By: Erica Sandberg, DVM, CHPV, CPEV
A common question that veterinarians are asked is, “What supplements should I be giving my pet?” The pet care industry has become increasingly overwhelming for pet owners with the number of food, treat and supplement options. Unfortunately, not all of these are created equal and have varying effectiveness. So, before you spend your money on multiple supplement options, let’s start with where to go for guidance.
Unlike pharmaceuticals that are regulated by the FDA, supplements are not tightly regulated in the United States. Therefore, they may include things that are not listed on the label or they may have inaccurate quantities of ingredients. In general, the National Animal Supplement Council (NASC) is a good place to start when considering supplements for your pets. The NASC website lists the member companies that are committed to high quality products. The NASC Seal can only be displayed on supplements from an NASC member company that meets particular guidelines and submits to random product testing to verify label contents. This seal should be displayed and easily seen on the external product packaging.
For most young pets, supplements may not be recommended as often unless they have early onset disease processes. However, starting dental care at a young age is very important. A well-balanced, high-quality diet is the biggest priority for their overall health, but supplementing the diet with dental health products is highly beneficial for preventing periodontal disease. The gold standard for companion animal dental health remains daily brushing, however this is not always possible for all pets and their families. For guidance on oral health products, start with the expertise of the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC). The VOHC is a group of dental experts that assess dental products for dogs and cats. The council gives their approval for those products that have been shown to reduce the severity of periodontal disease if used regularly. Products that have been approved by the VOHC can be identified by the VOHC Seal on the packaging.
For middle age and older pets, supplements are more likely to be recommended either for prevention or treatment of disease processes. Joint supplements are going to be a mainstay for dogs as well as cats. These supplements work to protect the cartilage in the joints. Your veterinarian may even recommend these for your pet at middle age when prevention is the priority, such as for large and giant breed dogs. Most supplements include glucosamine and chondroitin and, depending on the formulation, may include other beneficial ingredients as well. Some supplements will include ingredients that can be advantageous for multiple organs in the body. Look for supplements that include omega fatty acids that are advantageous for both joint and brain health. Another possible ingredient, S-Adenosyl-L-methionine (SAMe), has been shown to help with brain aging as well as support liver function. Milk thistle is also beneficial for the liver. If your pet has liver disease, then your veterinarian may recommend a supplement with SAMe and/or milk thistle. Lastly, a supplement called Senilife includes multiple antioxidants to help with some brain aging behaviors we see in pets with dementia. Most of these supplements are safe to administer with your pet’s prescribed medications, however checking with your veterinarian is always in the best interest of your furry family member.
Resources:
Veterinary Oral Health Council website: www.vohc.org
National Animal Supplement Council website: www.nasc.cc
