Dietary or nutritional supplements are commonly used in animals and can serve a number of purposes. A dietary supplement is defined by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the Dietary Supplement Safety and Education Act (DSHEA) of 1994 as “a product taken by mouth that contains a dietary ingredient intended to supplement the diet.”
A dietary or nutritional supplement may contain vitamins, minerals, herbs, other types of botanicals, amino acids, enzymes, organ tissues or metabolites. Good examples of commonly used dietary supplements in dogs and cats are glucosamine and chondroitin.
What is the Dietary Supplement Safety and Education Act (DSHEA)?
The Dietary Supplement Safety and Education Act (DSHEA) is a legislative act which specifies that the manufacturer of a dietary or nutritional supplement is responsible for making certain that the dietary supplement is safe before the supplement is marketed to the public. The DSHEA further states that the FDA is responsible for regulating any dietary or nutritional supplement which is deemed to be unsafe after the product is released to the public.
What does the DSHEA Mean to the Pet Owning Public?
The DSHEA requires manufacturers of dietary or nutritional supplements to make certain that product labeling is correct and accurate. However, manufacturers of dietary and nutritional supplements do not have to provide proof to the FDA attesting to the safety or effectiveness of their product.
These regulations are in sharp contrast to the regulations pertaining to pharmaceutical medications, which must undergo strict testing protocols to prove to the FDA that the pharmaceutical medication is safe and effective before being released to the public.
This means that consumers purchasing dietary or nutritional supplements must trust the manufacturer of the product implicitly. The only evidence a consumer has that a specific dietary supplement is safe or effective or that the labeling is correct is the word of the manufacturer.
How can a Pet Owner Choose a Good Dietary Supplement for Their Pet?
Pet owners considering dietary or nutritional supplements for their pets should investigate both the ingredients present in the dietary supplement and the manufacturer of the dietary supplement.
Talk to the pet’s veterinarian and ask for recommendations. Veterinarians are often in a perfect position to judge the effectiveness of specific dietary supplements because they may have other clients whose pets are receiving that dietary supplement and may have first-hand knowledge about whether a dietary supplement is working well. In addition, the veterinarian may have already done the research to determine whether the manufacturer is trustworthy.
Check with the FDA to find out whether any adverse effects have been reported with a specific dietary supplement.
Contact the manufacturer of the dietary supplement and ask for information about the dietary supplement under consideration. Ask specifically to see any scientific studies performed relating to safety and effectiveness.
Always consult the pet’s veterinarian before beginning any dietary supplement, particularly if the pet is receiving other medications. Some medications may become harmful when combined with dietary supplements. Dietary supplements fed in improper amounts or for improper periods of time can also become dangerous for a pet.
When considering a dietary supplement for a pet, remember that dietary supplements are not regulated in the same way that pharmaceuticals are.Take the time to investigate the ingredients of the dietary supplement as well as the reputation of the manufacturer.
These steps can help satisfy a pet owner that the dietary supplement is safe and effective for the pet and may save the pet owner from spending hard-earned money on useless supplements. Careful investigation may also save the pet from adverse reactions to a dietary supplement which could be harmful to the pet’s health. Of course, the investigation may also reveal a dietary supplement which will benefit a pet tremendously while still being safe.
