Supplement surge

Supplement surge

Organic primrose, fish and coconut oils, vitamins B and C, and probiotics: these are the nutritional pills, powders, capsules and oils you would expect to find in a high-end pharmacy, not in Fido's dinner bowl.

But veterinarians say there has been an increased use of such nutritional supplements for pets in the past five years.

Take Ms Sharon Oh, 52, founding member of dog rescue organisation Exclusively Mongrels, for example. Her five rescue mongrel dogs, which range in age from three to five years old, receive daily supplements of immune support powder, joint support powder, pre- and probiotics, vitamin B complex, fish and coconut oils.

She spends $500 a month on the supplements. These are fed to her dogs on a daily or weekly basis, depending on each animal's needs, orally or mixed into the dogs' home cooked meals. Ms Oh says the supplements are necessary to ensure the dogs get a balanced, nutritious diet, and to treat specific ailments, such as incontinence or hormonal imbalance (primrose oil), or skin irritation (witch hazel and neem oil). Ms Oh, who is married with no kids, started using the nutritional supplements instead of, or in combination with, conventional medicine about 15 years ago, when one of her dogs developed arthritis at about three years old.

"I could have put it on medication for the rest of its life, but that can do a lot of liver and kidney damage if used long term. The supplements work just as well and don't have the side effects," she says. The dog died two years ago at the age of 18.

Dr Jean Paul Ly, 64, owner and director of Animal Recovery Centre Group in Serangoon Road, says he has seen the use of supplements increase three- or four-fold since he started his career as a veterinarian and clinical nutritionist 30 years ago.

"It's a big field these days. Five or 10 years ago, about 20 per cent of my patients were using nutritional supplements and neutraceuticals. Now 80 per cent are using them," he says. Neutraceuticals are purified vitamins and natural herbs administered in high doses to treat diseases and ailments, rather than supplements, which are used in lower doses to complement a balanced diet.

The most commonly used supplements are glucosamine for joint health; probiotics for digestive and immune system health; and fish and coconut oils for anti-inflammation and skin, coat, heart and brain health. Pet owners spend about $50 to $150 a month a pet on the supplements, which are purchased in pet stores, such as Pet Lovers Centre, in veterinary clinics, in local pharmacies or health food shops such as GNC, or online from websites such as iherb.com.

Veterinarians who spoke with Life! say that human-grade supplements are preferable to those made for pets as human-grade supplements have fewer additives and are tested against higher safety standards.

"Pet supplements tend to have flavourings and colourings, which dilute the supplement, lessen their effect and may cause allergies," says Dr Jean Paul Ly from Animal Recovery Centre.

Dr Ly says the increased use of neutraceuticals and supplements largely stems from pet owners growing awareness of the practice through the Internet, and greater acceptance of alternative medicines.

Dr Travis Jayson, 35, veterinarian at Pet Doctors Vetrinary Clinic in Pandan Valley - who has seen his patients' use of supplements increase from 60 per cent to 90 per cent of patients in three years - says it is partially due to owners' humanisation of their pets. "It's hard drilled into people's minds that prevention is better than cure. We are projecting what we believe will benefit us on to the animals," he says.

While he feels that this is a good thing, overall, Dr Jayson cautions against over-supplementing with unnecessary vitamins. "We supplement something only if we are lacking in it. If the dog is already eating high quality food from a well trusted brand, with all the necessary vitamins and minerals in it, then there's no need to supplement the recommended amount of vitamins, unless the diet, such as one of home-cooked food, is lacking, or you are treating something specific," he says.

For example, Mr Rajinder Singh, 44, a physical trainer, started giving probiotics and kelp powder to his three-year-old cat Moe about two years ago when he noticed Moe prowling for human food. "He started eating the herbs in my food and he went into the kitchen, opened up a package of seaweed I had bought for myself, and ate the entire pack. It seemed like he was craving it, like he needed it, so I add it to his food for variety."

The bachelor adds the powdered supplements to Moe's canned cat food once a week.

Dr Brian Loon, 31, principal veterinary surgeon at Amber Vet in Frankel Estate, advises cat owners to use supplements and neutraceuticals made specifically for cats as these usually have flavours added, such as chicken or tuna, to make them palatable for cats.

Dogs, meanwhile, are less picky eaters, so it is easier to slip supplements into their food. The Barkery, a dog food bakery in Upper East Coast Road, takes advantage of this when cooking its canine treats. All of its biscuits contain ground flax seed, a rich source of antioxidants, fibre, vitamin B and omega-3, which helps soothe irritated or itchy skin and can lower the risk of diabetes, cancer,and heart disease. Its cafe outlet 111Cafe in East Coast Road serves meals and snacks, such as shepherd pie and liver brownies. They contain coconut oil, which has antiviral and antibacterial properties, aids metabolism, soothes skin and makes fur shiny.

Ms Elizabeth Heng, 60, who owns the bakery and cafe, says she adds the supplements to her dog treats and food for the dogs' health.

Ms Heng, who is married and has three grown children, feeds her four-year-old golden retriever and two "Singapore specials", a term used for local mutts, home cooked meals of beef, chicken or mutton, with raw vegetables such as celery, carrots or spinach, then adds coconut oil, fish oil, a children's multivitamin and pre- and probiotics.

She spends about $200 a month on the supplements, which she buys in bulk, mostly from websites such as mercola.com. "I think it's worth it. My golden retriever Toby used to have very sensitive skin and a sensitive stomach, and I was spending $400 once or twice a month taking it to the vet, on X-rays, blood tests and medicines. Since I put it on home-cooked meals with supplements, I have to take it to the vet only for annual jabs."

But some, like Mr Gill Chong, 37, a hairstylist who lives in Telok Blangah with his wife and their 12-year-old shih tzu and schnauzer mix Cookie, do not give their pets any supplements at all.

Says Mr Chong: "I think the food that Cookie gets is good enough. So far, he has no health problems, except his legs are a bit weak in his old age. I think dogs will be okay if you give them the right food and a lot of love."

DOS AND DON'TS

Do buy from reputable sources, such as veterinary clinics and pharmacies in Singapore, so that you can ensure and verify their quality. Vets Life! spoke to advised pet owners to check the expiration date, ingredients and instructions for use. Check also for labels indicating that the product has been submitted to the relevant country's regulatory body (such as the US Pharmacopeia).

Do check with your vet on recommended supplements and their dosages, which will vary according to the weight and species of your pet.

Do not give your pet too many supplements. If it is already receiving a well-balanced diet, it may not need additional vitamin supplements. Giving too many supplements can cause liver and kidney toxicity, or be ineffective. Take along bottles of all your pet's supplements and pet food to your vet appointment, so your vet can determine what best suits your pet's needs.

Do not self-medicate. While human vitamins can be used for animals, human medicines, such as paracetamol, can be toxic for animals and may kill them in high doses.

COMMON SUPPLEMENTS AND THEIR USES

Vitamin B: Treats spinal and nerve problems, as well as lethargy and loss of appetite.

Vitamin C: An immune booster which also helps reduce muscle inflammation.

Omega-3 and omega-6: Help the eyes, skin and coat, prevents heart disease and reduces inflammation. Also helps maintain brain health.

Coconut oil: Has anti-viral and antibacterial properties, aids metabolism, reduces skin inflammation and makes fur shiny. Glucosamine: Aids in the formation and repair of cartilage. Often paired with chondroitin, which gives cartilage its elasticity, as treatment for arthritis and stiff joints.

These tips were compiled based on advice provided by Dr Jean Paul Ly from Animal Recovery Centre, Dr Travis Jayson from The Pet Doctors Veterinary Clinic and Dr Brian Loon from Amber Vet.

vlydia@sph.com.sg


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