When Vets Shop for Their Own Dogs
We wanted to cut through the noise in a different way. Instead of evaluating products ourselves, we asked 12 veterinarians (a mix of general practitioners, a veterinary nutritionist, two veterinary dermatologists, and a veterinary cardiologist) a simple question: what supplements, if any, do you actually give your own dogs?
The answers were illuminating. Not because of any single product recommendation, but because of the pattern that emerged.
The Overwhelming Consensus: Fish Oil
11 out of 12 vets give their own dogs a fish oil supplement. This was the most consistent answer by far. The reasons cited: robust evidence base, broad benefits (joints, skin, brain, heart, kidneys), excellent safety profile, and affordable.
Brands mentioned most frequently: Nordic Naturals (4 vets), Welactin (3 vets), and Grizzly (2 vets). Two vets simply buy human grade fish oil and dose appropriately.
The veterinary nutritionist noted: "If I could only give my dogs one supplement, it would be a high quality fish oil at proper therapeutic dosing. The evidence is the strongest of any pet supplement."
Second Most Common: Joint Support
8 of 12 vets give their older dogs (7+) some form of joint supplement. The specific products varied more widely than fish oil:
- Dasuquin or Cosequin (Nutramax): 4 vets
- Green lipped mussel based products: 2 vets
- Adequan injections (not a supplement but worth noting): 2 vets with dogs who have significant arthritis
The general consensus: glucosamine/chondroitin has moderate evidence and is worth trying. Multiple vets noted that they combine joint supplements with fish oil and consider the fish oil more important of the two.
Third: Probiotics
6 of 12 vets give their dogs probiotics, but mostly situationally rather than daily. The most common scenarios: after antibiotic treatment, during dietary transitions, or for dogs with chronic GI sensitivity.
Products mentioned: FortiFlora (Purina) was the most frequently cited (4 vets), followed by Visbiome Vet for dogs with IBD. One vet simply gives plain kefir.
The Surprises
NAD+ Precursors
2 of the 12 vets mentioned giving their senior dogs an NAD+ precursor supplement. One specifically mentioned LongTails, the other uses a human NR supplement at an adjusted dose. Both cited the aging research from Sinclair and Brenner's labs and noted that while canine specific data is still developing, the conserved biology across mammals makes it a reasonable proactive intervention.
The veterinary nutritionist commented: "NAD+ science is probably where the pet supplement industry will be in 5 years. The mechanisms are well understood. We're just waiting for the canine specific clinical trials to catch up."
SAMe
3 vets give their senior dogs SAMe, primarily for cognitive support. One gives Denamarin (SAMe + silybin) to a dog with mildly elevated liver enzymes. All three noted that SAMe has better evidence for cognitive function than most people realize.
Vitamin E
4 vets add vitamin E specifically because they also give fish oil. They cited the increased antioxidant demand created by polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation.
What Vets Don't Give Their Dogs
Just as revealing as what they do give:
- Multivitamins: Zero vets give their dogs a multivitamin supplement if the dog is on a quality commercial diet. Universal agreement that it's redundant.
- CBD: Only 1 vet has tried CBD for their dog (for anxiety, with mixed results). Most cited the lack of regulation, quality control issues, and inconsistent evidence.
- "Kitchen sink" supplements: No vet gave their dog a supplement with more than 10 active ingredients. Multiple vets specifically criticized the everything in one chew approach.
- Unregulated herbal blends: Minimal interest in trendy herbal combinations without published evidence.
The Pattern
When veterinarians choose supplements for their own dogs, they:
- Start with evidence. Every commonly given supplement had published veterinary research supporting it.
- Focus on a few things done well. Nobody was giving their dog 8 different supplements.
- Prioritize quality over quantity. They buy fewer products but from companies they trust.
- Keep it simple. Fish oil for (almost) everyone. Joint support for aging dogs. Probiotics as needed.
- Stay skeptical of trends. No vet was chasing the latest Instagram supplement.
How to Apply This
You don't need to copy a vet's exact supplement routine. Your dog has different needs. But the approach is worth emulating:
- Choose supplements based on evidence, not marketing
- Limit your stack to 2 to 4 focused products rather than one "everything" product
- Prioritize fish oil as a foundation (the closest thing to a universally recommended supplement)
- Add targeted support based on your specific dog's health needs
- Don't feel pressured to supplement if your dog is young, healthy, and on a good diet
When in doubt, ask your own vet what they'd recommend for YOUR dog. And maybe ask what they give their own.
