Pet food supplements help the dog’s body function properly by regulating everything from digestion to muscle growth. Food supplements are used as a supplement to the animal’s food, i.e. they can be used when there is a lack of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, protein or in critical phases of the animal’s life when there is a greater need to consume one or another substance, which may not be added fully on standard feed. A deficiency of a particular vitamin can cause health problems in dogs, which can sometimes have serious and long-lasting effects. Pet supplements may be a recommended dietary requirement because the storage and preparation of dog food causes the loss of important vitamins, nutrients and minerals in some dog foods, resulting in our dogs no longer getting enough nutrients. The most common pet supplements are multivitamins, which support arthritic joints and fatty acids to reduce shedding and improve the shine of a dog’s coat. Dog owners can also give probiotics to ease gastrointestinal problems or antioxidants to counteract the effects of aging.