Simple Ways to Boost Your Dog's Immune System

Boosting your dog's immune system is simple with a healthy diet loaded with vitamins and minerals. The first step is to feed your canine friend a high-quality dog food. Avoid buying cheap foods with fillers or by-products. Read the list of ingredients and be sure that the food you choose has real food listed rather than by-products. You will also notice whether your dog food has added vitamins and minerals. Some foods also contain healthy fats; omega-3 fatty acids, for example, are good for your dog's skin and coat.

Vitamin C Tablets

According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, vitamin C is an antioxidant that increases immunity and improves skin and eye health. There have been no studies to support the idea that vitamin C boosts the immune system in dogs, but many studies have shown that vitamin C boosts a persons immune system. Dogs can catch colds, get cancer and even diabetes just like humans. So we assume that whatever is beneficial for humans is good for dogs. This is true to a certain extent because as we know chocolate can harm dogs but not people. More studies need to be done, but many pet owners swear that vitamin C helps keep their dog happy and healthy.

Vitamin C Powder

Add vitamin C powder to your dogs water bowl. For additional immune support you can add vitamin C powder to your dogs water or sprinkle it on his or her food. This can be especially helpful during cold and flu season. If your dog is pregnant this may also be the way to go as compared with giving her tablets. She may be picky about what she will eat during this time so adding vitamin C to her water is a great way to give her what she needs during this delicate time. Only buy Vitamin C powder that is made specifically for dogs because vitamin C powder for humans may be too potent for your dog. Humans need 1000 to 2000 mg of vitamin C during cold season, and they only need 500 mg of vitamin other times of the year. Dogs are much smaller than humans so it is vital to find a supplement designed for your dog.

Other Vitamins

Buy a whole food multivitamin for dogs at your local pet store. According to the University of Maryland, vitamin C works best when combined with other antioxidants such as vitamin A, E, and D. You can also give your dog a multivitamin that contains additional nutrients and minerals. Be sure to buy a supplement formulated for dogs to be sure your canine friend gets the right dosage. Read the instructions on the label to prevent overdose. Keep the bottle locked up away from your dog to prevent overdose.