How to introduce a new supplement to your dog, step by step
Adding something new to your dog’s day should be boring. No drama, no rush. Here is a sensible way to do it with any supplement, whatever the brand.
Step 1: Check whether it is right to start at all
Before the bottle is opened, ask a few questions.
- Is my dog an adult? Puppies under one year are growing. Supplements made for adult dogs are not meant for them. Ask your vet.
- Does my dog take medication or have a health condition? Ask your vet first.
- Is my dog pregnant or nursing? Ask your vet first.
- Is the product made for dogs? Never give a dog product to a cat or another animal.
- Am I unsure? Ask your vet.
If you answer yes to any of these, a short chat with the vet comes first. Bring the label.
Step 2: Read the label and the dose
Dose by weight is common for dog products. For example, PAWER Daily is dosed at 1.7 ml per 10 kg of body weight per day. A 20 kg dog would get 3.4 ml. Use the syringe marked in ml, not a spoon. Weigh your dog if you are not sure. A guess can be well off.
Read how to store it, and how long it keeps once opened.
Step 3: Start on a quiet week
Pick a time when nothing else is changing. Avoid starting during:
- A move, or travel
- A new food
- Boarding or kennels
- A vet treatment
- A big change in routine
If your dog has an upset stomach after you change two things at once, you will not know which one caused it. Change one thing at a time.
Step 4: Make it part of a routine
Dogs love routine. Attach the supplement to something that already happens, such as breakfast. Same time, same place, same way.
Some tips for giving a liquid:
- Draw up the amount in the syringe, then check it at eye level.
- Mix it into a small portion of your dog’s normal food, or give it as the guide on the pack says.
- Make sure your dog eats the whole portion, so the full amount goes in.
- Praise, then finish the meal as normal.
Some dogs refuse anything that smells new. If your dog is fussy, try mixing it in a small portion first. Do not force a dog to take it. Do not hide it in a food your dog is not allowed.
Step 5: Watch, and keep notes
For the first couple of weeks, keep a simple note. A phone note is enough. Write down:
- Appetite
- Stools
- Energy on walks
- Sleep
- Itching or skin changes
- Anything odd
This helps in two ways. You see any change early, and you give your vet real information if you need to ask a question. Owners often notice small things, and a vet can check what they mean.
Step 6: Know when to stop
Stop the supplement and call your vet if you see:
- Vomiting or diarrhoea that continues
- Loss of appetite
- Swelling, hives or itching
- Unusual tiredness or other changes that worry you
A change in your dog is always a reason to speak to a vet, whether or not the supplement is the cause. Do not wait and hope.
Step 7: Be realistic
A supplement is a small part of daily care. It does not replace good food, exercise, sleep, dental care, parasite control and regular vet checks. Nobody can promise results from a supplement, and dogs differ. If you do not notice a change, that does not mean it failed, and if you do notice one, it does not prove it worked. Many things shift in a dog’s life at once.
A quick recap
- Ask your vet if there is any doubt.
- Read the label. Dose by weight. Use the syringe.
- Start on a quiet week, one change at a time.
- Same time each day.
- Keep notes.
- Stop and call your vet if something looks wrong.
- Keep expectations modest.
Done well, adding a supplement is as dull as it should be.
What to do next
If you are thinking about adding a daily routine for your dog’s everyday health and energy, here is how to see what PAWER is and what it is not. PAWER Daily is a liquid supplement for dogs, sold as complementary feed. It is not a medicine.
General information for pet owners. Not veterinary advice.