The 6 Supplements I Actually Give My Dog (and Why Less Is Often More)
- Dr. Heike Jung
- Jul 16
- 4 min read
Tar has taught me a lot about healthy aging. These are the six supplements that have earned a permanent place in his wellness routine.
At a Glance
✔️ Fresh food first
✔️ Targeted supplementation
✔️ Daily movement
✔️ Maintain muscle
✔️ Keep dogs lean
✔️ Healthy aging
Walk into any pet store and you'll find shelves packed with supplements promising healthier joints, shinier coats, stronger immune systems, and longer lives.
It's no wonder pet owners ask me, “Which supplements does my dog really need?”
Before I tell you what I recommend to my patients, I thought I'd answer a different question: What do I actually give my own dog?
Meet Tar. Tar is my senior Labrador. Like many older dogs, he's slowing down a little bit and is beginning to show signs of Geriatric Onset Laryngeal Paralysis and Polyneuropathy (GOLPP). Because I'm both his veterinarian and his mom, I'm very selective about what goes into his food bowl.
Most dogs don't need a cabinet full of supplements. They need the right supplements for their body, their lifestyle, and their stage of life.
When I Choose a Supplement, I Look for Four Things
I'm not looking for the fanciest label or the longest ingredient list. I'm looking for products the body can easily recognize, absorb, and use.
Bioavailable – Can the body actually absorb it?
Bio-identical – Does the body recognize it and know how to use it?
Highly absorbable – If it isn't absorbed, it can't do its job.
Minimal or no inactive ingredients – The fewer fillers, flavors, preservatives, and unnecessary ingredients, the better.
More Isn't Better
Supplements are still substances the body has to digest, absorb, and process.
Giving too many—or giving supplements that aren't actually needed—can sometimes contribute to digestive upset, vomiting, diarrhea, or skin flare-ups.
A supplement should support the body, not replace a healthy diet or compensate for a poor one. Sometimes doing less is actually doing more.
Not Every Supplement Needs to Be Given Forever
Some supplements become lifelong support. Others are only needed for a season. Once the body has recovered, some can often be continued at a lower maintenance dose or even discontinued for a period before reassessing.
The 6 Supplements I Give My Own Dog
A quick note: I only recommend products that I personally use, trust, or recommend to my own patients. Some of the links in this article are affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission if you choose to purchase through them. There is no additional cost to you, and I never recommend a product simply because I earn a commission.
Supplement | Why I Use It |
Plain Kefir | Healthy gut microbiome & digestion |
Liquid BioCell™ | Joints, cartilage, connective tissue & skin |
Nordic Naturals Omega-3 | Inflammation, skin, brain & heart |
Petsmont Buddy Guard | Immune support |
MCT Oil | Brain & cognitive support |
MYOS Veterinary Strength | Muscle maintenance & strength |
Tar eats a balanced raw diet, so his supplement list is actually pretty short. These are the products that have earned a permanent place in his wellness routine because they support specific areas of health without adding unnecessary ingredients.
1. Plain Kefir
The first thing I regularly add to Tar's bowl isn't a pill or powder—it's plain, organic, unsweetened kefir with live cultures.
People often ask why I recommend kefir instead of goat milk or colostrum. Colostrum is the very first milk produced after birth and is incredibly important for newborns because it delivers antibodies and nutrients during that brief window of life. For adult dogs, my philosophy has always been to choose something nature intended for that stage of life.
2. Liquid BioCell™
BioCell is my first choice whenever inflammation affects joints, skin, or connective tissues. It's one of the few supplements I consistently use myself, give to Tar and my horse, and recommend to my patients.
A placebo-controlled study of Labrador Retrievers found that dogs receiving BioCell Collagen® showed improvements in mobility and quality of life compared with dogs receiving a placebo. While no supplement is a miracle cure, I appreciate seeing published research that supports what I've been observing in my own patients for years. Read the study here: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9512092/
If your dog has a chicken allergy, don't automatically rule it out—BioCell is purified collagen from chicken sternum cartilage rather than chicken muscle meat.Interested in trying Liquid BioCell? You can order it through my Shaklee storefront.
3. Nordic Naturals Omega-3
There are countless Omega-3 products on the market. Nordic Naturals is the one I continue coming back to because of its quality, purity, and freshness standards.
4. Petsmont Buddy Guard
One of the things I appreciate most about Buddy Guard is its simplicity. It contains only the active mushroom ingredients I'm looking for, without fillers or inactive ingredients.
5. MCT Oil
MCT oil provides an alternative fuel source for the brain and supports cognitive health in senior dogs. It may also benefit some dogs with seizure disorders or other neurological conditions.
6. MYOS Veterinary Strength
One thing many owners don't realize is that muscle loss often begins long before we notice weakness. MYOS contains Fortetropin®, a natural ingredient that helps support healthy muscle growth and maintenance.
My referral code: BEYONDVETMED-MS
Should Every Dog Take All Six?
Absolutely not. Supplements should be chosen for the individual dog—not simply because of age or breed. Tar's supplement list isn't necessarily your dog's supplement list.
Why You Won't Find 20 Supplements in Tar's Bowl
People are sometimes surprised that my own dog doesn't take a lot of supplements.
You can't supplement your way out of a poor diet or a sedentary lifestyle!
Tar's health starts with fresh food, maintaining a lean body weight, daily movement, strengthening exercises, chiropractic care when needed, and plenty of outdoor activity. The supplements simply support that healthy foundation.
Final Thoughts
If there's one thing I'd like you to take away from this article, it's this:
Supplements are exactly that—supplements. They work best when they're supporting an already healthy foundation, not trying to replace one.
Feed your dog well. Keep them lean. Help them stay strong. Encourage healthy movement. Then, when appropriate, choose high-quality supplements that support those goals.
Dr. Heike Jung, DVM, cAVCA, cIACH
Veterinarian • Animal Chiropractor • Homeopath
Founder of BeyondVetMed
"Helping pets move better, grow stronger, and age gracefully."
Interested in learning more?
• How Animal Chiropractic Works
• How Many Calories Does My Dog Really Need?
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