NUTRITION & SUPPLEMENTS
Proper and quality nutrition is vital to your pet's health and longevity. Choosing the right food is challenging if you don't know what to look for. The ingredients listed on a pet food label can be misleading. It is important to know that the quality of ingredients and nutritional value are far more important than just the ingredients alone. For example, a high quality plant protein can provide better nutrition than a low quality meat source. We would be more than happy to help you choose a good quality diet for you pet.
If your cat or dog has been diagnosed with an illness, injury or chronic degenerative disease, they may benefit from a veterinary diet or supplement. Veterinary prescription diets have been specially formulated to provide unique nutrition to help support your pet through their illness or disease. In addition, supplements such as omega-3 fatty acids, glucosamine/chondroitin sulfate and s-adenosyl methionine and vitamins like cobalamin (vitamin B12) can be prescribed to treat your pet.
OMEGA 3 FATTY ACIDS
The omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are considered essential fatty acids. Essential fatty acids are not made by the body, therefore must be consumed through diet or supplements. Fish oil benefits include a healthy skin and fur coat, improved cognitive function, decreased inflammation, improved immune system function and may be used to enhance your pet's appetite. Research and case studies support that the anti-inflammatory activity of omega-3 fatty acids help to reduce joint pain due to inflammation, improve dry/itchy skin, and protects against autoimmune diseases. Omega-3 fatty acids have antioxidant properties (remove free radicals) therefore, may lower the risk of certain cancers.
The quality and source of fish oil you give your cat or dog is important. Please do not hesitate to ask us for a recommendation.
Click here for more information on Omega-3 Fatty Acids.
GLUCOSAMINE/CHONDROITIN SULFATE
Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate are compounds that may be useful in treating osteoarthritis or other painful conditions in cats and dogs. These compounds are also potentially beneficial in cats with FLUTD (feline lower urinary tract disease) because of the presence of glycosaminoglycans as part of the protective layer of the urinary tract.
Cartilage cells use glucosamine to produce glycosaminoglycans and hyaluronan. Glucosamine regulates synthesis of collagen and proteoglycans in cartilage and has mild anti-inflammatory effects due to its ability to scavenge free radicals. Production of natural glucosamine has been shown to diminish with age, disease, or trauma. Orally administered glucosamine appears to be able to be utilized by the body, and chondroitin sulfate appears to inhibit destructive enzymes in joint fluid and cartilage. In joint cartilage, it stimulates the production of glycosaminoglycans and proteoglycans.
S-ADENOSYL-METHIONINE (SAMe)
SAMe is a naturally occurring molecule found throughout the body. In small animals, SAMe is most commonly used as an adjunctive treatment for liver disease (chronic hepatitis, hepatic lipidosis, cholangiohepatitis, feline triad disease). It may also be of benefit in osteoarthritis, age-related cognitive dysfunction, treatment of acute hepatotoxin-induced liver toxicity (i.e. acetaminophen, xylitol toxicity), and at-risk patients on long-term therapy using drugs with hepatotoxic potential.