A Comprehensive Guide to Pet Supplement Manufacturing

As of 2021, the pet supplement market was valued at around $3 billion USD. Considering the fact that pet supplements can be the key to helping keep your furry pals or fluffy friends feeling their best, that’s no big surprise.

The only catch is that if you’re planning to purchase pet supplements, it pays to know a little about pet supplement manufacturing. That way, you know what to look for and what to avoid.

In this guide, we’ll go over what you need to know about the right ingredients to look for in pet supplements, their benefits, and our top recommendations for your beloved animals.

Ingredients in Pet Dietary Supplement Market

In general, pet dietary supplements are processed food composed of various raw animal and plant materials mixed with concentrated nutrient sources. These nutrients compensate for the deficiencies of the following:

• Vitamins
• Proteins
• Minerals

The main goal of the nutrients in pet supplements is to improve your pets’ health and overall well-being. However, not all ingredients have the same function. To make it easier for you to understand the deal with each common ingredient in pet supplements, let’s go over a few main nutrients included and what they do.

Chondroitin

One of the most important ingredients in a pet joint supplement is chondroitin. It’s also a natural substance in a dog’s cartilage, which makes chondroitin for dogs a particularly powerful ingredient. And when you combine this with glucosamine (which we’ll cover later), you can expect surprising benefits to your pet’s joints.

Chondroitin works wonders in improving your pet’s joint function while reducing pain from lameness and manipulation.

Glucosamine

As an amino sugar, glucosamine helps promote joint health by adding to joint lubrication. It works similarly in human and pet dietary supplements. But you cannot give human glucosamine to dogs, cats, or other animals because it may contain harmful ingredients not meant for pets. Instead, specially-formulated glucosamine for dogs is used.

Most veterinarians recommend supplements rich in chondroitin and glucosamine as alternatives for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for senior dogs with osteoarthritis. These ingredients are ideal for pets that cannot tolerate NSAIDs’ side effects.

MSM (Methylsulphonylmethane)

MSM is a natural compound that contains sulfur and is known to improve and maintain joint flexibility in your pets. At the same time, it’s also a dependable compound to reduce muscle pain and inflammation. When combined with the restorative effects of glucosamine and chondroitin in TRI-ACTA, you get a “trifecta” of healing power in one supplement.

TRI-ACTA H.A. for Pets

Our maximum strength formula is optimally designed to accelerate the formation of cartilage, minimize inflammation, expedite the healing process, and improve joint conditions.

Learn More

Animal By-Products

As defined by AAFCO or the Association of American Feed Control Officials, animal by-products are secondary products produced with the principal product. Basically, animal by-products are ingredients produced during food processing for human consumption.

The main reason animal by-products are excellent ingredients to be added to pet dietary supplements is because of their wide range of nutrients. Organ meat is a common by-product added to animal supplements.

Animal by-products contain carbohydrates, amino acids, vitamins, and minerals ideal for your pet’s health because they maintain a strong immune system.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Omega-3 fatty acids, typically found in fish oil, are beneficial compounds that protect your pet from various medical conditions. They promote good health and overall well-being. Your pets can’t produce these substances naturally, so choosing pet dietary supplements containing these fatty acids is a great idea.

The most important benefits of Omega 3 fatty acids include:

1. Fight and prevent heart disease
2. Prevent skin irritation because of allergies
3. Improve mobility of arthritic pets
4. Improve brain function
5. Prevent and address the progression of kidney disease symptoms
6. Lower hypertension to lengthen your pet’s life

Additional Vitamins and Minerals

Additional vitamins and minerals are important to support your pet’s overall growth, body systems, and development. They are typically combined in supplemental forms to ensure your pets get the right ratio for balanced nutrition.

A couple of additional vitamins and minerals you might find in pet food include:

• Vitamin A
• Vitamin D
• Calcium
• Magnesium
• Selenium
• B vitamins
• Riboflavin

Probiotics

Probiotics are a combination of various bacteria types which you can typically find in a cat, horse, or dog’s gut. Some examples include:

• Lactobacillus acidophilus
• Lactobacillus casei
• Enterococcus faecium
• Bifidobacterium breve
• Bifidobacterium lactis

Probiotics are known to support your pet’s digestive health because they help maintain the animal’s gut. Moreover, dietary supplements with probiotics can provide several benefits, including the following:

1. Improved skin and shiny coat appearance
2. Better breathing rhythms
3. Decreased gas production and allergy symptoms
4. Better bowel function regulation
5. Decreased ailments associated with yeast
6. Protect and maintain the immune system

Phytonutrients

Another ingredient present in dietary supplements for pets is phytonutrients. These are commonly found in plants and can prevent various diseases. The most common phytonutrients present in nutritional supplements include Yucca Schidigera and Curcumin.

The exact phytonutrients included in your pet’s supplements will depend on the animal type, its age, and a few other factors.

What to Look For in Manufactured Pet Food Supplements

The supplements you give your pets significantly impact their health, which is why not being confident with what you give them can lead to grave consequences that will make you regret your choice.

As a general rule of thumb, you’ll want to look for the ingredients listed above. However, besides ingredients, there are a couple of other things to keep an eye out for when it comes to shopping for pet supplements.

Let’s discuss the most important considerations to have in mind when hunting for manufactured pet supplements.

Composition and Quality

After knowing the ingredients, it’s always important to know the supplement’s quality and nutrient composition. You can often find this on the packaging’s supplement label.

Consulting your vet also helps. He or she can advise performing quick laboratory analysis to determine and confirm nutrient profiles and their quality.

Safe Colors, Flavors, and Preservatives

Most pet food supplements have small amounts of additional preservatives, colors, and flavors. They are also strictly regulated to ensure they are safe for the animals. For instance, preservatives are normally composed of natural sources like Vitamin E. This would normally prevent the food supplement from spoiling.

Similarly, minute amounts of food coloring can also help your pets become more fond of eating the supplements. As long as they contain safe ingredients, you shouldn’t worry.

Certain organizations, including the following, should regulate safe colors, flavors, and preservatives:

1. U.S Food and Drug Administration
2. Association of American Feed Control Officials
3. Generally Recognized as Safe
4. Food Additive Petition Process

Just bare in mind that not all additives, colors, and preservatives are good for your pet. While they might not necessarily make him sick, they might not be beneficial in the long run or could serve as empty calories.

As a result, it’s best to stick to natural supplements like TRI-ACTA. That way, you know exactly what’s going into your pet’s stomach.

Good Quality Fat

Fat is vital for pets because it promotes good nerve and brain development. And when these animals don’t get enough, they are more prone to acquiring cognitive dysfunctions or dementia as they reach their senior years.

The right amount of fat can also aid in joint lubrication. The healthiest fats come from fatty fish, plant oils, seafood, seeds, dairy products, and eggs.

Quality Packaging

You know the food supplement is of premium quality when appropriately packaged. Good manufacturers see the importance of quality packaging and will spend resources to provide the best options.

Moreover, when food supplements are packaged correctly, they last longer. This also preserves the ingredients’ quality, guaranteeing you’re providing the freshest material possible to your pets.

The Veterinarian’s Role

The decision to add food supplements to your pet’s diet often comes from a vet’s prescription and recommendation. Veterinarians commonly prescribe these dietary supplements to pets suffering from certain medical conditions.

Your vet must also know all necessary information regarding the food supplement and the manufacturer. There should be constant communication between pet owners and veterinarians to ensure these supplements are safe for animals.

Your veterinarian must also know the perfect food supplement combinations to go with your pet’s current diet. This protects the animal from possible side effects affecting his health and lifestyle.

Benefits of Pet Nutritional Supplements

Before diving deeper into pet nutritional supplements' benefits, you’ve got to understand that they are not alternatives to your pet’s diet plan. They can be essential building blocks to the animal’s overall health, but they cannot provide total health coverage.

This means you need to combine the following factors to ensure your pet is happy and healthy:

• Food and water
• Exercise and activity
• Ample playtime
• Grooming and cleaning
• Routine
• Tender love and care

With that being said, it’s no surprise that nutritional supplements for your pets provide a wide range of benefits for their health and well-being. Let’s review some of the key benefits of giving your fluffy friends pet supplements.

Provide Essential Nutrients

Most pet diets would be more effective with a boost from food supplements. This is because it’s common for specific fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals to disperse or evaporate during your pet food’s cooking or heating process.

This is also why holistic veterinarians suggest adding food supplements to your pet’s routines. They contain vital ingredients with essential nutrients to boost the efficiency of your pet’s meals.

Additionally, you must also remember not to overload your pet with nutrients. Most of the time, maximum efficiency is possible, even in the smallest supplement doses.

Boost Immune System

Any pet needs a strong and balanced immune system to prevent him from acquiring life-threatening diseases, inflammation, osteoarthritis, and other medical conditions. A robust immune system also helps eliminate harmful pathogens that can put your pet’s life in danger.

Food supplements take care of your pet’s immune system and ensure it’s not compromised. These substances also help prolong the animal’s healthy life.

Improve Coat and Skin

Hair loss and skin irritation are common distressing problems in most pets, especially dogs. Coat-specific food supplements can become their best friend to prevent the spread or even the onset of such a condition.

Food supplements rich in biotin, amino acids, and fish oil can fight common skin problems that root from the following causes:

1. Bacterial and fungal infections
2. Hotspots
3. Lice, ticks, and fleas
4. Excessive shedding
5. Environmental allergies
6. Dry and itchy skin

Aid in Healthy Digestion

Since many food supplements contain probiotics, they can significantly help maintain healthy digestion for your pet. They can help balance gut bacteria in the animal, regulating better bowel movements.

Additionally, there are food supplements that contain both probiotics and prebiotics. These can stimulate the growth of good bacteria to prevent the occurrence of an upset stomach or diarrhea in your pets. At the same time, these supplements can also aid in water absorption and prevent bad breath.

Improve Overall Cognitive Development

Cognitive function benefits when you feed your pet the right nutritional supplement. Most supplements contain antioxidants that improve an animal’s spatial attention and overall learning. The exact supplements can also prevent cognitive dysfunction syndrome in growing pups.

Common supplements aiding overall brain health and plasticity include L-carnitine, Vitamine E and C, and Coenzyme Q-10.

Manufacturer Regulations for Pet Nutrition Supplement

Manufacturers must strictly follow specific regulations before releasing dietary supplements. The Food and Drug Administration sets these standards to guarantee the safety of all animals given these supplements. Failure to comply with these regulations results in the supplement being misbranded or confiscated.

Let’s check out some of the most important manufacturer regulations pet supplement sellers must abide by.

Premarket Approval

The Food and Drug Administration requires food supplements to follow the food additive regulation. The only exception would be those supplements recognized as safe for their intended use. These ingredients include grains, forages, and other vitamins and minerals.

Food supplements that are neither approved as animal food additives nor GRAS will be prohibited from being legally marketed.

Claims and Labeling

Pet dietary supplements must contain clear labels that contain relevant information about certain details that guarantee the safety of their consumption. Labeling includes labels written or printed on the supplement’s packaging that are easily readable and understandable.

Moreover, labeling can also include books, brochures, product information sheets, testimonials, and promotional pamphlets. Plus, these supplements must also comply with individual state laws, which require labels to contain the following information:

• Brand and product name
• Purpose statement
• List of ingredients and their nutritional facts
• Directions for usage
• Proper dosage
• Caution or warning statements
• Manufacturer’s name and address
• Quantity statement

Recommended Pet Mobility Products & Supplements

Pets suffering from mobility and joint issues must be prescribed the right nutrition supplements. These supplements should contain essential ingredients to help improve the animal’s mobility to prevent his muscles and bones from degrading over time.

If you’re looking for reputable mobility and joint supplements, there are a couple of ingredients you can look for. Here are some of the top ingredients in pet supplements and their benefits.

The Importance of TRI-ACTA

A unique pet mobility supplement that can significantly help with joint issues is TRI ACTA H.A. It’s an effective option, especially for pets suffering from immobility, hip dysplasia, age-related soreness, pain, and osteoarthritis.

TRI ACTA H.A. is a more robust version of TRI-ACTA that includes the same ingredients but adds hyaluronic acid to help lubricate articulating joints, reducing shock and enhancing resistance in joints that bear weight. TRI-ACTA H.A. is recommended for pets that are aging, are experiencing conditions such as arthritis, or have other injuries or mobility concerns. This supplement is also proven to prevent further cartilage deterioration in senior pets.

TRI-ACTA H.A. for Pets

Our maximum strength formula is optimally designed to accelerate the formation of cartilage, minimize inflammation, expedite the healing process, and improve joint conditions.

Learn More

Some vets also recommend this supplement to speed up the healing of the joints after surgery.

Pet Digestive Supplement vs. Food Supplements

Food and digestive supplements work together to benefit their overall pet health. Digestive supplements commonly contain probiotics to maintain and improve your pet’s gut health. On the other hand, food supplements provide the necessary vitamins and minerals to compensate for what’s lacking in your pet’s meal plan.

Digestive and food supplements may function differently, but they are necessary to promote healthy digestive systems for your pets.

Considerations in Digestive Supplements

One factor to consider when choosing digestive supplements is determining your ultimate goal. You must know what to expect out of the supplement you’re providing. This is why consulting your vet is always the first step.

Another factor is to guarantee the digestive supplement is safe for your pet’s consumption. The last thing you want is for the animal to suffer from an emergency because of something you gave.

Over-the-counter digestive supplements are available, but you can also switch to natural ones in the form of fruits, such as the following:

• Kiwi
• Banana
• Pineapple
• Honey
• Papaya

Considerations in Food Supplements

Like dietary supplements, food supplements also come with critical considerations you must note of. For one, you need to ensure that the supplement will not overload your pet with nutrients, vitamins, and minerals that can cause harm. It’s imperative to know what they only need.

Moreover, always remember that food supplements are not substitutes for your pet’s original meal plan. They should only be supplementing necessary nutrients to ensure the animal is healthy.

Summary

Pets need proper nutrition in order to live a long and healthy life. While pets should be able to get the nutrients they need from their food, adding supplements to their diet can reassure you that they’re not missing any core vitamins or other nutrients.

A couple of benefits of adding supplements to your pet’s diet include boosting their immune system, improving mobility, boosting their cognition, supporting healthy digestion, and leading to healthy skin and coat.

One such supplement that can help support a healthy pet is TRI-ACTA H.A., a joint supplement that promotes better joint health and mobility. It’s best for senior animals and pets undergoing joint surgery, but it also works as a preventative measure to ensure healthy movement! Get in touch with Integricare today to learn more about this supplement and how it works.

TRI-ACTA H.A. for Pets

Our maximum strength formula is optimally designed to accelerate the formation of cartilage, minimize inflammation, expedite the healing process, and improve joint conditions.

Learn More