The New Dog Supplement Everyone’s Talking About

May 9, 2019 at 10:10 PM

OK, you’ve mixed ashwagandha into your breakfast smoothie, taken your Ritual multivitamin and sprinkled goji berries on everything. We worship you, Supplement Queen! But, what about your dog? Feeding pups a healthy diet is one thing, making sure they’ve got extra nutrients to support specific systems and issues is another. Lucky for you, there’s Mac+Maya.

Brought to you by Nature’s Bounty, a wellness company that’s been churning out high-quality vitamins and supplements for (literally) decades, comes Mac+Maya. Named after two lovablepups, the brand creates doggie supplements targeting everything from bad breath to joint pain.

The brand says they’re all about transparency, which frankly is a must these days when it comes to nutrition for people and pets. The recipes for their supplements have been formulated by real veterinarians and are free of any artificial colors or flavors. (You can see full nutrition info on their site.) Don’t worry—they taste delicious (to dogs), so forget messing around with pill pockets or tricking Lady into forcing one down.

The products are also wheat-free, though there are varying theories on grain-free diets for canines, so talk to your vet to make sure your pup has a well-rounded diet.

Daily multivitamin
The daily multivitamin provides dogs with—you guessed it—vitamins! And minerals and omega-6 fatty acids for an added boost. There’s also parsley to combat bad breath (no offense, Lady).

Joint support
Designed for aging and arthritic dogs, this supplement is packed full of MSM (methylsulfonylmethane, for all you nerds), glucosamine, a cartilage builder and chondroitin, a substance already present in dog cartilage that works well with glucosamine to boost joint health.

Skin and coat
Lookin’ good is part of feelin’ good, no? Keep your pup’s appearance on point with this treat. Each chew delivers tons of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids for a lustrous coat and hydrated skin. (Considering trying one myself…)

Calming aid
Does your dog have separation anxiety? What about general uneasiness around unfamiliar situations? It’s worth giving this supplement a try. Melatonin and L-tryptophan encourage relaxation and help soothe nervous pups.

Digestive health
Popping one of these with dinner gives dogs an extra dose of the enzymes that help break down food and fiber in the intestines. These include alpha-amylase, protease and cellulase, plus live cultures to keep that digestive system moving.

All of Mac+Maya’s products are soft-chews and come in cute jars with wooden lids. There are 70 chews in each jar, though dosage varies depending on the supplement and your dog’s size and age. Be sure to follow the feeding instructions for each.

Finally, a portion of all sales from Mac+Maya go to America’s VetDogs, an organization connecting service dogs to vets suffering from PTSD or living with disabilities, and the Guide Dog Foundation, an organization connecting service dogs to people with visual impairments. Of course, talk to your vet before buying a lifetime supply.