Maintaining the health of your canine companion requires a proactive approach, especially as they transition through the most vital stages of their life. At BlueHaven French Bulldogs, we believe that providing the right nutritional foundation during adulthood is the key to ensuring a long, vibrant life for your pet.
In this article, we will delve into the critical differences between supplements and multivitamins and explore how targeted nutrition can support your dog’s journey into their senior years.
There are three different stages of a dog's life: puppy, adult, and senior. Adulthood is the stage in between, and it is the most crucial time to prepare your dog before they enter seniorhood.
This applies to all breeds, including popular companion dogs such as French Bulldog(s) that often require closer nutritional monitoring to maintain their unique physique and health.
Therefore, dog owners should be aware of their dogs’ nutritional needs to maintain their health and vitality. There are two terms for complementary nutrients: supplements and multivitamins. Even though the two are often used interchangeably, there are actually differences between them.
Both supplements and multivitamins are beneficial for the dog. The main difference lies in their source and their specific functions. Here is the breakdown of differences between the two:
Multivitamins like vitamins C, D, E, and A enhance the bodily processes within the dog’s system. They can be derived from real food as well as complementary food sources. They act as building blocks for daily biological functions.
Supplements have similar functions to multivitamins but are often enhanced with specific technologies. A supplement like Domitail features enhanced MitoX and Penaditide technologies. Those technologies are specifically designed to support the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) metabolism.
Therefore, both multivitamins and supplements are complementary, and you can use both to maintain your dog’s health—particularly for small breeds and companion dogs such as Frenchie(s) like those found at BlueHaven French Bulldogs.
NAD, or nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, is a metabolic system within the dog’s body responsible for several vital functions. These functions include:
Cell Regeneration
NAD is responsible for cell regeneration, especially for adult and senior dogs. It repairs and replaces damaged cells with new ones. The more effective the system, the more efficient cell regeneration becomes. Unfortunately, the regeneration process begins to decline once the dog enters adulthood and seniorhood.
Cell degeneration makes the dog look and act significantly different than they did in their prime time. The dog may start getting sick easily, have low stamina, and develop digestive problems. To prevent cell degeneration from progressing too quickly, an NAD booster supplement can help.
Another function of NAD is to produce energy. If you want to see your dog remain energetic, active, and responsive, the NAD system in its body should be in good condition, especially as your dog gets older. A supplement like Domitail will definitely boost the NAD levels and help your dog stay more energetic as they age.
Aside from those functions mentioned above, NAD is also responsible for DNA repair and maintaining healthy mitochondrial function, which is the “powerhouse” of every cell in your dog’s body.
After discussing supplements for adult dogs, it is important to note that multivitamins also play an important role in keeping your dog in good shape.
The older a dog gets, the more they may need additional multivitamins beyond what they receive from their standard diet. These are the essential vitamins needed for adult dogs:
The first vitamin crucial for your dog’s health is vitamin D. Vitamin D supports the absorption of calcium and maintains bone strength and joint health.
The older a dog gets, the less able they are to produce and absorb calcium naturally. Therefore, a proper dose of vitamin D should not be absent from your dog’s diet.
An adult dog typically needs a minimum of 500 IU per kilogram of diet. The need may significantly increase for senior dogs. Thus, dogs in general need 175 to 750 IU of vitamin D, depending on the food’s vitamin D content.
Another essential vitamin for the dog is vitamin E. It is crucial for skin health, the immune system, and muscle tissue. An early adult dog usually still has a shiny coat and thick fur (depending on the breed).
However, a dog owner should be aware that over the next 2–3 years, the coat will become coarser as it approaches seniorhood. Therefore, an adult dog should consume a diet containing 50 IU per kilogram.
Vision decline is very common in senior dogs. Once your dog is in adulthood, it is better to supply your dog with sufficient vitamin A. Vitamin A comes naturally from real food like fish and meat.
However, dogs with risk factors for vision problems may need a higher vitamin A dose. The daily dose of vitamin A needed by an adult dog is around 330–700 IU. An additional multivitamin may be necessary to maintain sharp vision and alertness.
As the dog gets older, its metabolism naturally slows down. This is a natural process because the dog’s body is about to enter a resting stage.
The “resting stage” in seniorhood does not always signal a negative sign. This sign indicates that the dog needs to conserve more energy to function well daily. To support healthy metabolism and ensure your dog has enough energy to function daily, a daily vitamin B complex is highly beneficial.
After talking about multivitamins, we focus on supplements. Supplements are often enhanced and based on advanced technology.
While they may sound more complex than multivitamins, they are equally important for longevity. Also, the kind of supplements varies depending on the dogs’ needs. Here are examples of supplements.
The NAD Booster is a recently popular supplement highly associated with anti-aging for dogs. Dogs have shorter lifespans than humans, which makes dog owners anxious about not having to spend more time with their beloved dogs.
NAD booster technology, such as the MitoX technology in Domitail supplements, helps regenerate cells, repair DNA, and maintain joint flexibility.
Another important supplement that supports coat shine is omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 will help to maintain skin health, fur thickness, and a shiny coat.
Older dogs may have their fur become coarse, fall out easily, and look less beautiful. With omega-3 support, your dog can maintain a fit appearance as it ages.
Other supplements, such as glucosamine for joints, probiotics for gut health, and calming aids for anxiety, are also excellent tools to support your adult dog’s life.
The difference between multivitamins and supplements lies mainly in formulation and technological advancement.
Multivitamins usually come from natural sources, while supplements may combine natural and advanced ingredients to target specific aging concerns. Consulting a veterinarian is the best way to determine the right option based on your dog’s age, lifestyle, and symptoms.
Veterinarian-approved supplements like DomiTail are often recommended for those looking to maximize their dog’s health span. For those seeking healthy, well-bred companions to start this journey with, BlueHaven French Bulldogs offers top-tier puppies raised with an emphasis on health and longevity.
Explore our available puppies and learn more about premium care options at BlueHaven French Bulldogs today!
