Supplements

Why this matters:this is the lesson that changes what a customer spends and how well their dog does. It's also the lesson staff most often get wrong in both directions — missing something the dog genuinely needs, or selling five things it doesn't.

The two that aren't optional

Start here, because these two are part of feeding the diet properly rather than an add-on.

Kelp — Organic Sea Kelp carries a broad range of minerals and trace elements. Feeding Pure or a Signature Blend? They need kelp. Feeding Gourmet? They don't — it's already in the 5% greens.

Omega-3 — Herring Oil, or sardines. Almost everyone needs this, including Gourmet customers. This is the single most common mistake on the shop floor: staff assume Gourmet is "complete" and skip the fish oil.

The exception: if they're feeding Pure Salmon or Turkey + Salmon, the oily fish is already in there.

Feeding Add kelp? Add omega-3?
Pure (except salmon) Yes Yes
Pure Salmon / Turkey + Salmon Yes No
Signature Blends Yes Yes
Gourmet No Yes

"Why isn't the fish oil just in the food?" There's a real answer, and it's a good one: fish oil oxidises and degrades sitting frozen. Building it into the recipe would mean selling a product whose omega-3s had already broken down. Added fresh at the bowl, it works.

The targeted supplements

These are for a reason, not for everyone. Sell one when the customer describes the problem it addresses — not as a bundle.

Supplement Sell it when the customer says...
K9 Complete "I want to make sure I'm not missing anything" — the broad daily foundation
Healthy Gut Digestive upset, inconsistent stools, a dog that's been on antibiotics
Digestive Paste The travel-sized version of that conversation — a stressed stomach, a feeding change, a trip. Fast, targeted, short-term
Healthy Joints Older dog, big breed, stiff after walks, working dog
Immune Boost Run-down dog, recovering, or an owner focused on general resilience
Itchy & Allergy Seasonal or environmental itching. Dogs only
Puppy Support Any puppy from 8 weeks. Worth offering to every puppy customer
Healthy Heart Cardiovascular support — usually an older dog, and usually a vet conversation is already happening
Ashwagandha Chews Anxious dog, thunderstorms, fireworks, separation, travel
Essential Spray A coat spray for outdoor season, not a food supplement at all
Feline Vitality Chew Cats. Covered properly in Lesson 6

The two rules that keep you honest

One problem, one supplement. A customer who describes an itchy dog needs the Itchy & Allergy supplement, not that plus gut plus immune plus joints. Selling four things to someone who needed one is how you lose a regular customer.

A supplement is not a diagnosis. "Itchy" can be food, environment, parasites or something medical. You can offer a supplement that supports seasonal itching. You cannot tell a customer what's wrong with their dog. If they describe something persistent, worsening or painful, that's a vet conversation — and saying so plainly builds far more trust than guessing.

Two practical details worth knowing

Probiotics and antibiotics. If a dog is on antibiotics, probiotics should be given roughly two hours after each dose — otherwise the antibiotic kills them on the way through. This is a small piece of knowledge that makes you sound genuinely expert.

Puppy Support from 8 weeks. Puppy customers are the highest-value customers you'll ever get, because they're establishing a routine that may last a decade. Getting the supplement conversation right at 8 weeks matters more than any other single sale.

On the floor

The sentence that should follow every raw food sale:

"Two things go with that — kelp, and a fish oil. Unless you're on Gourmet, in which case you've got the kelp already and just need the oil."

And the one that keeps you out of trouble:

"That's worth a conversation with your vet — and once you've had it, come back and I'll help with the food side."

Key takeaways

  • Kelp: Pure and Signature yes, Gourmet no
  • Omega-3: almost everyone, including Gourmet. Exception is the salmon products
  • Fish oil isn't built into the recipe because it oxidises frozen
  • Targeted supplements are sold one problem at a time, never as a bundle
  • Itchy & Allergy is dogs only
  • Puppy Support from 8 weeks — offer it to every puppy customer
  • Probiotics go two hours after an antibiotic dose
  • A supplement is not a diagnosis. Persistent or worsening symptoms go to a vet

Check your knowledge

  1. A customer buys Gourmet Beef. What do they need and what don't they need?
  2. Why isn't fish oil already in the food?
  3. A customer describes a dog that's been itching badly for three months and is now chewing its paws raw. What do you do?

START HERE

Sample content

Shop More