Pet
Supplements: Four Qualities to Consider
When
you make the decision to enhance your pet’s health
with pet supplements, there are many aspects to consider,
not the least of which is deciding which pet supplements
to use. However, there are four aspects of pet supplements
that can help you make your decision.
The
first trait to consider is the quality of the product. Although
there are many pet supplements on the market today, not
all are created equal. Many companies may try to pass off
a supplement that has excessive amounts of “filler”
rather than the active ingredient. Further, because pet
supplements are dosed differently than human supplements,
many consumers find it difficult to determine exactly what
amounts of what ingredients are desirable. The most advisable
course of action is simply to ask your veterinarian what
amounts are good for your pets, as well as what each active
ingredient does.
The
second feature to consider for pet supplements is efficacy.
Although companies may tout their product as the best new
thing, it’s important to make sure it actually works.
This feature of pet supplements goes hand-in-hand with the
first because the quality of ingredients can also determine
efficacy. Higher quality ingredients generally have more
bioavailability, meaning they are more effective at lower
doses. One way to find out if the product works is to consult
studies that have been done with the product. Usually, these
studies can be found online, but you can also call the company
as well if you can’t find any studies or you want
more information.
Allergies
and tolerance are two more features to think about when
choosing pet supplements for your animals. For example,
some animals cannot tolerate lactose, which is in many pet
supplements. If your pets have allergies, it’s important
to always check the labels of supplements to ensure they
don’t contain anything that could potentially cause
health problems.
Last
but not least, the safety of pet supplements should be in
the forefront of your mind when shopping. In keeping with
the second aspect to consider, studies can help you determine
the safety of pet supplements, as can calling the company
to find out information on testing. For example, a company
may conduct a trial to determine the correct dosage of pet
supplements for different sized animals.
Although
this list is by no means exhaustive, it may help you determine
just which pet supplements are good for your pet’s
particular needs.
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