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We give Ruff Greens Premium Canine Supplements a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Lots of people take supplements to boost their overall health, whether in pill form or powder form they mix into a glass of water. For pet owners who want to try supplements, pills seem like the easiest option. But what about powders?
Enter Ruff Greens, a nutritional supplement in powder form. And yes, it is GREEN.
If you are reading this article, you’re researching nutritional supplements for YOUR dogs, and you want to know two main things: First, are Ruff Greens worth the price tag? Second, will my dog eat this green powder if I buy it?
SPOILER ALERT: Yes, your dog will eat it. At least, my pickiest eater loves it as much as my dog that likes to eat rope…and pieces of tire…and anything else I can’t get out of his mouth in time. Read on to find out if your dog will enjoy Ruff Greens as much as mine did.
The Ruff Greens Premium Nutritional Supplement Recipe
The recipe is the pinnacle of this product’s claim to benefits, with ingredients like organic rice bran, blueberry juice powder, metal chelates, and various bacterial cultures.
As a pharmacist, I can tell you that the ingredients listed in this product are quality. It’s good stuff. And if the theories behind these ingredients have more benefits than their cheaper synthetic counterparts hold water, this is the product that will realize those benefits.
Personally, I believe that there are supplements and higher quality ingredients for some things that will work better some of the time. Some of them are even worth a premium to get the best.
Ruff Greens Reviewed
Who makes Ruff Greens and where is it produced?
Ruff Greens makes Ruff Greens! They’re a team of dog owners that are dedicated to producing this super quality, human grade vegan supplement for dogs. As a pharmacist and dog owner that’s had to pull drugs and dog food off the shelf due to the absence of quality standards found in the third world, this is music to my ears.
Which Type of Dogs Are Ruff Greens Best Suited For?
Any dogs. Any breed or size that needs to eat food would do just fine with this supplement. If you have any concerns about your dog, especially if they have an unusual medical history, be sure to discuss this with your vet.
Discussion of the Primary Ingredients (Good and Bad)
To Vegan or Not to Vegan?
This product is vegan. I know dog owners can be mixed on this subject. Based on my background, education, and wide experience with animals (including and especially dogs), I believe a heavily carnivorous diet is crucial for meeting canine nutritional needs.
The folks at Ruff Greens recommend putting this stuff in raw hamburger if your dog doesn’t like it straight (I found mine love it straight), and I respect them for giving dog owners an option. As dogs are historically carnivores, before changing your dog’s whole diet to a vegan diet, I’d advise talking to your veterinarian.
What Does It Do?
It’s a great food booster. It’s like a super multivitamin, probiotic, nutrition-adding supplement to your dog’s usual diet. It does not cure or treat specific diseases, nor is it particularly necessary for a dog with any specific ailments.
Is it good for your dog? Undoubtedly. But does your dog need it? Only you (and your vet) can decide.
Ruff Greens Premium Nutritional Supplement Review
The Ruff Greens powder I received is provided in a resealable, easy-to-use plastic package. It’s easy to get a tablespoon and dose out the powder, and the directions are found on the bag. There’s only two doses: 1 tablespoon for dogs under 40 pounds and 2 tablespoons for above 40 pounds. Pretty straightforward!
- Easy to dose
- Ingredients are high quality
- Simple to use
- Price
- Improvements in dog hard to measure
Ingredients Analysis
Ruff Greens fits into a supplemental or nutraceutical category; a product that supports health but isn’t a primary source of energy or macronutrients.
Before giving your furball anything new it’s prudent to have your veterinarian review the ingredient list and verify that it is safe for pet consumption. Here are five primary ingredients used in Ruff Greens:
- Organic Wheatgrass Powder
Though the exact reason why dogs enjoy eating grass isn’t completely understood, certain grasses may offer them dietary benefits. Wheatgrass is considered a source of fiber, and starch, and contains some useful micronutrients such as phosphorus, magnesium, zinc, and iron.
- Organic Rice Bran
Studies of rice bran in canines have shown that it is a highly palatable ingredient, and it doesn’t cause any adverse side effects in healthy adult dogs.
- Flaxseed Powder
Flaxseed is certainly chock-full of healthy nutrients for humans and dogs. The evidence for it working for everything listed on RuffGreen’s website is a little scant, but there. One of the best-conducted studies shows it can help improve the quality of your dog’s coat!
- Magnesium Glycinate Complex
There is evidence that magnesium levels in dogs may be associated with stress, and that makes sense – magnesium is critical to the cells in your dog’s body functioning correctly. Magnesium Glycinate is a form of magnesium that helps regulate ion balance, and facilitates muscle function and nerve function. This makes it a great supplement for particularly active and/or working dogs.
- Barley Grass Powder
Assays on barley grass indicate it provides phytochemicals that help the body in several ways, including antioxidants, help stabilize red blood cells, and possible anti-cancer properties.
Our Experience With Ruff Greens
Ruff Greens come in a mailer that is pleasing to the eye. It’s covered with happy dogs. The product itself is well-packaged in heavy duty plastic bags that unzip and rezip. I was really pleased with how even the smaller baggies I received stand up on their own and stay open, allowing you to scoop out doses of the powder easily.
Measuring a dose is straightforward. Scoop out a tablespoon for dogs 40 pounds and under, and 2 tablespoons for dogs more than 40 pounds. I gave it to my dogs right out of the spoon, and I’m kind of glad I did. Their slobber turns it into a sticky, thick substance.
I was hesitant as to whether my dogs would like the stuff because they have never had anything like this before.
My Australian Shepherd, Luka, is generally keen on eating anything, including things that aren’t food. It didn’t surprise me when he took to the stuff with gusto, cleaning the spoon in short order. My Catahoula mix, Penny, is a little older and more settled. She’s also always been my picky eater (unless the food is meat). It did surprise me when she went after Ruff Greens with the same eagerness Luka showed.
Both dogs clearly enjoyed the product and went after it so aggressively that it got all over their noses and fur, leaving them looking like some canine version of the Grinch. It was pretty funny. But most importantly, they liked it!
Conclusion
Ruff Greens is made of high quality ingredients that act as a super multivitamin for your dog and then some.
It’s hard for me to determine how much benefit my dogs received from the product. It’s supposed to make dogs better. Not specifically “better” because they’re sick; just healthier and a better coat and more energy. My dogs have good coats, seem perfectly healthy, and if they had more energy I’d have to go on Adderall to keep up with them. If they suffered from general nutrition issues due to some disease (like cancer), I think this product would be on my go-to list to help them.
That said, if you’re looking for a nutritional supplement for your dog that may very well deserve a best-in-class award, this product is in the running for #1. It may very well be #1. I think your dog(s) will love it and will get every benefit that can be expected from a general nutritional supplement!
