Supplements

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 oxidizes 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."