How to Choose the Best Supplement for Your Pet: A Holistic Veterinarian’s Guide

How to Choose the Best Supplement for Your Pet: A Holistic Veterinarian’s Guide

As a loving pet parent, you want the best for your pet, especially when it comes to their health. With the pet supplement industry booming, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the endless choices—probiotics, joint support, omega-3s, herbal blends, and more.

But how do you know which supplement is truly beneficial for your pet and not just a clever marketing gimmick?

As a holistic veterinarian, I’ve seen firsthand how the right supplement can transform a pet’s health. But I’ve also seen how the wrong choices can lead to wasted money and even worsening health issues. That’s why I want to walk you through a simple, holistic approach to choosing the best supplement for your pet—without the overwhelm.

Step 1: Identify Your Pet’s Specific Needs

Before adding a supplement, take a step back and assess your pet’s overall health.

Are they struggling with chronic digestive issues?

Do they have itchy skin or seasonal allergies?

Are they slowing down with joint pain?

The best way to determine what your pet needs is to start with the root cause of their symptoms rather than just treating them on the surface. If your pet has chronic gut issues, for example, a probiotic may help, but if there’s an underlying imbalance in their microbiome, you may need a more targeted gut restoration plan.

💡 Pro Tip: Consider functional lab testing before investing in random supplements. Tests like microbiome analysis, vitamin and mineral testing, and food sensitivity panels can give you personalized insights into what your pet truly needs.

Here's one of my favorites that I use every day with pets in my Blueprint program: 

• Innovative Pet Lab to identify if there is inflammation, immune system imbalances and functional changes that are causing symptoms.  Check them out here (use code NaturalPet25 for a 25% discount).  

Step 2: Check the Ingredients (Not Just the Label Claims!)

Not all pet supplements are created equal. Many brands add unnecessary fillers, synthetic ingredients, or even harmful preservatives that can do more harm than good.

When evaluating a supplement, look for:

✔ High-quality, bioavailable ingredients – The supplement should contain nutrients in a form your pet can absorb. For example, methylated B vitamins are better absorbed than synthetic ones.

✔ No artificial additives, fillers, or byproducts – Avoid ingredients like artificial colors, sweeteners, and preservatives such as BHA, BHT, and ethoxyquin.

✔ Third-party testing and transparency – Reputable companies will conduct third-party lab testing to ensure purity and safety. They should also be transparent about ingredient sourcing.

❌ Red flags to watch out for: If a supplement’s label doesn’t disclose the full ingredient list, claims to be a "cure-all," or includes vague terms like "proprietary blend" without specifying amounts, it’s best to look elsewhere.

Step 3: Understand the Synergy Between Supplements and Diet

One of the biggest mistakes pet parents make is relying on supplements without addressing diet first. A high-quality, species-appropriate diet provides the foundation for your pet’s health, and supplements should be used to fill gaps, not replace nutrition.

For example:

• If your pet is eating a processed kibble diet, adding an omega-3 supplement can help counteract inflammation from poor-quality fats.
• If your pet is on a raw or home-cooked diet but lacks diversity, a high-quality whole food multivitamin and trace minerals may be necessary, like Standard Process Canine/Feline Whole Body Support. 
• If your pet has gut issues, a probiotic alone won’t fix the problem—balancing the gut microbiome through diet and targeted herbs will be more effective.

💡 Pro Tip: Always start with diet first, and then choose supplements strategically based on what’s missing or needed for healing.

Step 4: Work with a Holistic Veterinarian

There’s a reason I emphasize this—every pet is unique, and what works for one may not work for another. Some supplements interact with medications or existing health conditions, so it’s important to consult with a knowledgeable professional before adding anything new.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, you don’t have to navigate this alone! Inside the Healthy Holistic Pet for Life Blueprint, I help pet parents identify the root cause of their pet’s gut health symptoms, run the right tests, and create a step-by-step healing plan—including exactly which supplements to use and when and provide you support in our private community so you’re never alone again in trying to help your pet thrive.

👉 Schedule a call to discuss how finding the root cause and using natural therapies could benefit your pet’s gut health and see if our Blueprint program could help you, just like it has for Riley and many other pets that were experiencing gut health issues. Together, we can give your pet the vibrant health they deserve.

Step 5: Start Slow and Monitor Results

Once you’ve chosen a high-quality supplement, start with a low dose and gradually increase if needed. Some pets may need time to adjust, especially with gut-supporting supplements like probiotics.

✔ Track changes in symptoms – Keep a journal of any improvements or reactions.
✔ Give it time – Some supplements, like joint support formulas, take weeks to show full effects.
✔ Adjust as needed – If you don’t see results, consider adjusting the dosage, switching brands, or addressing underlying issues first.

The Bottom Line: Quality Over Quantity

Instead of throwing multiple supplements at your pet and hoping for the best, focus on quality over quantity. A single well-chosen supplement can do more good than five unnecessary ones.

And if you’re ready for a guided approach to healing your pet with holistic nutrition, targeted supplements, and expert support, my Healthy Holistic Pet for Life Blueprint is here to help. You don’t have to guess your way through this—let’s find the right plan for your pet together!

Further Resources

• Top 5 Supplements for Acid Reflux in Pets
• The Holistic Guide to Treating Dog Allergies, Itchy Skin, and Yeast Infections

*Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace the advice of your own veterinarian or doctor. The information contained in thenaturalpetdoctor.com is strictly for educational purposes. Therefore, if you wish to apply ideas contained in thenaturalpetdoctor.com, you are taking full responsibility for your actions. Please consult your veterinarian for medical advice for your own pets. Dr. Katie Woodley cannot answer specific questions about your pet’s medical issues or make medical recommendations for your pet without first establishing a veterinarian-client-patient relationship.  Links in the blog are typically affiliate links that let you help support us.