Pets have such a positive impact on human life. It is so powerful that the National Institute of Health (NIH) has collaborated with the Waltham Petcare Science Institute since 2008 to study the human benefits of associating with animals. They study what type of pet best supports specific human needs and situations.
The Covid-19 pandemic only heightened the supportive power of pets. Pets provided a distraction, connection, and emotional support during the imposed pandemic isolation. According to the APPA National Pet Owners Survey, pet ownership in the US hit an all-time high in 2021 with roughly 90.5 million households owning a pet. That means roughly 7 out of every 10 households now have one or more pets.
Pets naturally become part of the family. They entertain us, cuddle us, and provide interactive support. As owners continue to humanize pets, they increasingly seek ways to support the happiness and health of their pets. Proper nutrition helps pets live life to the fullest.
Are Pet Supplements Worth it?
Depending on the animal’s age and physical and mental health, supplements may be beneficial. For example, have you ever wondered, “Why does my dog eat grass?” Researchers do not really know. Speculation runs the gambit. From normal dog behavior to ploys for human parent attention. From missing nutrients to irritated stomachs.
What a dog ingests with the grass is the real concern. Was the grass sprayed with pesticides or herbicides? You do not want to poison a member of the family.
Grass can also contain fecal material carrying the eggs and larva of intestinal parasites. Puppies are the most likely to eat grass and are also the most at risk from parasite infections.
In either case, pet supplements may support the physical and mental health of the family dog. Fiber or digestive enzymes for stomach issues. Hemp, probiotics, or ashwagandha for anxiety. Fish oil, vitamins, and turmeric for immune system support.
(For safe pet supplements and dosages talk to your veterinarian. Supplements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Never give pets human supplements. They may contain ingredients and dosages at levels which are toxic for pets. Especially given most pets are substantially smaller than humans.)
If you are concerned about your pet’s overall health and wellness (joints, immune system, digestive health, emotional wellbeing, and healthy aging) supplements may offer support.
Popular Supplements for Dogs
If you feed your dog a strict diet of carefully balanced nutritional dog food, the need for your dog to take supplements is low. However, depending on age and situation, supplements might benefit a dog’s quality of life.
Benefits of supplements for dogs include:
Easing Joint Pain to Improve Mobility Watching a dog limp and refuse to engage in normal playful behavior is heart-wrenching. Numerous supplements support reducing inflammation and improving joint functioning. Turmeric, fish oil, pineapple bromelain, and vitamin D are a few. Large dog breeds and obese dogs are especially at risk of developing osteoarthritis. Glucosamine and chondroitin may help acute pain from osteoarthritic joints and be a preventative intervention, too. Glucosamine and chondroitin are natural components of cartilage that make up joint connective tissue. Supplements containing green-lipped mussels (GLM) are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, amino acids, and vitamins and minerals. GLM supplementation has been clinically shown to improve peak vertical force and motor activity in aging dogs.
Relieving Allergies/Skin Issues The most common symptoms of an allergic reaction show up on a dog’s skin; Itchy, swollen, red skin with possible hives. Other skin issues include dry skin, hair loss, dandruff, or inflammation. These all leave a dog miserable. Both chewable and topical supplements can provide relief. These can include antioxidants, fish oil, coconut oil, vitamins, and zinc to soothe, hydrate, and nourish the skin.
Immune Health Like people, our furry friends are subject to viruses, bacteria, and toxins. A healthy immune system is the best defense to prevent illnesses. Pre and Probiotics support healthy immune system functioning and are contained in functional foods like pumpkin and yogurt. Supplements to support immune functioning for dogs include vitamins, fish oil, zinc, and healthy microbial.
Digestive Health Studies indicate dogs (descended from wolves) are omnivores like their human parents. Breeds that derived along with hunter/gathers are more carnivorous than those that developed with agriculturally based societies. (Recent studies have found grass and other plant material in the scat of modern wolves.) What does that mean for dog owners? A dog’s nutrient needs are more diverse than meat consumption alone. Dogs benefit from fiber (prebiotics), probiotics, and digestive enzymes. Talk to a vegetarian about the best digestive mix for your dog’s breed.
Anxiety/Stress Dogs are almost human-like in their personalities, worries, and concerns. They don’t like loud bangs or bright lights from artificial sources (fireworks) or natural occurrences (thunderstorms). They do not like to be left home alone. And unfortunately, in rescue cases, they deal with haunting demons.
Natural supplements may help calm dogs to bring relief to owners and dogs alike. Supplements that may provide calming benefits include hemp, the bacterium BL999, ashwagandha, chamomile, valerian root, and L-theanine. A recent study involving dogs displaying fearful behavior found a supplement of ground-up fish and melon juice reduced subtle signs of distress to relax dogs and improved curiosity and human interactions.
Metabolic Stress – Healthy Aging One of the downsides of life is that the metabolic processes providing energy also generate free radicals and other toxins to slowly age every system. B Vitamins are required for optimal metabolism, enzyme function, and protein synthesis. Vitamin C and E are antioxidants that protect against free radicals.
Supplements for Cats Unlike dogs, cats are true carnivores. For that reason, their dietary needs differ from those of dogs and humans. Benefits of supplements for cats include:
Joint Pain Osteoarthritis hits the best of us. If your cat shows signs of decreased mobility, supplements might help. Omega-3 fatty acids, glucosamine, chondroitin, and green-lipped mussels can help reduce joint inflammation and improve mobility. Talk to your vet about the right supplement for your cat.
Liver Disease Due to genetics, feline infections, or obesity, liver disease is common in cats. Numerous studies indicate the plant Milk Thistle (Silymarin) supports the liver. It is both an antioxidant and an anti-inflammatory. Research shows Milk Thistle may also support metabolic functioning in cases of insulin-resistant diabetes.
Healthy Fur/Coat You know a cat is healthy when the fur is thick and shiny. Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids support a healthy coat and their joints, liver, and immune system. The EPA in Omega-3 fatty acids is shown to support heart health.
Digestive Health Hairballs seem commonplace with indoor cats. But they may be an early sign of digestive issues. If grooming your cat to remove loose fur does not reduce the number of hairballs, your cat may need additional dietary fiber or possibly a probiotic. Talk to a veterinarian to find the right supplement or functional food for your cat.
Anxiety/Stress We all seem a little anxious these days. Cats take a little time to adapt to new places, sounds, and people. And how do cats know the exact moment it is time to go to the vet? Collars, droplets, and air diffusers with calming pheromones can naturally settle cats. As can cat-safe herb pouches containing catnip, valerian, hops, or chamomile.
Tincture droplets in a cat’s water bowl or mouth may provide calming support, too. However, tinctures must be of high professional quality to prevent accidental poisoning.
The Growing Pet Supplement Market
The APPA pet survey breaks down pet ownership based on the types of pets and the ages of their owners. Dogs and cats are the most common types of pets. APPA reports 69 million households have a dog and 45.3 million households have a cat. Almost one in every three Millennials (people 25-40 years old) owns one or more pets. While roughly one in every four Gen Xers (41-56 years old) and Baby Boomers (57-75 years old) owns one or more pets.
As health education increases and households gain more discretionary income, the desire to fill nutrition gaps and naturally support healthy living increases. Covid 19 increased pet ownership, the humanization of pets, and the demand for healthy, natural, and sustainably sourced pet ingredients.
Pets are like children to many owners. And as such, they want to supply them with the very best. This desire resulted in a 2021 pet supplement market valued at $1.9 billion. (Human supplements come in dosages toxic to pets. Pets need pet-sized dosages.)
Grand View Research forecasts the Pet Supplement Market to grow at a 5.9% CAGR (compound annual growth rate) for the next eight years. Pet supplements for dogs dominated the market in 2021, accounting for 43.2% of all pet supplements. But, demand for cat supplements is expected to register the highest growth in the next eight years with a forecasted 6.1% CAGR.
Pet Supplement Forms – Taste Matters
As every human parent knows, pets do not like taking pills or capsules. Hiding a pill in a sausage or a mound of soft food takes sleight of hand. And shoving a pill down an animal’s throat is a distressing experience.
Supplements that can be taken as a treat or in the food bowl are better options. Chewables and powder forms are more appealing to animals and are digested and absorbed like food.
In addition, natural, organic, and sustainable pet products are in increasingly higher demand. In fact, many consumers are willing to pay more for them. After all, what parents does not want only the best for their fur baby?
Pet Supplement Manufacturing with Origin Nutraceutical
Origin Nutraceutical loves pets. And we love designing tasty pet supplements from chewables to powders. Our Research and Development team can smoothly guide you through the supplement design process.
We are committed to manufacturing the highest quality supplements at the most cost-effective price. We have established supply chains and offer products made with organic, kosher, and halal certifications. Our attention to detail and service makes us one of the best supplement manufacturers in the nation. Clients can trust our service as we operate under NSF International GMP certification (good manufacturing practices).
Contact us today to get your supplement brand into the expanding pet market.
The content of Origin Nutraceutical’s website is for information only, not advice or guarantee of outcome. Information is gathered and shared from reputable sources; however, Origin Nutraceutical is not responsible for errors or omissions in reporting or explanation. No individuals, including those taking Origin Nutraceutical products, should use the information, resources or tools contained within to self-diagnosis or self-treat any health-related condition. Origin Nutraceutical gives no assurance or warranty regarding the accuracy, timeliness or applicability of the content.
Sources:
Pet Supplements Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Pet Type (Dogs, Cats), By Form (Pills, Chewables, Powders), By Application, By Distribution Channel (Online, Offline), By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2022 – 2030. Grandview Market. 2022. https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/pet-supplements-market
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