By Ashley Watson
If you recommend pet supplements to your clients, you know that it’s important to be educated about the ingredients and what they are intended for. Products sold through vet clinics are typically formulated for hip and joint support, skin and coat health, stress and behavioral support, or as a vitamin formula to be given as part of a healthy diet. While vets should be able to answer questions about the active ingredients and their respective functions, what about the inactive ingredients?
Even though it may not be a question for you as a veterinarian, clients may not understand why some inactive ingredients are added to the product. Most pet owners trust that the product is safe, but the extra careful pet owner may want to know more about the purpose of the inactive ingredients. This post is intended to give you an easy guide to give to clients, and we’ve made it simple for you.
You can either direct them to this post on our blog site, or print the following information as a handout. Now, when your clients have questions about Vetri-Science® ingredients, you can feel even better about ensuring the quality and the specific function of each ingredient.
Why Are These Inactive Ingredients in My Pet’s Supplement?
The simple answer to this question is that inactive ingredients in pet supplements are typically used to add flavor or texture. The base of the supplement should be listed first or second under the inactive ingredients. For instance, Vetri-Science® uses brewer’s yeast as the base for most of our pet supplements, and it makes up the bulk of the inactive ingredients. Because many of our pet supplements are manufactured as chews, some inactive ingredients are also used as a preservative or to keep the chew moist.
At Vetri-Science®, we’ve discovered that the chew delivery system has proven to be the preference for companion animals, but it has to be tasty enough to entice even the pickiest pet. Many of our dedicated employees are also pet owners, and their pets are more than happy to be our taste testers. Our product development team maintains detailed records about which flavors are the most popular to ensure that cats and dogs will be as excited to get our supplement as they are a regular treat.
Are The Inactive Ingredients Safe for My Pet?
The NASC (National Animal Supplement Council) seal on Vetri-Science® packaging tells consumers the product they’re purchasing is from a reputable manufacturer. Our manufacturing facility must meet specific quality control standards, and we use some of the purest ingredients available. While there are a lot of different companies making pet products and using a variety of ingredients to add flavor and preserve the product, we are including information for the inactive ingredients in Vetri-Science® pet supplements to eliminate any questions about their functions.
Inactive Ingredients Listed in Vetri-Science® Pet Supplements
Ingredient Function
- Fish Meal Flavor
- Chicken Liver Flavor
- Duck Flavor
- Brewers Yeast Base of the formula – texture and consistency
- Oat Flour Texture (structure)
- Rye Flour Texture (structure)
- Water Moisture needed for consistency
- Arabic Gum Retains moisture for consistency
- Glycerin Keeps chews soft
- Soy Lecithin Emulsifier (mixes fat & water)
- Canola Oil Texture (softness)
- Oat Meal Texture (structure)
- Pectin Retains moisture for consistency
- Blend:
maltodextrin,
sodium alginate,
calcium sulfate Humectant (regulates moisture) - Mixed Tocopherols Antioxidant (keeps chews fresh)
- Sorbic Acid Preservative (inhibits bacterial growth)
- Propionic Acid Preservative (inhibits bacterial growth)
- Starch Texture (structure)
