Vitamins and supplements have been used for many years to enhance health for humans, and more pet owners are trending in the same direction. Why should you give your pet supplements? 

• Maintain overall health
• Support mental acuity
• Enhance athletic performance
• Boost and support the immune system

Many people take daily supplements to provide nutrients that may be lacking in their diet. For example, athletes take glucosamine supplements and omega 3s to enhance their performance and help prevent arthritis. 

Could these same supplements and concepts be used to help optimize our pet’s nutrition and health as well?

Pet Food and Nutrition

Veterinary nutritionists and pet nutrition companies have developed pet foods specifically tailored for your pets daily nutritional needs. 

There are an array of over the counter pet foods and veterinary prescription diets that provide your pet with all the essential nutrients needed to live a healthy lifestyle.  

There are pet foods designed for specific:

• Age ranges (puppy/kitten, adult, and seniors)
• Activity levels (working, sport, and couch potato)
• Breeds (Great Dane, Labrador, French Bulldog, Chihuahua, etc.)
• Life stages (gestation, lactation)
• Medical conditions (IBD, renal disease, etc.)
• Genetic predispositions (i.e. uric acid production in Dalmatians)

Unfortunately, many pet foods on the market today don’t meet all of your pet’s nutritional or health needs, especially if you want a holistic approach to your pets overall wellbeing. 

Want to know what is really in a bag of dog or cat kibble food? The ingredients listed on the packing are listed in order of weight. Meaning the first ingredient on the bag is the primary ingredient in the food and so on.

Ideally pet parents want to see a specific protein source listed as the first ingredient like chicken, beef, or pork.

A meat "meal" is meat by products that have been rendered down to a concentrated dried ingredient found in almost every kibble. Meat meal contains more proteins per gram than whole meats because of water weight.

Starches will be the next category of ingredients listed. Many companies use a method called ingredient splitting to add more starches than meat to their food without pet parents knowing.

Take corn for an example. Corn can be listed on a dog or cat food label as; corn starch, corn gluten, and corn middling.

When you add up the three different types of corn product found in the food you find that there is actually more corn in your food than meat.

After starches, fats will be listed on the label.

Knowing how to read a label properly can help you avoid purchasing what looks like a nutritious food that is actually not.

Even if our pet's are eating the best possible diet, they can still benefit from adding supplements. It's like a person adding a multivitamin to their routine, in addition to a healthy diet.

Pet Nutritional Supplements

There are many supplement brands that add low quality ingredients, fillers, and don't provide proper dosing. Here are 7 crucial things to look for when finding a reputable brand:

1. USDA Organic certification. For trusted high quality ingredients.
2. NASC (National Animal Supplement Council) Quality Seal. Given to companies committed to quality and vigilance.
3. Pet Sustainability Coalition certification. A business that values the environment and making green choices.
4. Formulated by a trusted source, like a veterinarian.
5. Look for easy to understand dosing clearly labeled on the packaging.
6. Read reviews from customers and people that have already used the supplements. Look for brands that have lots of 5 star reviews.
7. Look for limited ingredient formulas that don't contain fillers and synthetic additives or GMO's.

By looking for these things, you can be sure to keep your pet healthy and happy while providing additional tailored nutritional support. From multivitamins to condition specific products, it can be difficult to decide what is the best fit for you and your pet.

Our supplement recommendations for puppies and kittens are:

1. Organic Mushroom Immune Support

• Promote optimal brain health
• Boost and enhance the immune system

2. Prebiotics + Probiotics

• Maintains proper gut flora
• Supports proper digestion

3. Fish Oil

• Includes Vitamin E
• Helps achieve a soft shiny hair coat and reduce skin allergy symptoms

Our supplement recommendations for senior dogs and cats:

1. Hip + Joint

• Supports bone and joint health
• Enhances joint function

2. Bladder Support

• Supports normal urine PH
• Minimize the frequency of UTIs

3. Cardiac Support

• Promote normal blood circulation
• Enhance your pet's cardiovascular function.

Pet supplements can do wonders for your pet's health, including:

• Improve joint comfort and enhance joint strength and flexibility
• Promote proper digestion and help reduce loose stools
• Enhance the immune system and immune response
• Promote heart function and healthy circulation
• Enhance urinary tract function and minimize the frequency of UTIs
• Help achieve a soft and shiny hair coat
• Add Omega-3's that might be missing from a pet's diet

Supplement Safety

Pet supplements are generally considered safe and helpful for many pets.

Pet supplements are formulated to meet your pets specific needs. If your pet is taking medication, always consult your veterinarian before changing your pet's diet or adding supplements to their routine. Remember to only purchase your pet's supplements from a trusted source, like their direct website. 

Upgrade Your Pet’s Health the Natural Way

Discover the secret to optimized pet health with Dr. Michelle Dulake, a seasoned veterinarian. Harness cutting-edge knowledge to unlock your pet's potential for longevity and happiness. Experience the difference that expert guidance can bring to your pet's life today!

At Fera Pet Organics, we’re committed to using only the most natural high-quality ingredients to keep your furry family members healthy and happy for as long as possible. 

We’d love to hear from you! What do you want to learn about next? Do you have any comments or questions? Reach us at hello@ferapets.com!