Nutra Thrive For Dogs Reviews

Nutra Thrive is a canine nutritional supplement designed for dogs from Ultimate Pet Nutrition.

The company claims its formula can improve your dog’s overall health, immune functions, digestion, joint health, and coat appearance.

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

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, which are necessary, and which may be harmful to your four legged companions. 

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

How Does Nutra Thrive for Dogs Work?

Dr. Ritcher believes that proper nutrition is the answer to even the most common pet health problems and concerns, including the rise of cancer in dogs. 

Nutra Thrive is made with his specifically selected ingredients and no artificial ingredients, fillers, or preservatives.

There’s a massive variety of dog food options available in stores.  Dr. Ritcher explains that the standard for pet nutrition is incredibly low and these brands only have to meet the minimum to be approved for sale.

Even the bags that look appealing and healthy might not be as great as you would think.  Nutra Thrive was made to make up for the lack of vitamins and nutrients in conventional dog foods, to provide your dog with a well-rounded and balanced diet.

Nutra Thrive powder supplement can be simply mixed into your adult dogs’ own food.  Depending on their size and weight, a helpful chart is provided with the product to tell you how much to serve.

Ingredients

This 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

The 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 - 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: 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) 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.

Cost and Price Plans

The Ultimate Pet Nutrition website offers a few different options when you’re buying Nutra Thrive.  If you purchase one bottle of Nutra Thrive, the price is $69.95.

However, you can save by buying in bulk. 
3 jars: $188.97
6 jars: $356.95

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 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.  Their products are available in a few select west coast retail locations.

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 possible 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.
One Container comes with a 90-day supply for $25.98.

NutriVet 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.
A 90-supply of NutriVet All-in-One is just $14.99 on Amazon.

Purina Fortiflora Canine Nutritional Supplement

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.

One container costs $27.99 and comes with 30 servings of chewable treats that are specially flavored to be palatable for dogs.

Dr. Marty's Nature Blend is another option.

Online Customer Reviews & Complaints

For the most part, Ultimate Pet Nutrition has very positive reviews for their dog foods and supplements.  Customers have reported a wide range of benefits that their dogs experienced after taking these products.

The main, and persistent, complaint has been the high cost of Nutra Thrive and the companies freeze dried dog food Nutra Complete.

In some rarer cases customers mentioned the unpleasant smell of the product that turned their dogs off it.

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

On a positive note, Ultimate Pet Nutrition seems to have a very active customer service team that seeks out negative reviews  offering customers refunds or replacement orders.

Is Nutra Thrive For Dogs Worth It?

This supplement offers a lot in the way of added vitamins, minerals, and probiotics.  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 or fulfill their unique needs.  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.

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

See Also: Are You Using the Best Dog Food?