLEASE NOTE: ALWAYS READ INGREDIENTS AND INACTIVE INGREDIENTS IN ANY HUMAN SUPPLEMENTS BEFORE PURCHASING FOR YOUR DOG. HUMAN SUPPLEMENTS MAY CONTAIN XYLITOL WHICH IS EXTREMELY TOXIC TO DOGS.
I really hope that these supplement blogs have helped you and your sweet pup. I have used many of the supplements I’ve written about and still currently use several of them with my non diabetic dog Frank.
Do you have a supplement that you use and would like to suggest, or have a question? Please comment below to start a conversation!
If you are looking for a Facebook community to join for support, I have been an admin in Diabetic Dog Owners for over four years. You can also join Canine Diabetes Support and Information on Facebook as well.
For more conversations, photos, and giveaways check out PetTest on Facebook and Instagram.