Nutra Thrive For Dogs Reviews

Nutra Thrive Review: A Detailed Look

Nutra Thrive is a canine nutritional supplement from Ultimate Pet Nutrition that the company claims can improve your dog’s immune function, digestion, joint health, coat appearance, and overall health.

Below we take an in depth look at Nutra Thrive and its ingredients to see if it’s worth the cost.

How Does it Work?

Ultimate Pet Nutrition promotes their products through engaging online videos that are heavily advertised on popular websites. 

Nutra Thrive creator and veterinarian Dr. Gary Richter believes that proper nutrition is the answer to the most common pet health problems and concerns, including cancer in dogs. 

He goes on to explain that the standard for pet food is incredibly low, and that dog food brands only have to meet certain minimum requirements to be approved for sale.

Nutra Thrive was created to supplement the lack of vitamins and nutrients found in many conventional dog foods.  It's made with selected ingredients that contain no artificial additives, fillers, or preservatives.

Ingredients

Nutra Thrive is a powder supplement that's mixed into your dog's food.  Depending on their size and weight a helpful chart is provided with the product to tell you how much to serve.

The Nutra Thrive blend contains:

• 23 added vitamins, minerals & amino acids to support muscles, teeth & bones
• 9 superfoods to boost overall health
• 4 digestive enzymes for optimal GI function
• 4  probiotics for digestive health
  
  

Nutra Thrive main ingredients include:

Superfoods Blend

Carrot, Reishi, Shiitake and Maitake mushroom blend; Methyl-sulfonylmethane, Spirulina, and Chlorella.

Some pet owners may be surprised, and wary, when learning that their dogs can eat mushrooms.  

While there are many toxic varieties dogs can eat many of the same types as people can including the main medicinal mushrooms included in this blend.

Many holistic veterinarians believe that dogs can benefit from mushrooms in the same way as people.  Mushrooms are full of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants which, those Vets believe, can offer dogs a variety of benefits.

For instance, a recent study found that, for a small sample of dogs diagnosed with cancer, a treatment with a type of turkey tail mushroom increased lifespan and showed a tumor fighting effect.  

The researchers believe it is due to the polysaccharopeptide compound found in this mushroom.

Overall though, outside of anecdotal evidence there isn’t enough research done on the effects of medicinal mushrooms on dogs.  Because of this they should be administered with the approval of your veterinarian.

Super-Canine Blend

Engevita® GSH Glutathione Inactive Yeast and Beef Liver.

Glutathione is a powerful antioxidant made up of the amino acids glutamine, glycine and cysteine. In your dog’s body it has many responsibilities including energy, liver function, and immunity.

Its role is so critical that it’s known as the master antioxidant, without it cells would die from oxidation, the immune system wouldn’t work, and the liver would fail.

One study concluded that there is a strong correlation between levels of Glutathione and an illness in dogs, to the point that these levels “could be a marker of illness severity and prognostic of a poor outcome.” 

Low Glutathione in your dog can be due to a variety of reasons such as:

• Aging
• A poor diet
• Environmental toxins
• Overuse of antibiotics
• Lack of exercise
• Chronic stress
  
  

Some minor presentations could be lack of energy, poor sleep, and joint issues.  Regular visits to the veterinarian can help you identify if your dog suffers from this condition.

However, the issue with Nutra Thrive is that the Glutathione is administered orally which greatly reduces its bioavailability.

Many sources recommend Glutathione be administered intravenously or intramuscularly, or when given orally to be done on an empty stomach - which is not the intended use of Nutra Thrive.

There are ways to stimulate Glutathione production in your dog through diet, by adding beef liver, cruciferous vegetables, mushrooms, organ meats, eggs, as well as other supplements that can be researched online.

Probiotic and Enzyme Blend

Contains Entreococcus faecium, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei and Lactobacillus plantarum, Papain, Protease, Amylase, Lipase.

Some of the reasons why your dog might need probiotic supplementation include poor diet/malnutrition, during times of stress, or illness. 

These environmental factors can result in conditions such as, digestive troubles, gas, bad breath, loose stools, and diarrhea.

Furthermore, much of your dog’s immune system resides in the gut which depends on a healthy balanced gut flora.

Nutra Thrive contains Enterococcus faecium and Lactobacillus acidophilus, two recognized species specific strains of probiotics for dogs.

The formula also includes helpful digestive enzymes such as Amylase which allows dogs to break down starches.

It’s important to note that Probiotics are not a cure-all for gut problems, and if your dog has persistent issues you should seek veterinary care.

For instance, contrary to popular belief, one study found that giving Lactobacillus probiotics after antibiotic use caused a delay in the microbiome’s recovery.

This goes to show that you shouldn’t assume all probiotic strains have the same effects and why you should consult with a vet before treating your dog.

Vitamin and Mineral Blend

Contains Kelp, Biotin, Riboflavin, Folic acid

This blend has a good mix of beneficial ingredients that have been shown to aid in the improvements of dog’s coats and general health.

Allergies, Side Effects, and Safety Concerns

With a multi-supplement such as Nutra Thrive, due to the high number and variety of ingredients there can be a number of potential issues.

Even though the ingredients are regarded as safe your dog can still have negative or allergic reactions.  

Whenever introducing a new food/supplement to your dog, do so slowly and incrementally while closely monitoring their reactions.

For instance even something as benign as probiotics can cause digestive discomfort.  There can also be interactions with different vitamins, herbal therapies, medications, or supplements.

Regarding Nutra Thrive’s mushroom blend, some experts warn that they should be used with caution if your pet has bleeding disorders, low blood pressure, liver or kidney disease, diabetes or immune disorders.

Also, if your dog already has a quality diet that meets all nutritional daily requirements, adding extra vitamins and minerals can cause potential issues.

On some pet forums customers raised the issue of Silica being present in Nutra Thrive and whether it is dangerous for dogs.

Silica (Silicon Dioxide)

Silica is used in many supplements as an anti-caking agent to avoid clumping.  It is approved by the FDA for this use.

Further, a review by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) found no accumulation of silicon after the animals repeatedly ate silica.

A study in the Journal of Applied Toxicology also found that silica nanoparticles had a low potential to cross the gastrointestinal tract when a person eats them.  However, they did state there is a need for more on long term safety studies.

In our research we found one holistic pet health site stating that Silica may cause indigestion in some dogs.  If you are concerned, consult with your Vet prior to use.

If you’re aware of your dog’s allergies and intolerances carefully go through the full list of Nutra Thrive ingredients which can be found on their website.

Customer Service

Ultimate Pet Nutrition offers several forms of contact for any customer service issues you may encounter, including a refund request.

Phone Number: 800-604-5827
Email: [email protected]

Where to Buy Nutra Thrive for Dogs?

Nutra Thrive can be purchased on the Ultimate Pet Nutrition website and on Amazon.  We found the price to be slightly lower on Amazon.

Ultimate Pet Nutrition products are also available in select west coast retail locations.

Cost and Price Plans

The Ultimate Pet Nutrition website offers a few different options when you’re buying Nutra Thrive. 

1 jar:  $69.95
3 jars:  $188.86
6 jars:  $356.74

We found the same jar of Nutra Thrive to be slightly cheaper on Amazon.

It’s also worth noting that the company offers a 90-day money back guarantee if you don’t see a noticeable difference in your pet.

Customer Reviews & Complaints

For the most part, Ultimate Pet Nutrition has very positive customer reviews for their dog foods and supplements, on Reviewopedia and elsewhere.

Customers have reported a wide range of benefits that their dogs experienced after taking these products.

A common customer complaint regarding Nutra Thrive has been the high cost.  In some rarer cases customers also mentioned the unpleasant smell of the product that turned their dogs off it.

Some customer reviews stated that they weren’t seeing any noticeable effects in their dog after going through one jar of Nutra Thrive.  Though the company does recommend that you give your dogs Nutra Thrive for 90 days to see noticeable effects.

On Amazon, Nutra Thrive has a rating of 4.0 / 5 stars from over 160 customer ratings.

Ultimate Pet Nutrition seems to have a very active customer service team that responds to customer complaints, offering customers refunds or replacement orders.

Competitors and Alternatives

The pet industry is always growing. There are many options available when it comes to shopping for pet supplements and vitamins.

Here are some popular alternatives to Nutra Thrive:

Zesty Paws Multivitamin for Dogs

Zesty Paws offers a 5-in-1 formula that can be given to your dogs daily. It comes in chewable, pre-measured treats that contain ingredients like probiotics, digestive enzymes, glucosamine, and fish oil.

The formula helps support an array of functions like digestive health, hip and joint function, immunity, and heart health. It’s also great to supporting healthy skin and coat.

On Amazon, Zesty Paws is a #1 best selling pet food product and earns a 4.5 / 5 stars rating from over 40,000 customer reviews.

NaturVet All-in-One

This is a 4-in-1 formulated by veterinarians to support your dog’s overall health.

Digestive enzymes support a healthy digestive tract and a mix of omega fatty acids help promote healthy skin and coat.

It also provides a good source of glucosamine and chondroitin for maintaining and supporting the joints. The soft, chewable treats are wheat free.

NaturVet All-in-One is an "Amazon's Choice" product and earns a rating of 4.5 / 5 stars from over 11,000 customer ratings.

Purina Pro Plan FortiFlora Probiotic

Purina FortiFlora offers a blend of beneficial active probiotics for digestive support and a strong immune system.

It also has a high concentration of vitamins A, E and C, as well as antioxidants.

It comes in power sachets or as chewable tablets that are specially flavored to be palatable for dogs.

Purina Pro Plan FortiFlora earns high marks from customers with 4.7 / 5 stars from over 40,000 customer ratings.

The Bottom Line

As the pet industry continues to grow, companies are trying to take advantage of pet owner’s willingness to splurge on their dogs.  With everything out there it’s hard to know which products are legitimate or necessary.

Nutra Thrive offers a lot in the way of added vitamins, minerals, and probiotics that may be beneficial to your dog.

The company is also forward thinking in its inclusion of the medicinal mushroom blend, which with more research may prove to be the next trend in pet health supplementation.

However, the large and varied ingredient list may be difficult for all dogs to process.  It may be prudent to start by learning what your dog’s specific dietary deficiencies/needs are.  

Then you can proceed with a targeted therapy that may limit any unintentional side effects that a multi-supplement can present.

Also consider that if low quality kibble is the source of your dog’s health issues it may be wise to invest the money you’d spend on Nutra Thrive towards a premium dog food instead.

If you have any experience with Nutra Thrive for Dogs, please leave your reviews below.

See Also: Are You Using the Best Dog Food?