Nutrition is a science of the modern age!
The isolation and identification of vitamins, minerals and other micronutrients including phytochemicals and essential fatty acids (EFAs) is the result of research over the past century.
Nutraceuticals are natural foods and food based supplements that have medicinal effect on pet health!
Diet is the foundation of health — nothing can replace a healthy diet of the freshest food you can provide for your cat or dog when it comes to promoting health and warding off both acute and chronic disease. But what can you do in addition to a healthy diet, or to improve the mostly processed food diet that most dogs and cats eat? We recommend regular daily supplements depending on the individual’s specific diet and lifestyle, but there are some essentials that almost every cat and dog can benefit from
Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs) are required in the diet — they cannot be produced by the body (hence the "essential" in the name). The two fatty acids required in the diet are omega 3 (linoleic acid) and omega 6 (alpha-linoleic acid). These essential fatty acids are necessary for proper formation of cell membranes, are precursors for prostaglandins (hormones involved in pain regulation among other things), aid in proper cardiovascular function and nourish the skin and coat as well as the lining of the digestive tract. In addition, omega 3 fatty acids such as EPA and DHA act to reduce inflammatory processes in the body.
Essential fatty acid supplements are not all created equal. Some are strictly fish oil, such as salmon or cod liver oil, which provide readily available omega 3 fatty acids. Some are fish and plant blends including borage, flax and other oils that provide both omega 3 and omega 6 oils. Some of these blended oils are formulated for a ratio of 4:1 or higher omega 3 oils to omega 6 as the omega 3’s are most lacking in typical diets. Some oils are all plant based such as pure flax oil, or may be a blend of flax and other plant oils. The best source of omega 3 fatty acids for animals is cold water fish oils like salmon oil or cod liver oil. Animals do not efficiently convert the fatty acids in plant oils such as flax to the form most readily utilized by the animal’s system. Overall , Fatty acid supplementation should be consider for your pet , but again as with all supplements be sure you are buying a supplement that balances those ratios correctly as well as offering you a supplement of fatty acids from the best sources. Dermapet produces a concentrated source of Omega -3 fatty acids known as EicosaDerm. We also have available Aller G-3, Omega Fend, Omega 3,6,9 supplements for your pets!
Many of us take a daily multivitamin to insure we receive a base amount of important vitamins and minerals. The typical Canadian diet does not provide a well-balanced source of these nutrients for most people, so we take supplements as “insurance”. Some of the vitamins and minerals in packaged dog and cat foods may be destroyed during the processing of both dry and canned food. Even when added back in after the cooking or extruding processes, the vitamins and minerals can break down when exposed to light and air. The first bowl of kibble from a bag may contain most of what the label claims, but each time the bag or container is opened, the nutrients can be affected. It is difficult to know how much of the vitamins are left by the last portions from the bag.
As with any other supplement, all multi-vitamins are not created equal. And not every dog or cat needs the full dosage suggested on the label. While supplementing can be helpful, too much of a good thing can be harmful. If you are feeding a high quality commercial diet you may not require supplementation unless your pet has exceptional needs due to genetic problems or environmental issues. If you are feeding a home-made diet, then a multivitamin supplement is a good idea.
If you are unsure or overwhelmed by the process of choosing supplements, a consult with a veterinarian can set you and your companion on course with a healthy diet and supplement regime that meets your lifestyle and your companion’s health needs.
As animals age they need extra support to stay healthy and maintain the best quality of life well into their senior years. It is often recommended starting dogs on extra support for joint health at the age of 8-9 years old, and cats at the first signs of stiffness. A good joint supplement including glucosamine and chondroitin, which are helpful in reducing the symptoms of arthritis and joint degeneration. A senior vitamin or extra antioxidants added to their vitamin regime can help fight the damage caused by free radicals and give their immune system a little extra help in keeping illness at bay.
Glucosamine and Chondroiton are 2 of the major building blocks of cartilage that assist in keeping it healthy. Glucosamine supplies cartilage with one of the essential building blocks that works to keep cartilage healthy and functioning. It is also responsible for the synthesis of Hyaluronic acid and Glycosaminoglycans. Chondroiton, another building block helps to protect the cartilage from the damaging effects of enzymes which are released into a joint that is suffering from arthritis or chronic inflammation. Having healthy joints are important not only for the mobility of the pet but for the comfort in performing routine daily tasks like walking ,climbing, running and jumping. Commercially available forms of glucosamine and chondroiton are available in many forms including Hill’s J/D dog food, Medi Cal Mobility Support as well as Sasha's Blend supplement
Devils Claw (Harpagophytum Procumben’s) is a perennial plant derived from South Africa that possesses medicinal properties shown to be effective in the management of osteoarthritis (degenerative joint disease). Devils claw has shown the ability to produce analgesia (pain relief) as well as acting as an anti-inflammatory. As with all herbal alternatives care should be exercised in deciding whether this particular supplement would be right for your pet. Devil’s claw may be upsetting to pets with gastro intestinal issues leading to potential ulcers. A commercially available oral supplement that may be of benefit for your dog that is produced by Corta-Flx is Bio-Iso-G Plus
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