July 22, 2009

Assessing Pet Supplements -- How Vets Tell if They are Effective and Safe

A recent ConsumerLab.com study raises questions about the effectiveness of, or even necessity for, pet supplements.

Miami, FL small animal veterinarian Patty Khuly, VMD, MBA writes the popular blog Dolittler. Explaining a professional method to evaluate pet supplements, she cites Dr. Nancy Kay, a veterinary specialist who practices in Northern California and is the author of the popular book Speaking for Spot: Be the Advocate Your Dog Needs to Live a Happy, Healthy, Longer Life:

"We veterinarians are taught to use the ACCLAIM system (described below) to assess nutritional supplements. You too can use this system to make educated choices about these products for yourself and your four-legged loved ones.
A = A name you recognize. Choose an established company that provides educational materials for veterinarians and other consumers. Is it a company that is well established?

C = Clinical experience. Companies that support clinical research and have their products used in clinical trials that are published in peer-reviewed journals to which veterinarians have access are more likely to have a quality product.

C = Contents. All ingredients should be clearly indicated on the product label.

L = Label claims. Label claims that sound too good to be true likely are. Choose products with realistic label claims.

A = Administration recommendations. Dosing instructions should be accurate and easy to follow. It should be easy to calculate the amount of active ingredient administered per dose per day.

I = Identification of lot. A lot identification number indicates that a surveillance system exists to ensure product quality.

M = Manufacturer information. Basic company information should be clearly stated on the label including a website (that is up and running) or some other means of contacting customer support."

Still have questions? Read Supplementing Your Pet's Diet by Drs. Foster & Smith Educational Staff.

Read More in: Books & Media | Cats | Dogs | Health and Safety

Share this Article with others: