Phytoplankton for Dogs: Powerpacked Super Nutrition in a Tiny Package

🎶 Under the sea.
Under the sea.
Darling it’s better, down where it’s wetter
Take it from me. 🎶

After all. That’s where you’ll find phytoplankton for dogs!

Phyto-what? If this is something new to you, trust us, you’re going to want to keep reading. As the title suggests, this is a powerhouse supplement in a tiny package.

What is Phytoplankton?

Marine phytoplankton, also known as microalgae, are tiny, microscopic plants that form the base of many different food chains in the ocean. In a balanced ecosystem, phytoplankton provide food for many, many sea creatures – from microscopic zooplankton to massive whales.

It’s actually a single-celled organism that offers:

• trace minerals
• chlorophyll
• essential amino acids
• EPA
• fatty acids
• protein
• carotenoids
• antioxidants

The Benefits of Phytoplankton for Dogs

Probably the best thing about phytoplankton is that it offers complete nutrition.

It’s also a whole food, and your dog absorbs and uses it all – without having to digest it first. It’s incredibly bioavailable. Why does this matter? Well, when your dog eats something, it usually has to travel through the digestive system and break down first. With phytoplankton, the particles are so small that your dog’s mucous membranes absorb it, delivering energy right to the body’s cells.

But wait, there’s more.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

You may have noticed fatty acids in the list above. It’s true – phytoplankton contains both DHA and EPA – at nearly double the amounts by weight as fish oil. You want those omega-3 fatty acids in your dog’s diet because they support the immune system and cognitive function, the heart, the skin, and the joints. They’re also crucial for managing inflammation in the body – and we all know that this is essential when it comes to reducing the risk of chronic disease.

If you feed fish or fish oils for those vital omega-3s? That’s awesome. Well, what if I told you fish aren’t born with high levels of omega-3 fats. They actually need to get them from their diet? And what do they eat? Phytoplankton! That’s right, a fish’s source of omega-3 is this hany-dandy little spec.

Trace Minerals

Then of course there are the trace minerals. Phytoplankton is rich in trace minerals like chromium, copper, iodine, iron, selenium, and zinc. These trace minerals are essential for the proper functioning of our dogs’ bodies. Your dog gets some from his diet, but as with anything, balance can be tough, so supplementing to make sure these needs are met every day is crucial for warding off:

• Inflammatory disease
• Bone, cartilage, ligament or tendon issues
• Dull coat color
• Skin and fur problems
• Low immunity
• Slow healing of wounds

Cancer Fighting Antioxidants

Move over blueberries (no, just joking, keep feeding them).

Every day, your dog is exposed to harmful environmental pollutants, causing free radicals to bombard the system and cause oxidative stress. But even normal bodily functions like breathing product these harmful attackers to invade as well. The free radicals attack healthy cells, leaving them vulnerable to a whole host of diseases, from arthritis and joint problems, to skin and autoimmune disease, to heart disease and cancer. To keep your dog healthy, you absolutely need to fight back.

That’s where antioxidants come in. They go on the defensive and help protect healthy cells from damage caused by free radicals. Phytoplankton is rich in antioxidants, so adding it as part of that daily health regimen is key in overall health.

Adding to that, it also contains Superoxide dismutase (SOD), an enzyme that helps the body detoxify harmful superoxide. Superoxide is produced as a by-product of oxygen metabolism and, if it isn’t regulated, it can lead to many types of cell damage. Thankfully, SOD is an important antioxidant defense in nearly all living cells exposed to oxygen, giving superoxide a run for its money. In fact, research shows us it has therapeutic potential for cancer, inflammatory diseases, arthritis, neurodegenerative diseases, and diabetes.

How to Feed Phytoplankton for Dogs

This is really, really simple. Because Phytoplankton is packed with nutrients, you need to add very little of it to your dog’s daily diet. Like a tiny amount. A little goes a loooong way. So, open up that jar, follow the dosing directions, and mix it with your dog’s daily food.

Our favorite phytoplankton for dogs is Phyto Synergy from Adored Beast Apothecary. There are several reasons for this. Number 1 – their phytoplankton supplement is literally just 100% marine phytoplankton. No other ingredients. It is a one-person army – it doesn’t need any help.

Second, Adored Beast’s is sustainable and eco-friendly. Phytoplankton literally feeds the ocean, so Adored Beast is dedicated to NOT taking ANY food source from the ocean. Their phytoplankton is grown on land and completely sustainable. Good for our dogs, good for the Earth!

No matter which phytoplankton supplement you choose though, adding it to your animal’s diet is a win-win, no matter how you look at it! Here’s to good health!