If you're a dog parent who’s embraced raw feeding—whether through BARF (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food) products or home-prepared meals—you’re already making a thoughtful choice to provide your pet with the best possible diet. Our Australian research suggest that one in four dog parents incorporate raw feeding into their dog’s eating plan, with about 10% claiming to feed exclusively raw. If raw feeding is the pinnacle of canine nutrition, then what role do supplements play?

Canine Supplements Context

It’s often claimed that feeding your dog a raw diet comes with the risk of nutritional gaps. This is largely over-stated, especially if feeding expertly-formulated, complete and balanced BARF products. If you’re going the DIY route, however, please consult an animal nutritionist or naturopath to ensure that you’re meeting the energy, macronutrient (protein and fats in particular) and micronutrient (vitamins and mineral) requirements. There are a few micronutrients that are a bit trickier to meet the recommended daily requirements for but it is completely possible to achieve with a bit of planning.

Having stated the above, there are a proportion of home-prepared raw feeders that supplement their dog’s diet to decrease the risk of nutrient deficiencies and achieve a level of nutritional reassurance - that is perfectly fine. Across the board, however, the top 3 reasons why dog parents incorporate nutritional additives are:

1. Promotion of general health, wellness and longevity
2. Support for gut health and digestion
3. Contribution to skin health and coat quality

Vigilance with Supplements for Dogs

The wonderful thing about nutritional supplements for dogs is that they can be a great-tasting and effective way to get more goodness into their diet, providing beneficial functional foods that are difficult – or impossible – to get through a baseline daily diet. Powerful, natural, food-derived compounds can promote gut health, reduce inflammation, promote mobility and address issues like allergies and skin sensitivities—all crucial for your dog’s wellness, comfort and longevity.

Despite the potential benefits, care should be taken when selecting a meal topper or other supplement to fortify your dog’s diet. It’s important to pay attention to the ingredient list in particular. In the majority of Australian supplements that we’ve reviewed, there are ingredients that are not compatible with raw feeding principles, and worse – have the potential to harm your dog over time. Often, these ingredients seem safe and familiar at face value, however the drivers for their inclusion into products is more about profits and less about your pooch’s health.

“Not all dogs need supplements, however the majority of dogs can benefit from nutritional supplements. You just need to be careful with your choices.”

Why Not All Supplements Are Created Equal

Many conventional supplements contain additives that are counter to the principles of biologically-appropriate feeding. These additives may include synthetic vitamins, grains, fillers, and artificial flavours—all of which could undermine the benefits of raw feeding through negative inflammatory and epigenetic mechanisms.

At Vital Dog, we prioritise natural, nutrient-dense ingredients that promote the wellbeing of dogs by supporting their innate ability to achieve and maintain a state of homeostasis. Our meal toppers are free from unsuitable lab-made compounds and are designed to optimise and complement a raw diet instead of conflict with it.

Here are some examples of natural, functional ingredients that you don’t typically find in non-fortified, raw food diets, that we incorporate into Vital Dog meal topper formulations to promote canine health:

• Probiotics – gut health, digestion, immune functions
• Green-lipped mussel – joint health, mobility, reduced inflammation
• Quercetin and bromelain - anti-allergy and anti-inflammatory properties
• Norwegian sea kelp - dental health, metabolism, trace minerals
• Propolis and colostrum - immune system support and modulation
• Fulvic acid - nutrient absorption and detoxification

What to Avoid in Dog Supplements

Here’s a handy table to help you spot ingredients commonly found in dog supplements that may be problematic for some dogs. We avoid using any and all of these in Vital Dog products.

Choosing the Right Supplements for Your Dog

When choosing supplements - especially raw feeders and those pursuing natural and suitable diets for their dog - look for:

• 100% natural ingredients: clear ingredient lists containing real foods and food-derived compounds
• Pesticide and GMO-free: avoid disruptive contaminants, especially from large plant crops
• Functional benefits: Choose supplements that align with your dog’s specific needs, like joint support, allergy relief, or gut health.

Protect Your Dog’s Health with Vital Dog Meal Toppers

By combining a raw diet with high-quality supplements like Vital Dog meal toppers, you can maximise your pet’s vitality and longevity. Our products are designed to support your dog’s natural biology without introducing unnecessary and potentially harmful additives. It makes no sense to include cheap ingredients that exacerbate the issues that they are supposed to help!

Invest in your dog’s health today and ensure that all the hard work you’ve put into raw feeding truly pays off.