Beyond the Food Bowl: Pet Supplements

They're not there just to guard the door anymore, or to give the kids somebody to play with. Our pets mean more to us than ever, and they're being treated accordingly, like true members of the family. So it's not surprising that we're beginning to consider - and see - that some of the same benefits we humans get from supplements can be enjoyed by our four-legged friends, too.

After all, we take supplements to treat and ward off all sorts of conditions and afflictions, all with the goal of an improved quality of life. Why wouldn't we want the same for our best furry friends? As the scientific community understands more about the importance of nutrition for overall health, increasing numbers of vets and pet parents are turning to supplements as a very practical way to address what is typically a very emotional issue: the health and well-being of the family dog or cat.

And just like human supplements, the uses for pet supplements are growing all the time. Two types in particular, for healthy skin and coat growth for dogs, and for joint/cartilage health, have enjoyed widespread acceptance in recent years; supplements for everything from allergies to travel anxiety to dental health are gaining in popularity, too. Multivitamins are also catching on, as owners realize that even the best pet foods may be lacking in necessary nutrients.

Pet parents are beginning to understand that the preventative nature of supplements offer an effective way to avoid painful and expensive problems that creep up intermittently. Skin and coat supplements for dogs, for example, supply the Omega-6 and Omega-3 fatty acids and other nutrients that support healthy skin, a shiny coat and normal shedding. Without these essential nutrients in their diets, for a variety of reasons, many breeds of dogs can go into the domino-like cycle of itchy skin that leads to excessive licking, damaged coat, and the dreaded oozing, painful 'hot spots.'

Besides being emotionally wrenching for owners to observe, common problems like hot spots and joint immobility can be expensive to treat. Which brings up another likely reason for the recent surge in supplement sales: practicality. Even trips to the vet for relatively minor emergencies can quickly add up to major costs. Surgeries for serious issues routinely run into the thousands of dollars.

Faced with this prospect, more and more dog- and cat-lovers are adopting a more proactive stance, adding supplements to their pet's diet as a way to help ensure quality of life-and avoid unexpected trips to the vet or animal hospital.

Many owners have jumped on the supplemental wagon early and enthusiastically, in preemptive efforts to stave off problems genetically associated with their pet's particular breed. Labradors, well-known sufferers of hip dysplasia are taking glucosamine to promote healthy joints; shar-peis are getting their daily fish oils to avoid skin problems; allergy-prone bulldogs are becoming bullish on nettle leaf and rosemary.

Fortunately for our pets, the list of new uses for supplements continues to grow as research unlocks some of nature's key mysteries of the connections between nutrition, disease and prevention.

Today, as pet parents have undoubtedly noticed in vet offices and pet stores, a fair number of brands offer a wide variety of supplements. Natural and synthetic formulas. Tablet, liquid, and chewable forms. Large, medium and small packages. The choices are many, so be sure to do your homework and compare before you buy.

And of course before you buy, as with any significant change in your pet's care, consult with your vet first. Review your pet's health and genetic history together prior to adding any supplements to his or her diet. We're talking family after all, right?

Multivitamin Supplement 

Source:http://ezinearticles.com/?Beyond-the-Food-Bowl:-Pet-Supplements&id=5844799