If that's the case with Fluffy, she may benefit from B12 injections. The pet food companies that do not perform feeding trials simply develop their diet based on a formula, and package it and sell it without ever feeding it to an actual cat. So why do some think it could be bad for cats? Commercial Cat Foods. Some cats, especially those with sensitive digestive tracts, may … In this case, the cat would require injections of those two supplements, as oral supplements won’t be absorbed either. In Digestion, Enzymes For Pets, Pet Food, Probiotics For Pets. If your cat is struggling with … If you are feeding a commercial cat food that is nutritionally balanced, and your mother kitty is otherwise healthy, you should have no need to provide additional vitamin supplements. Additionally, Dr. Trimble makes the point that majority of supplements, just like for humans, are not FDA approved. If you take your cat to the vet because they’re generally feeling blah, they’ll often give your cat a quick Vitamin B12 shot to help them feel better. Advocates for pet nutraceuticals say such products simply supplement the cat’s natural diet. So far in three days, my buddy likes it (phew!). Antioxidant? A: Dogs and cats do require vitamins as part of their diet just as we do. Iron, in combination with copper, is necessary for a cat to produce hemoglobin, which is the agent that carries oxygen in the red blood cells and distributes it throughout the body. You should always first discuss with your veterinarian any supplements that you are considering giving to your cat. In the case of a nutritional deficiency, your vet may recommend a specific supplement. Potassium keeps the cat hydrated. Small intestinal disease can cause an inability to absorb the B vitamins folate and cobalamine. But yes, a needle is involved. I am absolutely a proponent of colloidal silver and I too, make my own. Omega-3 fatty acids are a powerful anti-inflammatory for the skin and joints and can help support the function of multiple organs. And yes, you have to stick it in your cat… It is often found with glucosamine. You want to do what’s best for her. Other B complex vitamins can contain phosphorous, which must be minimized in a cat with CKD. hat has many functions and is a great additive to many foods is omega-3 fatty acids such as those found in fish oil. I know that cats can make their own vitamin C inside their bodies but I feel that he's not making enough on his own, that's why I would like to give him supplements. And How to Make Your Cat Live Longer, 5 Ways to Help Your Cat Stay Disease Free, 5 Dos and Don'ts for Mixing Your Pet's Food. Vitamins for cats are usually provided by well-balanced cat food formulas. By clicking Subscribe, I agree to the WebMD, Smart Grocery Shopping When You Have Diabetes, Surprising Things You Didn't Know About Dogs and Cats, Coronavirus in Context: Interviews With Experts, Sign Up to Receive Our Free Coroanvirus Newsletter, Cat Dehydration: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatments. In 2015, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center received 28,523 calls regarding over-the-counter supplements compared to 18,260 calls in 2013 — that’s a whopping 56 percent increase. These should all be found in your cat’s food. Simply sprinkle the topper onto your cat’s food and you’ll give their diet a boost of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. October 30, 2012 November 15, 2016 James Medication. Others, including Cruz and members of the Pet Food Institute, say if your cat is generally healthy, a good quality cat food is all that’s needed. “The interest in nutritional supplements for people and pets has exploded into a billion dollar industry over the past several years,” says Bernadine Cruz, DVM, chair of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Council on Communications. People joke that only pampered pets got bottled water. In fact by adding additional vitamins and minerals to your cat's diet you could actually be upsetting the natural balance of the nutrition and doing more harm than good. In the case of vitamin C, cats and dogs don’t have a dietary requirement and too much can not only have the opposite effect of your goal, but could come with some painful and unexpected side effects. You should never ever give a cat any paracetamol. So if you don’t prefer tap water for her and now you are afraid to give her bottled water. Digestive enzymes. Nutraceutical products are found in the supplement section in pet stores and online. Commercial pet foods are formulated to meet all the nutrient requirements a cat needs to thrive. Supplements may be recommended if your cat is sick. “Over-supplementation can have ill side effects,” Cruz says. Vitamin C is often touted as one of the more essential vitamins that the body needs for energy and immunity from colds and other viruses. This is true. As an antioxidant it also helps support joints, bones and the immune system. As over-the-counter (OTC) supplements have become more popular, more cats and dogs are getting into them. So while you can give aspirin to a human at doses of 10mg/kg of body weight every 6 hours, with a cat, you can give the same dose (10 mg/kg) - but every 48 hours, not 6 hours. Vitamins keep your pet's skin and coat healthy, strengthen bones and teeth, and give them the overall energy that they need to function. Too soon to see any benefits but I guess it will not hurt it. Pet supplements is a growing industry worth billions of dollars a year but there is still some doubt as to whether they have a real benefit to a cat's health. Unlike our diets, which vary day-to-day, most cats eat the same food day in and day out. Years ago, before I knew about CS, one of my cats got an upper respiratory infection. Cats need 14 different vitamins to thrive. Best for Skin and Coat: Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil Cat Food Supplement. Just as too little iron is bad for your cat’s health, so is too much iron toxicity). She recommends asking your vet about a reputable seller of cat supplements, adding that she would not buy them online unless she had confidence in the company selling them. First thing is - go to a vet. These work to increase lubrication within the joint as well as repair cartilage. A high quality, complete and balanced food formulated for your cat’s specific life stage and lifestyle will meet all the essential nutrients to maintain optimal health. “Remember, more is not always better.”. As the product ages, some ingredients start decomposing and the smell gets stronger. My question is should I give the ascorbic acid type or the sodium ascorbate kind? This will ensure there are no complications or health concerns with other medications you are giving or medical conditions your cat has. Even though Allegra and Ruby are young, healthy cat, I do give some supplements. If you have a senior cat that seems to be not quite as sharp mentally you could consider a supplement to support cognitive dysfunction, also know as dementia. Pet”. The probiotics come microencapsulated, so they are guaranteed to have shelf stability and to arrive alive in your cat’s intestinal tract. The belief that tap water is not ideal spurred many cat owners to resort to bottled water for their beloved felines. In it’s purest form (ascorbic acid) it acts as an acidifier of pH in the body. But cats have different metabolisms to humans, and can break aspirin down only very slowly. Additionally, the better pet food manufacturers will create a diet based on the life stage and lifestyle of the cats they are marketing to. What do you do? Share this: By Ashley Gallagher, DVM. The name is Two Crazy Cat Ladies and the product is called Vita-Cat. I already have been taking vitamin C, so I’m not sure that I’ll notice a difference very quickly. Milk thistle extract helps remove toxins from the cat’s liver. Wysong Addlife Food Supplement is a great way to dress up commercial cat food or to add to raw chicken or turkey in order to give your cat extra vitamins. AVMA web site, “Frequently Asked Questions About Caring For an Older I want my cat to live long and I'm thinking of giving her human vitamins and supplements. I give my friend a combo of sardines, cans (cheap and premium) and raw bony meat. A Few Words of Caution When Using Iron Supplements. Besides tasting great, this formula also contains antioxidants like vitamins E and C and beta-carotene, which have been shown to support a … Vitamins and Minerals. Supplements are prescribed for cats with diarrhea and vomiting. Therefore many people with CKD cats give both a vitamin B complex and a separate vitamin B12 product. Chondroitin is also for healthy bone and joints. A vitamin B12 deficiency can be found in patients with a variety of different conditions. It is very important, however, not to give pets human vitamins. One of the things to consider is that she may not be getting enough vitamin B12. Contains a mix of antioxidants, B-complex vitamins, and essential fatty acids Most cats seem to like the treats’ flavor Clinically-proven formula Affordable Answer: Not Necessary. What to Do If Your Pet Accidentally Consumes a Human Vitamin For many pets, sneaking behind your back and consuming one of your vitamins that you left sitting on the table is not cause for an emergency. You should speak to your veterinarian to see if your cat needs additional Omega-3 fatty acids and how much to give. I only give 1 per day to quite frankly stretch it for 45 days instead of 22. Is she less interested in eating? Once you have chosen a diet that was developed using feeding trials and that is ideal for your cat’s life stage and lifestyle, there are some supplements that you can consider adding based on the particular health needs of your cat. Should Aging Pets Get Supplements? If you have a senior cat that seems to be not quite as sharp mentally you could consider a supplement to support cognitive dysfunction, also know as dementia. Vitamin C And Cats. Sadly, all cat foods like Meow Mix and Fancy Feast don't have vitamins added, and considering that in nature processed foods don't exist and animals get a lot of sunlight, I think that most human pets are vitamin deprived unknowing to their owner, even if they appear healthy. Diseases like FeLV and FIV depend on a weak immune system to give them entry; a healthy adult cat is relatively resistant to the disease. Omega-3 fatty acids are a powerful anti-inflammatory for the skin and joints and can help support the function of multiple organs. You'll probably find a soft chew, powdered capsule, or liquid supplement to give your cat. Your cat likely won’t be able to process the vitamins that you give them, regardless of the form you choose. Some cats have genetic disorders that keep them from absorbing B12. One can imagine that a growing kitten has very different nutritional needs than an adult cat. The answer seems to lie in a compromise. So why do some think it could be bad for cats? This gives a complete picture as to how each ingredient in the diet comes together in the final product. Vitamin A is also critical to good night vision. Do not use different supplements together, as they may contain the same or similar ingredients. Alpha lipoic acid, found in some B complex vitamins, can be toxic to cats. It's important to remember that you can harm your cat by giving them too many supplements. WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. You should speak to your veterinarian to see if your cat needs additional Omega-3 fatty acids and how much to give. © 2005 - 2019 WebMD LLC. They’ve referred to them as “more than feed additives but less than pharmaceuticals. They do not eliminate the condition but support joint functions and increase lubrication in the joints as well as repair the cartilage. With more and more people turning to vitamins and supplements to fulfill their daily recommended intake of nutrients, it’s only natural that they would want to do the same for their cat. I recently bought my cat Pet Naturals’ Daily Best For Cats on Amazon USA. There are countless joint supplements out there to choose from so be sure to discuss with your veterinarian which one is best for your cat. There are countless joint supplements available, so be sure to consult your vet for a recommendation. Your vet can help you identify what, if anything, is currently missing in your cat’s diet and which vitamins … From multivitamins to supplements that support specific body functions, several types of multifunctional nutrients are available for purchase. My 4 year old cat constantly gets the cold and he refuses to eat his food because he can't smell it because he has stuffy nose. Glucosamine helps increase joint mobility and is often touted as a treatment for arthritis, although Cruz says it doesn't relieve its pain. For cats with chronic diseases B12 for cats is something you can do at home once a week to stimulate their appetite. Your vet can direct you to the appropriate product. I just got my order yesterday and started taking it in my water today (I always try the products before I give it to my cats). Adding iron-rich foods to your cat's diet is a healthy and low-cost way to increase her iron levels, but you should always get the go-ahead from a professional in case your cat has allergies or a more serious form of medical intervention is needed. B12 plays an important role in cats' growth and health. Sadly, all cat foods like Meow Mix and Fancy Feast don't have vitamins added, and considering that in nature processed foods don't exist and animals get a lot of sunlight, I think that most human pets are vitamin deprived unknowing to their owner, even if they appear healthy. Vitamin C And Cats. Alpha Cat. Provided you are giving your cat a balanced diet there should be no need to give it additional amounts of supplements. In his book, Dr. Goldstein (which I referenced to help us here) says that a fast of chicken or bone broth will speed the virus. And, does your cat need supplementation? Supplementation of B vitamins, orally or as part of a prescription diet, helps to maintain adequate levels of these important nutrients. The key point is that most cats consuming a complete and balanced diet probably have a better balanced diet than most humans,” says Sherry Sanderson, DVM, PhD, of the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine. Cats’ fur prevents them from using sunshine to make Vitamin D like people do, but good-quality cat foods already contain great levels of Vitamin D. Also, many of our cats’ favorite foods, such as oily fish, eggs and cheese , are already high in Vitamin D. Giving a supplement just isn’t necessary — and it’s dangerous to give too much of a good thing. Vitamin K is also important as it helps forms bone proteins. Talk with your vet about the options and what will be best for your cat and their health needs. This means that consuming a human-grade vitamin can potentially give your pet an unhealthy excess of a particular vitamin or mineral. But yes, a needle is involved. Should You Give Your Senior Cat Supplements? All rights reserved. Provided you are giving your cat a balanced diet there should be no need to give it additional amounts of supplements. 1 It could stand to reason that choosing bottled water is not helpful and could even be harmful to your cat. If Princess is receiving regular fluid therapy, Vitamin B12 can be added to her fluids, which can perk her up. That is not to say that all pet foods are created equal, because there is great variety among each brand of food, which is extremely important to know when choosing a diet for your cat. Healthy cats that are well fed do not need vitamin supplements. A therapeutic veterinary food specifically formulated with high levels of antioxidants to protect a cat’s aging brain would also be a good choice if you notice your senior cat slowing down. Supplements for cats with iron deficiencies can greatly help to reduce problems in a cat that is iron deficient. Chloride. August 21, 2014. Aside from that there are several other reasons why you don’t need to give vitamins to your cat. Have some nature made B-12 tablets at home, and my cat usually gets a b-12 injection however will not be bringing her in for one this week. You or someone you know probably takes a daily multivitamin. If you are feeding your senior cat a balanced diet, they shouldn’t need supplements. Does your cat need one, too? Garlic: destroys red blood cells, leading to, Onion: destroys red blood cells, leading to anemia, Vitamin C: too much can cause overly acidic urine, which can lead to crystal formation and a lifethreatening blockage. Yes, adding vitamin C should help your cats. Another widely used dietary supplement that has many functions and is a great additive to many foods is omega-3 fatty acids such as those found in fish oil. Vitamins and supplements found at health stores and pharmacies are all the rage these days — from multivitamins to specialty supplements that are designed to support specific bodily functions. Do cat supplements live up to their claims? Raw Food Supplements Cat supplement manufacturers and advocates say such products should be seen as an extension of a cat’s diet, adding that they can help the pets live longer, healthier lives. 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