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 A Pet Parent’s Guide To The Best Antioxidants For Dogs
 A Pet Parent’s Guide To The Best Antioxidants For Dogs

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A Pet Parent’s Guide To The Best Antioxidants For Dogs

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Antioxidants are chemicals that the body uses to combat free radicals. And free radicals are substances that might harm the body if they exceed a certain level. Antioxidants are also beneficial for your pets, especially your dogs. Your dog needs antioxidants to help promote a healthy immune system. Hence, every IAMS™ dog formula contains optimal levels of these nutrients.

Antioxidants are naturally occurring essential nutrients that help maintain your dog’s health by slowing the destructive oxidative process of cellular molecules. IAMS™ research has been focusing on advancing antioxidant nutrients for senior dogs — and the benefit is improved immune function. Discover how the antioxidants in IAMS™ products can benefit your dog’s health in a number of ways.

 

Benefits of antioxidants for dogs

Antioxidants are found naturally in fruits and vegetables. Common antioxidants include vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, and certain compounds called carotenoids (like lutein and beta-carotene). When antioxidants are a part of a dog’s complete diet, they can provide the following benefits:

  • Slowing the oxidative process of cellular molecules.
  • Reversing immune-cell function in senior dogs.

 

How antioxidants work

As cells function normally in the body, they produce damaged molecules called free radicals. These free radicals are highly unstable and steal components from other cellular molecules such as fat, protein, or DNA, thereby spreading the damage.

 

This continues in a chain reaction, and causes cells to die. This process is called peroxidation. Peroxidation is useful because it helps the body destroy cells that have outlived their usefulness, and it kills germs and parasites. However, when left unchecked, peroxidation also destroys or damages healthy cells.

 

Antioxidants help prevent widespread cellular destruction by willingly donating components to stabilise free radicals. More importantly, antioxidants return to the surface of the cell to stabilise other cellular components.

 

When there are not enough antioxidants to hold peroxidation in check, free radicals begin damaging healthy cells, which can lead to problems. For example, free radical damage to immune cells can lead to an increased risk of infections.

 

Antioxidants in IAMS™ adult dog and puppy foods

Antioxidants offer countless benefits to our furry friends. And it is imperative that their food is loaded with it. Want to know why? Read on.

 

Why do dogs need antioxidants?

Antioxidants are a must for dogs as they are exposed to significantly more toxins than humans. These antioxidants work like protective agents within the dog’s body, battling free radicals that cause symptoms and diseases like skin problems.

Furthermore, giving liver antioxidants for dogs will boost liver health and eliminate toxins from their body more efficiently. The liver will convert fat-soluble toxins into water-soluble toxins to easily flush them from your pet’s body through the GI tract and kidneys.

Recent research has examined the benefits of certain antioxidants on the immune response of dogs, and the results of these studies indicated that antioxidants are important in helping dogs maintain a healthy immune system.

IAMS™ adult and puppy formulas contain optimal levels of antioxidants such as:

 

Antioxidant

Source

Function

Vitamin E

Plant oil extract and tocopherols

Optimizes immune system’s T-cell activation

Beta-carotene

Vitamin premix, corn meal, chicken by-product meal and chicken fat

Optimizes types of cells present in the blood,
increases antibody levels in the blood
 

 

Now that you know how dog food with antioxidants can benefit your dog, here’s a list of the best antioxidants for dogs: 
 

Best antioxidants for dogs

Vitamin C

  • One of the most essential vitamins for a dog's health
  • Aids in wound healing and reducing inflammation
  • Provides energy so your dog can enjoy playing outside all day

Vitamin E

  • One of the best antioxidants for dogs with cancer
  • Provides a natural boost to the immune system
  • Supports healthy blood vessels and protects against diabetes and heart disease

Beta-carotene

  • It is a fantastic dietary addition for your dog.
  • Helps boost the number of antibodies in blood and offers additional protection against diseases in older dogs

 

Polyphenols

  • Excellent antioxidants for dogs as they help maintain your pet’s health and strength for many years
  • Shields from diseases like cancer or diabetes 

 

Sources of antioxidants for dogs

You can find natural antioxidants for dogs in the following:

 

Fruits and vegetables

The antioxidant content of plant-based foods is high. Foods that are highest in antioxidants are fruits and vegetables as they are loaded with vitamins and beneficial in countless ways. Some examples of excellent sources of antioxidants are blueberries, strawberries, pears, red cabbages, and kale. Make sure to check which fruits and vegetables are safe for your dog to consume. 


Supplements

Give your dog the best vitamins you can, so your pooch stays healthy. It is crucial that dogs receive a supplement that is specifically designed for their life stage. 

 

Look for dog food with antioxidants and nutrients that are bioactive and bioavailable so that these get absorbed properly into your dog’s body. Make sure that the supplement you choose has the ideal ratio of natural elements for your pet’s needs. That can be accomplished by looking for a combination of prebiotics, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals.

 

For a healthy body from the inside, you can also feed your pooch IAMSTM Proactive HealthTM dog food. Find the products that are best for your dog by shopping based on your pet’s age.

Frequently asked questions about Best Antioxidants for Dogs

  1. What foods have antioxidants?
  2. Fruits, nuts, berries, and vegetables are common foods that act as good sources of antioxidants. Giving your dog an antioxidant-rich diet will aid in the battle against oxidative stress and reduce the risk of any illnesses.

  3. What foods promote healing in dogs?
  4. Foods such as organ meats, mushrooms, eggs, bone broth, and raw goat milk speed up the healing of cuts, wounds, and other injuries in dogs.

  5. Can too many antioxidants be harmful to dogs?
  6. The benefits of antioxidants for dogs are innumerable; however, it is always advisable to consult your veterinarian on the right dosage of antioxidants for your pet.

  7. What are the 3 main antioxidants for dogs?
  8. Three of the most important antioxidant vitamins are Vitamin E+C, selenium, and beta-carotene.

  9. Do antioxidants help dogs?
  10. Antioxidant-rich foods for dogs help prevent damages due to free radicals. An adequate intake of antioxidants can help boost your dog’s immunity.

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    How To Take Care of Puppies?

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    Puppies bring abundant joy to our lives from the moment we bring them home and caring for them comes as second nature to us. ‘How to take care of puppies’ is one of the most frequently asked questions by new puppy owners. But taking care of puppies is quite easy with the right method. IAMS is here to help you every step of the way in raising your puppy. From having a varied dog food range to providing tips on dog nutrition, we have got you covered. 
     

    Why Do Puppies Need Special Care?

    Puppies need healthy food and a safe environment as they’re vulnerable to various types of illnesses and diseases. Also, puppies have a natural tendency to chew on objects, so it’s important to ensure that they don’t end up swallowing dangerous objects. Make sure you offer toys to your puppy to satisfy its need to chew.
     

    How Does Proper Care, Nutrition And Training In The Early Years Affect Your Dog’s Health?

    If you feed your puppy healthy food from the start, it will remain healthy even in its old age. Proper nutrition from the start ensures that your puppy does not fall sick or even suffer from fur loss. Making sure that your puppy remains active is very important. A sedentary lifestyle, even for dogs, is extremely harmful to their health in the long run. All these things are an essential part of taking care of your puppy that adds to its healthy and long life.
     

    Puppy Developmental Stages:

    Here is a table that will help you understand your puppy’s growth and developmental stage better:

    Growth stage

    0-7 weeks

    7-8 weeks 

    8-10 weeks 

    8-16 weeks

    4-6 months

    6-12 months

    12-18 

    months

    Character traits

    Puppies learn social behaviour like when to bite, submission, paying attention and general interaction with other dogs. 

    This is the best period for puppies to bond with humans. 

    This is a very vulnerable stage for the puppy, and it is best if it has positive experiences during this stage. It is also called the ‘fear period’.

    You can start training your puppy during this stage. And avoid incorporating punishment for this purpose. 

    Your puppy may appear more confident and independent during this stage. 

    This is the stage when your pup is high on energy. You must ensure it does not experience boredom during this stage.

    By the time your pup reaches this stage, it should have reached emotional maturity as well. 

      

    You may begin training them at this stage with basic simple manners. 

    It is important to make your puppy feel good if it’s sad. 

     

    Ensure you get your puppy spayed or neutered by the 6th month. 

    Provide many opportunities to your dog to play with different kinds of toys. 

    During this phase, your dog tends to assert its dominance and hope to improve its status in your house.


    Tips For New Puppy Owners:

    Owning a puppy feels special, doesn’t it? You have to keep a few things in mind when you bring your puppy home. Here are some tips that may help you raise your dog with ease:

    • You can buy supplies for your pups like stainless steel, non-tip food and water bowls.
    • A personalized crate that has a pillow and a blanket for your pup.
    • Be patient with your dog as it is learning to get acquainted with its new surroundings. 
    • Buy premium pet food for your new friend to get off to a good start. 
    • Buy your pup a collar and write its name and your phone number on it.

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