Endocrine & Metabolic

At a Glance

Hydrotherapy for dogs refers to structured exercise performed in water to support mobility, recovery, and muscle strength while reducing strain on joints. Because water partially supports the body and provides natural resistance, dogs can move in ways that may feel easier than on land. In healthy dogs, coordinated movement depends on balanced muscles, flexible joints, and clear communication between the nervous system and limbs. When injury, aging, or chronic strain disrupts that balance, water-based exercise and clinical hydrotherapy can help rebuild strength and restore safer movement patterns.

At a Glance

Insulin Therapy is used to regulate blood sugar levels in dogs with diabetes, typically through daily injections. It is essential for diabetic dogs, but holistic vets often recommend dietary management and lifestyle adjustments alongside insulin treatment.

At a Glance

Levothyroxine is the most common medication used to treat hypothyroidism in dogs. It replaces thyroxine (T4), the primary hormone normally produced by the thyroid gland, allowing the body to restore normal metabolic signaling. When thyroid hormone levels return to a healthy range, many processes that depend on those signals, including energy production, skin health, hair growth, and metabolic balance, gradually normalize. Treatment typically requires long-term medication and periodic blood testing to ensure hormone levels remain within an appropriate range.

At a Glance

Microbiome testing for dogs is a way to look at the bacteria living in the gut using a stool sample. These microbes play a role in digestion, immune signaling, and how nutrients are processed throughout the body. Test results can help show patterns in the gut environment and are sometimes used to track changes over time, such as after diet or probiotic adjustments. Because the microbiome shifts constantly, results reflect a moment in time rather than a fixed measure of gut health.

At a Glance

Pancreatic Enzyme Replacement Therapy (Prescription-Strength Enzymes) is a lifelong treatment for dogs with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI), where the pancreas fails to produce digestive enzymes. Prescription powders like Viokase-V, PancrePlus, or PanaKare are mixed with every meal to break down fats, proteins, and carbs for proper nutrient absorption. These are available only through veterinarians and must be dosed precisely to prevent malnutrition.

At a Glance

Prednisone/ Prednisolone (Steroid) reduces inflammation, immune system overactivity, and allergic reactions. It is given as a daily oral tablet, with dosages typically tapered over time. Long-term use can cause side effects, so some holistic vets recommend alternative anti-inflammatory strategies when possible. It is available by veterinary prescription through pet pharmacies.

At a Glance

Appropriate exercise is physical activity that supports a dog’s cardiovascular health, joint function, muscle strength, and mental well-being in a way that aligns with their biology, instincts, and individual capacity. Effective exercise balances physical movement with mental engagement and varies based on a dog’s genetics, life stage, environment, and health status.

At a Glance

Healthy weight management for dogs aims to maintain an optimal dog body condition, not just a target weight. Dog obesity increases joint stress and metabolic risk, while being underweight can signal poor nutrition, muscle loss, or underlying illness. Regular body condition scoring with veterinary input helps caregivers track trends and keep dogs in a healthier middle range.

At a Glance

A species-appropriate diet for dogs emphasizes foods that align with canine digestive biology and nutritional needs. It prioritizes nutrient-dense ingredients, adequate high-quality protein and fat, appropriate moisture, and forms of nutrients the body can readily absorb and use. Because dogs vary widely in age, breed, activity level, and health status, species-appropriate feeding functions as a flexible framework rather than a single prescribed diet.

At a Glance

Chronic stress and anxiety disrupt a dog’s emotional balance, immune function, digestion, and long-term health. Supporting emotional well-being through a stable environment, physical and mental enrichment, and targeted nutrition helps dogs feel secure and resilient.

At a Glance

A 2024 feeding trial in healthy adult dogs tested purified beta-1,3/1,6-glucans sourced from yeast. At a 0.14% inclusion in dry food, dogs showed improved protein digestibility, a microbiome shift toward generally beneficial bacteria, and a small uptick in an immune balance marker, with no adverse clinical effects noted. The authors frame beta-glucans as a family of fibers also found in fungi such as mushrooms, so these yeast results help inform the broader beta-glucan conversation.

At a Glance

This 2025 clinical study published in BMC Veterinary Research investigated how often hypothyroidism is the underlying cause in dogs presenting with common concerns like hair loss or obesity. The researchers aimed to clarify whether these everyday clinical signs are frequently linked to thyroid dysfunction, how the condition progresses when unrecognized, and how dogs respond to treatment. The findings show that hypothyroidism is not uncommon in these cases and can affect multiple body systems when it advances.

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This 2013 review looks at the possible risks of omega-3 fatty acids in dogs and cats, especially EPA and DHA from fish oil. While omega-3s are commonly used to support skin, joint, heart, and kidney health, the authors explain that high amounts can sometimes cause issues like GI upset, changes in clotting, oxidative stress, immune shifts, or slower wound healing. The paper also stresses that plant-based ALA is not the same as EPA and DHA, so the source of omega-3s matters when considering both benefits and risks.

At a Glance

This article, published in Oral Diseases in 2017, reviews how Vitamin K2 regulates bone remodeling, the process of breaking down and rebuilding bone tissue. The findings suggest that Vitamin K2 supports bone density, reduces fracture risk, and may help prevent osteoporosis, especially when combined with Vitamin D3. The research primarily examines human, rat, and mouse models to understand Vitamin K2’s role in skeletal health.

At a Glance

This 2009 study investigated the effects of vitamin C supplementation on antioxidative capacity and immune function in healthy dogs. While the study, conducted with only 15 dogs, found no significant benefits in oxidative stress markers or immune response, it provides valuable context for understanding vitamin C’s role in canine health. The findings suggest that vitamin C supplementation may be unnecessary in well-nourished dogs with sufficient vitamin E intake but highlight areas where further research is needed—especially in dogs facing oxidative stress, illness, or aging.

At a Glance

A 16-week clinical study in 29 pet dogs found that daily omega-3 supplementation from anchovy and sardine oils significantly increased the Omega-3 Index in all size groups and reduced owner-reported pain in small and medium dogs. Large dogs did not show the same pain improvement, likely because fixed-size capsules delivered a lower mg/kg dose. No adverse effects were reported.

At a Glance

This 2020 review examines the relationship between Vitamin K status and osteoarthritis (OA), focusing on how Vitamin K influences cartilage calcification, inflammation, and joint degeneration. The findings suggest that sufficient Vitamin K levels may help slow OA progression by regulating proteins that prevent abnormal calcium buildup in joints. While the study focuses on human OA research, it may have implications for canine joint health and mobility.

At a Glance

This 2018 review, published in the Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology, examined how boron influences bone strength, mineral metabolism, immune balance, and inflammation across multiple animal species. While dogs were not directly studied, the findings suggest boron may play a similar role in supporting canine joint health and overall resilience, though more research is needed to confirm its effects.