Keeping a well-bred hunting athlete healthy is typically pretty simple; it just takes time, commitment and the right fuel. Proper diet and training regimen will have a pointer pointing and retriever fetching. But sometimes food and exercise aren't enough.
Medicating pup properly keeps him in the game too...and birds in your vest. Check out the best new dog nutrition products for 2015:
Intervet | Bravecto Chews
Treating every month for parasites is fine, but a longer lasting treatment like
Bravecto chews from Intervet makes it easy. One chew provides up to 12 weeks of protection, which means even in areas with multiple outbreaks of ticks only a couple of doses are necessary. Pups six months or older, along with pregnant, lactating or breeding dogs can be safely given Bravecto.
Price: N/A
Doc's | COS
If your field veteran suffers from hip or elbow dysplaysia, arthritis or other orthopedic afflictions, they can find relief thanks to the all-natural
COS pellets. Containing chondroitin, glucosamine, MSM, COS can be fed to dogs of all ages, helping to build stronger bones and relieve aches and pains.
Price: $29.40 for 60 doses
Earth Balance | Release Spray
Keep your gun dog tick-free this season with
Release Spray and Mail-In Test Kit. An all-natural spray made of oils protects pup from debilitating disease, and the kit actually allows you to not only remove ticks, but send them in for diagonostic testing. The spray releases ticks from the skin to ensure proper removal.
Price: $5.99
Happy Jack | DuraSpot
Ticks are on the up-tick, but
DuraSpot Dog uses Nylar to kill and repel fleas and ticks for up to four weeks. It also prevents flea re-infestation for up to five weeks, and kills flea larvae and eggs for up to four months.
Price: $34.95
Kinetic | Performance Dog Food
Nutritional needs throughout the year change drastically for our sporting dogs. Consider how different the calorie intake should be in February versus October for most hunting dogs. That is one of the reasons the entire
Kinetic
line contains a common ingredient profile, which makes for a smooth transition from formula to formula. Each contains three animal protein sources and is devoid of corn, wheat and soy to ensure your dog gets the best nutrition possible.
Price: $49.95
Merrick | Backcountry
Real meat is the key to a healthy, happy field dog, and
Merrick delivers with its Game Bird recipe, made with turkey, duck, quail and freeze-dried raw chicken. Mixed with kibble, the meat pieces give your dog the nutritional boost it needs day after day. Each formula is all-natural and grain-free. It's also easily digested and has a fresh taste dogs love.
Price: $62.98
Native | Level 1
Even the most rambunctious dogs usually aren't as active in their day-to-day lives as they are hunting. This difference in energy output, requires a food source like
Level 1, which is chock full of vitamins and minerals in addition to its 24/14 ratio of protein to fat. Each batch is formulated without meat byproducts, wheat, corn or soy. A full pound of Native Level 1 contains 1640 calories, meaning less feeding, less waste and a healthier pup.
Price: $53.25
Purina | ReFUEL
Plenty of thought has been devoted to fueling our sporting dogs for a day of hard hunting, but the recovery period immediately following such strenuous activity hasn't received as much consideration. Thankfully, the folks at
Purina understand this and have addressed it with their ReFUEL Nutritional Supplement bars. To aid in the replenishment of muscle stores, each bar contains rapidly digestible carbohydrates, which allow glucose to enter the bloodstream. Treat your dog to a ReFUEL bar within 30 minutes of the exercise ending and he'll reap the rewards of a swift recovery.
Price: $3.29
Realtree | Performance Dog Food
Take a walk through any pet food store and check out the protein-to-fat ratio, and you'll likely notice it's pretty difficult to find one advertising 30 percent protein and 25 percent fat. This is because most dogs don't need it, but that doesn't mean all dogs don't. This is why
Realtree has created High Performance — because they understand the demands we put on our gun dogs. The nutrient-dense, low-carb formula is perfect for keeping coats healthy and weights in check, and promoting overall performance and recovery.
Price: $55.29
Zoom Dog | Hunt Dog Hunt
Hunt Dog Hunt is formulated to promote healthier joints and will aid in quicker post-hunt recovery. Zoom Dog packs powerful antioxidants and other joint strengthening nutrients into HDH so your old pheasant dog can hunt a little longer and recuperate faster.
Price: $27.99