Healthy Dog food Supplements - Page 2

clc29, is there a reason you don't just cut the caloric intake? You don't actually need fillers to help a dog lose or maintain a good weight, and I also personally wouldn't feed oatmeal...no reason to. Pumpkin is fine if you are looking just for filler.

 Rereading my post.............to clarify, I do feed kibble sometimes. I feed several grain-free kibbles fairly often. BUT- I try to add the most crucial things that they are not able to make use of from kibble- like probiotics, certain enzymes, PUFAs, etc. You don't want to supplement things that they are able to utilize enough of from the kibble, but these things are rendered virtually useless by the time your dog gets to the food. There are many things you can add too much of that can be dangerous. Calcium is one, for example. But I have never heard of any ill effects (nor could I find any when I looked intentionally to find them) from adding the recommended dosage of a plant-based digestive enzyme to kibble (or anything, really) for a senior dog. 

I got the idea the OP was just trying to give her more food w/out adding a lot more calories, hence the "filler" question. I would still add protein and not carbs if that's the case- protein will keep her feeling fuller, longer. If it just seems like she's done eating too quickly and is looking for more, try giving her a long-lasting RMB. That should keep her occupied.

I agree, it's unlikely that a plant-based digestive enzyme would cause any harm, and as kibble is definitely not sufficient on its own (in terms of what I personally want for my dogs), the OP could certainly add some enzymes to meals.

I was under the impression that the OP wanted an easy answer similar to canned food and as I'm a lazy typist, I obliged, but I re-read the rest of the much more detailed responses (some of which, ???) and I would also strongly encourage adding in salmon oil and vit. E...if you are worried about the increased calories from that, cut back on the food. Then, add a RMB as Jenni suggested if you feel that she is too hungry ;-)

I fed Orijen to my Dogs and also a squirt of Salmon Oil with a Vitamin E tablet every morning plus a spoon of Hokamix Joint for a very long time. Owing to the availability and price of Orijen about 108 dollars a bag. I changed to Acana same firm, No Grain mix, but i still give them the Salmon oil and Vitamin E and the Hokamix. every morning Plus the evening feed 3 times a week a little carrot and Broccoli from dinner added in they look fabulous condition in fact three Guys mentioned Izzys condition this moring when she was doing her Protection stint saying how well she looked, E
Every Pup i reared up with this way of feeding had a1 normal joints. You should not need to fill up on other foods if you are feeding that Kibble, better to add a few veg to the evening meal
By the way the Veg is cooked as it is part of my dinner.
Steve1

I would drop all the supplements including oatmeal maybe some occasional pumpkin (plain or fresh plain) and give her chicken feet.  Has natural glacosamine, they love them, cut her kibble down and supplement with chicken feet and an occasional wing or back instead of kibble.  That stuff is crap.  I could not find anything good in the senior Orijen or Acana.

I recently tried a small bag of EVO red meat to PUT WEIGHT ON AN OLDER MALE.  It is doing the job so that tells you what is in that.  Crap fillers.  When you talk supplements use the real thing instead of processed crap filled with crap.  Best of luck  Nan

 WHAT?! Orijen is probably the BEST kibble on the market, hands down.  How can you say you couldn't find "anything good" in it???

I agree that no kibble is optimum, but short of straight raw, Orijen is about as good as it gets. 

I think you need to educate yourself a bit more thoroughly on ingredient qualities before condemning so brazenly. I can find NO "crap fillers" in Evo Red Meat. None. And I'm not exactly new to canine nutrition...unfortunately, circumstances forced me to learn more than I ever wanted to know over the past 11 years. 

I agree about trying to use "the real thing" and suggested chicken wings as an add-in...but to say that as far as kibble goes, Orijen, Evo, and Acana are "crap" is totally and utterly preposterous and misleading to people looking to this forum for guidance and I cannot keep my mouth shut on this one. Not that I'm known for that anyhow.................LOL

"I recently tried a small bag of EVO red meat to PUT WEIGHT ON AN OLDER MALE. It is doing the job so that tells you what is in that. Crap fillers. When you talk supplements use the real thing instead of processed crap filled with crap."

See, this doesn't make any sense to me, because a "filler", by commonly accepted definition, fills up a dog without providing much caloric benefit. If something is actually putting weight on a dog, it is not because of the fillers.

How on earth can you call Orijen and Acana crap food, Orijen you have several with top Protein, Vegs, and Fruits no crap in that,
In Acana you again have 32-33 protein Fruits and Veg that certainly is not crap food,
I really think you need to look at the ingredients again or is your mind confused and you are getting these Premium Kibbles mixed up with other brands
If not please explain the crap ingredients of Orijen and Acana no Grain Kibbles i for one would be interested to here what you consider to be Crap 
Steve1

This is the Price i pay for a Bag of  Orijen and Acana

Orijen Adult  106 USA Dollars
Orijen Fresh Fish  130 USA Dollars
Orijen Senior 104 USA Dollars
Acana 93 USA Dollars
Acana Pacifia 113 USA Dollars
Acana Grassland 104 USA Dollars
All Grain Free Kibbles and i am not that wealthy that i can afford to spend that sort of money on Crap Kibbles, So for two Dogs that costs me well over 200 hundred dollars a month on the base food

My recommendation for Ark Naturals Joint Rescue was for an OLD dog that is getting stiff or it is good for a young dog with joint issues.  This is not for vigorously healthy young dogs.  In any case, the dogs needing this supplement would not be breeding females.

The OP was asking for, natural supplements for an old stiff dog.

Michele

A Young Dog Old Dog not a great deal of difference when it comes down to feeding it, Hokamix Joint will help the Old Dog.
Gave it to two old dogs of my own for a long time one died 16.2 years the other 14.5 years old,The Hokamix helped them keep mobile that along with Salmon Oil etc on there food Plus the Vit E
Before asked these were not G.S but Border Collies which i used to train for Sheep Herding Competitions. But Hokamix is not just for young Dogs,  Mine will get it until they pass on from Puppyhood till old age so try it you will be suprised and it is NOT cheap some 80 dollars for a 500 gram tin, but it is very good indeed
Steve1