Raw Feeding Essentials: The Must-Have Supplement Stack

A balanced commercial raw diet is mostly complete. Most. The trace minerals and certain fats that come from a wider prey-model diet (whole prey, organs, varied tissues) often don't show up at full levels in even premium commercial raw. So we layer in a small supplement stack to close the gap.

Here's what we recommend at Barks N Purrs for raw-fed dogs and cats. Always check with your vet, especially if your pet has a diagnosed condition.

The 3 essentials

1. Omega-3 from a fish source

Even raw diets often need a boost in EPA and DHA. Wild fatty fish (salmon, sardines, anchovies, mackerel) is the best source. Options:

• Whole sardines a few times a week. Cheap, effective, easy.
• Salmon oil as a daily topper. Look for wild-caught, third-party tested for heavy metals.
• Krill oil if salmon causes issues. Smaller dose, also has astaxanthin.

What it does: reduces inflammation, supports heart and joint health, improves coat and skin, supports cognitive function.

2. A pet probiotic

Even on a clean raw diet, the gut microbiome benefits from regular probiotic support. Modern environments (cleaning chemicals, stress, occasional antibiotics, etc.) constantly nudge it off balance.

Look for: pet-specific multi-strain, with prebiotics, refrigerated or shelf-stable in protective packaging, with a guaranteed CFU count at expiration.

3. A whole-food multi-vitamin or sea-based mineral

The gap closer. Commercial raw can be slightly low in trace minerals (iodine, manganese, zinc). A whole-food mineral source covers that without going overboard.

Options: kelp powder, sea-mineral blends, whole-food multivitamins formulated for raw diets. We carry several at the store.

The 2 strongly-recommended layers

4. Medicinal mushrooms

Reishi, turkey tail, lion's mane, cordyceps, chaga. Each has different effects (immune support, cognitive support, kidney function, etc.). A blended pet mushroom supplement gives broad-spectrum support.

Particularly worth it for: senior pets, immune-compromised pets, pets recovering from illness, or as long-term wellness support.

5. Bone broth

Daily, even 1-2 tablespoons. Supports gut lining (collagen, gelatin), joint health (glucosamine, chondroitin from cartilage), and adds moisture to the diet. Easy to make at home or buy pre-made.

What we usually skip

If you're feeding a balanced commercial raw, you generally DON'T need:

• Calcium supplements (raw bone or ground bone is in the food)
• General multivitamins (most are over-fortified)
• Synthetic vitamin E or D (food sources usually cover it)
• Coconut oil (fat balance is already there; coconut oil is heavy in saturated fat without the omega-3 benefit)

If you're feeding home-prepared raw without bone or organs, supplementation calculus is different. We can talk you through it in person.

How to introduce supplements

Start with one at a time, 1-2 weeks apart. This way if your pet has any reaction, you know what caused it. Add omega-3 first, then probiotic, then mineral support. Sequence the others as needed.

Doses depend on weight. Read the label, start at the lower end, work up if tolerated.

Stop in

Stop by Barks N Purrs at 925 Headmaster Row in Winnipeg, call 204-219-1928, or browse our Health Care and Grooming collection. We can match supplements to your specific raw brand and your pet's age, size, and any health concerns.