Pet Meds Blog

With continued interest in the fast-growing industry of nutritional supplements for both people and pets, holistic vets are often asked, “Does my pet need additional nutritional supplements?” The answer depends on many factors, including age, medical condition and the drugs the pet may be taking, and/or prior drug reactions.

However, even when using a minimally processed fresh and varied natural diet such as Halo or Nature’s Variety, there are some supplements I usually recommend. Combined with a good diet, these supplements can form the basis of an excellent nutritional and preventative program for pets. One of the best supplements I recommend for pets of all ages is a good plant based digestive enzyme added to each meal. Not only do enzymes help with digestion of cooked foods in carnivorous species, but they also help absort critical nutrients essential in preventing and treating diseases.

Products such as NaturVet Enzymes and Prozyme are examples of excellent economic supplements. I also recommend quality Omega 3 fatty acids. Some of their amazing health benefits include:

-         Assisting the growth and health of brains

-         Lessening the risk of canine cognitive dysfunction (a common problem seen in geriatric pets)

-         Decrease inflammation in degenerative joint disease and arthritis

-         Lessening allergic reactions to inhalant/contact allergens.

Fatty acids such as Be Well and Super Pure Omega 3 can help manage certain types of heart and kidney disease.   Not all Omega 3 fatty acids are created equal. The two mentioned above are wonderful supplements, as is Nordic Naturals.  Antioxidants are also great for a pet of any age to help prevent free radical damage and inflammation involved with the development of most chronic diseases.  A long term favorite of mine is Proanthozone by Animal Health Options. By incorporating some of my recommended supplements in this blog,  I feel that animal guardians will be increasing their chances of having happy and healthy pets for years to come.

Do you feed your pet any supplements like those mentioned above or maybe others I didn’t mention? Have you found supplements to be something that has benefited your pet? Feel free to share your experience in the comments!

From one of the most trustworthy nutritional supplement companies on the market, Denamarin is an excellent multifaceted supplements that can significantly improve liver function by increasing liver glutathione levels. The duel main ingredients of SAMe and Silybin (active ingredient of milk thistle) are potent antioxidants that protect liver cells and may even promote liver cell regeneration in dogs with active liver disease. The product also can help with digestion and absorption of nutrients from the diet as well. There are no negative side effects seen with this product, and on the positive side, pets usually become more active and playful as liver function improves when taking this product.

It is certainly safe to use long term and even as a preventative in those pets who are also taking medications that may be toxic to the liver such as prescription nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications such as Rimadyl, Deramaxx, Previcox or Metacam. The only client concerns I have seen with this product revolve around the cost. However, because of the combination of wonderful synergistic liver supportive ingredients in this one product, it is certainly highly worth it in my opinion and experience.

There is nothing more frustrating for pet owners than to see their older pets have difficulty moving because of stiff arthritic joints or spinal disease. Even younger pets that develop arthritis secondary to ligament tears such as cruciate ligament tears or exposure to tick-borne diseases like Lyme disease, may develop signs of painful movement and lameness. That is when great joint products such as Glyco-Flex by Vetriscience can dramatically alleviate symptoms in many pets. The main ingredient in this product, Perna, has been studied in human medicine for years, and can dramatically help pets with painful or swollen joints.

Perna is naturally high in glucosamine and chondroitin sulphate and is also combined with MSM in many of the Glyco-Flex lines for additional relief of joint discomfort. Depending upon the severity of joint issues, product options include Glyco-Flex I, II or III. Side effects are rare but may include diarrhea and/or vomiting.

Before giving any glucosamine product to a diabetic pet, the pet’s veterinarian should first be consulted.   If Glyco-Flex alone does not help alleviate symptoms, than one can try other natural supplements like Proanthozone, Yucca Intensive, or prescription medications such as Tramadol or other nonsteroidal anti inflammatory medications such as Metacam or Rimadyl.

When giving this product to their pets a client may ask why the product has a strong fish smell. That’s because Perna is actually the green lipped sea mussel, but it certainly is a tasty mussel for most dogs, and one that can offer dramatic symptomatic relief in most pets.

Clients are often asking if there are alternatives to some of the expensive prescription nonsteroidal anti inflammatory drugs such as Rimadyl or Previcox that their veterinarians often prescribe for acute or chronic joint or back pain. While such drugs have truly enhanced the quality of life of most pets in terms of pain relief, client concerns about expense and safety of long term use of such drugs often lead them to explore other alternatives.

In most cases a multi-prong approach to chronic joint pain is best utilizing both the best of conventional medicine, as well as complimentary medicine and nutritional supplements. Often the chronic use of glucosamine/chondroitin joint supplements to help restore function to inflamed joints allows us to use lower doses of prescription medications in many cases. Supplements such as Super Joint Enhancer or Glyco-Flex often work wonders in my experience.  The important points to remember about any joint supplements are that they often take weeks to a few months for maximal benefit.

Other supplements to consider include omega 3 fatty acids such as Super Pure Omega 3, as well as the antioxidant Proanthozone, which can act to decrease inflammation and free radicals involved in arthritis and joint pain. I have also found Yucca Intensive helpful, as well as the product dog gone pain. As with any nutritional supplements, it is always important to consult with a veterinarian first before beginning any such regimen, as sometimes there can be drug/supplement interactions, or your pet may need an exam and/or blood work first, especially if they are already on prescription medicines.

Many times I will often start with nutritional supplements for joint pain and then add the prescription meds later if response is not adequate.  There are also other complimentary medicine modalities available such as acupuncture or chiropractic, which can be tremendously helpful along with appropriate medical therapy or sometimes instead of for those clients who prefer a more natural approach. .