The Power of Pet Supplements: Enhancing Your Pet’s Health with Prudence
Pet supplements are an effective way to maintain your pet’s health and address specific wellness needs. Understanding supplement labels and ingredients is key to selecting the right products for your pet. At Prudence Nature’s Wellness, we are committed to creating science-backed, effective supplements to ensure your pets live long, healthy, and happy lives.
Understanding Pet Supplement Labels
Pet supplements generally fall into two categories: Feed/Nutritional Supplements and Dosage Animal Health Products. Neither type should claim to treat or cure diseases.
Feed/Nutritional Supplements
These supplements provide added nutrition to support a healthy diet. Labels follow similar guidelines to pet food, including a Guaranteed Analysis/Nutrition Facts box listing protein, fat, fiber, and moisture content. Ingredients are listed by weight before cooking. Examples include:
- Pumpkin for fiber
- Milk and kefir for protein, fat, and probiotics
- Fresh fruits/vegetables for vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants
These supplements aren’t complete diets but serve as nutritional add-ons.
Dosage Animal Health Products
These supplements offer therapeutic ingredients to address specific health needs, such as herbs or concentrated food extracts not typically found in pet foods. Active ingredients are listed by quantity per serving, while inactive ingredients appear in alphabetical order. These products do not list protein, fat, or fiber levels.
Additionally, labels include warnings and cautions about interactions with medications or conditions.
Key Questions to Ask When Choosing Pet Supplements
- Is the supplement format effective and easy to administer?
Chews, powders, liquids, and capsules vary in effectiveness and ease of use. - Is the dosage safe and appropriate for my pet’s age, size, and health condition?
- Can I store the supplement safely?
- Are the active ingredients scientifically backed?
Ensure they are at effective doses. - Are the inactive ingredients high-quality and necessary?
- Does the manufacturer have adequate certifications, standards, testing, and reporting procedures such as those recommended by the NASC (National Animal Supplement Council)?
Common Pet Supplement Types
Calming & Anxiety Supplements
Calming supplements benefit pets dealing with stress from:
- Environmental changes
- Noise aversion (storms, fireworks)
- Travel or boarding
- Separation anxiety
Chronic stress affects a pet’s immune system and can lead to skin issues, digestive problems, and behavioral changes.
Key Ingredients:
- Valerian Root: For acute anxiety (storms, fireworks)
- Passionflower and Tryptophan: For chronic anxiety, support serotonin production
- Chamomile: Soothes anxiety-induced gas or indigestion
- L-Theanine and Thiamine: Support brain function and stress-blocking neurotransmitters
Additional ingredients include Melatonin (rest), Alpha-casozepine (relieves stress), and hemp oils (natural calming).
Bone & Joint Supplements
These supplements are beneficial for:
- Active pets
- Pets predisposed to joint issues
- Senior pets
- Pets with NSAID sensitivity
Key Ingredients:
- Glucosamine and Chondroitin: Support cartilage health
- Hyaluronic Acid: Vital for synovial fluid and joint lubrication
- Boswellia: helps reduce inflammation
- MSM: antioxidant, helps with pain relief
- NEM™ (found in Prudence Absolute Hip & Joint Chews & Powders): Made from egg membrane, studies have shown this ingredient to be 5x more effective than glucosamine at providing relief for osteoarthritis patients and has shown as much as a 50% improvement in joint pain and stiffness after 30 days.
Skin & Allergy Supplements
These supplements improve skin health in pets with:
- Excessive shedding
- Dry or oily skin
- Allergies or inflammation
Key Ingredients:
- Omega 3 Fatty Acids Encourages anti-inflammatory processes
- Omega 6 Fatty Acids: Supports skin cell turnover, improves skin moisture
- Fish Oil: Source of Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids
- Evening Primrose Oil: A source of Gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), an anti-inflammatory Omega 6, improves skin strength
- Krill Oil: Targets skin health more efficiently than fish oil
All of these are included in Prudence Skin & Allergy Health.
Most plant-based forms of Omega 3 are generally not effective for dogs or cats as they are not very good at converting the plant-based ALA to EPA and DHA. Marine sources are best, though alternative sources like microalgae oil and ahiflower can also be effective.
Other beneficial ingredients include astaxanthin, colostrum, and bromelain, along with apple cider vinegar and medicinal mushrooms like chaga and reishi for immune support.
Immune & Digestive Supplements
Over 70% of your pet’s immune cells are in the gut, making immune and digestive health critical to overall wellness. These supplements can help with:
- Post-antibiotic recovery
- Digestive issues (loose stool, constipation, flatulence)
- Urinary health
Key Ingredients:
- Prebiotics: Fermentable fibers that support good gut bacteria
- Probiotics: Maintain gut health and fight bad bacteria
- Pumpkin Fiber & Ginger: Aid digestion
- L-Lysine: Supports antibody production, especially important for cats
- Hyper-Egg® (used in Prudence Absolute Immune Health): Provides natural antibodies to strengthen immune responses
Conclusion: Supplements are a great addition to your pet’s health regimen. Understanding labels, ingredient quality, and proper dosage are key to choosing the best products for your pet’s unique needs. With Prudence’s science-backed supplements, you can give your pets the best care for a long and healthy life.
