How Safe Are Dog Vitamin Supplements?
If your dog needs to take vitamins, how can you be sure they are safe and effective? Just because they are approved by government agencies doesn’t necessarily mean they are safe for a particular individual. There are certain major differences when considering safety factors. Probably the greatest concern arises from the fact that pet supplements have not been tested adequately. Very little data can be found in this area. There are only three nutrients mentioned in the scientific papers at this time, lutein, garlic and evening primrose oil, and then only in regard to dogs, cats and horses. Studies to date have shown that certain supplements that are safe for humans are not always safe for animals. For example, garlic has not been proven safe for all animals. So far, it has been difficult to study these products, because there are no systems in place to evaluate them. There needs to be a way to quantify dosages, active ingredients, and what’s known as “adverse events,” or, side effects.
