| If your pet needs to take vitamins, or other | | | | 6. It's much more difficult to evaluate the more |
| dietary supplements, how can you be sure they | | | | subjective aspects of a particular product. In |
| are safe and effective? | | | | other words, we can't ask a dog if he feels more |
| It's the same question asked of human | | | | energetic than he used to, or if he thinks he's |
| supplements, and just because they are approved | | | | sleeping better now. |
| by government agencies doesn't necessarily mean | | | | 7. There have been no studies of sufficiently large |
| they are safe for a particular individual. | | | | numbers of animals to identify any patterns of |
| The same is true for pet products, but there are | | | | change or improvement in any area, except |
| certain major differences when considering safety | | | | perhaps for obvious changes, such as coat |
| factors. | | | | condition (shinier, smoother, less shedding) or |
| 1. Probably the greatest concern arises from the | | | | observable behaviors, such as irritability. Still, such |
| fact that pet supplements have not been tested | | | | changes cannot be claimed as significant without |
| adequately. Very little data can be found in this | | | | larger, controlled study groups to evaluate. |
| area. | | | | While there have been few, and inadequate, |
| 2. Only three nutrients are mentioned in the | | | | studies of pet supplementation by government |
| scientific papers at this time, namely, lutein, garlic | | | | agencies, such as the FDA (Food and Drug |
| and evening primrose oil, and then only in regard | | | | Administration), there have been many studies |
| to dogs, cats and horses. | | | | conducted by independent researchers. However, |
| 3. Studies to date have shown that certain | | | | these have been criticized as biased or unscientific |
| supplements that are safe for humans are not | | | | by the scientific community, and many of the |
| always safe for animals. For example, garlic has | | | | same concerns as listed above apply. |
| not been proven safe for all animals. | | | | What can you do to ensure your pet receives |
| 4. So far, it has been difficult to study these | | | | supplements that are safe and effective? At this |
| products, because there are no systems in place | | | | time, the burden falls to the pet owner to do the |
| to evaluate them. There needs to be a way to | | | | homework. Consult with pet nutritionists, many of |
| quantify dosages, active ingredients, and what's | | | | whom are veterinarians who have focused on |
| known as "adverse events," or, side effects. | | | | these concerns and have their own clinical studies |
| 5. There is little to no regulation in the animal | | | | on which to base opinions. |
| dietary supplement manufacturing industry. | | | | |