The Pros And Cons To Natural Pet Health Supplements

As is the case with most things in this world, natural pet health supplements have an upside and a downside to them. The natural pet health supplements in question, if we may give a brief introduction to them, are formulations meant to provide pets with nutrients they need (and which they may not be getting from their food). Most of the pets we have are 'higher animals,' with a vast majority of them being mammals like us. On that account, we find that their bodies need pretty much the same nutrients as those that we, as humans, need. The problem, however, is in the fact that unlike us, the pets' diets tend to be much more limited in terms of variety. The implication is that the pets stand to miss out completely on some of the nutrients they really need - and that would be detrimental to their health. That is where the pet supplements make their entry into the discussion: as formulations meant to provide the pets wit the said nutrients, whose deficiency they are at great risk of.

The natural pet health supplements exist vis a vis the synthetic pet supplements; the latter being those that are prepared in laboratories by mixing various chemicals. The natural pet health supplements are, on the other hand, harnessed from plant and (in a few cases) animal parts.

Starting with the upside, we see the natural pet health supplements having a better safety profile (at least in most people's eyes) than the synthetic health supplements. As such, they are highly preferred when it comes to long term supplementation -as most people are more comfortable integrating them as parts of their pets' ongoing/day to day nutrition plans. Still on the upside, we see natural pet supplements being in most cases, more affordable than the synthetic pet health supplements. But this is fast changing - as people get more and more attracted to all things labeled 'natural.'

The subsequent growth in demand has led to a situation where the vendors of the natural pet health supplements can sell them at higher prices than the synthetic pet supplements, and still get willing buyers for them. And still on the upside, we also have to come to terms with the fact that most of these supplements are 'complex natural products.' As such, they provide the pets with many things they need at the same time (so that in the process of supplementing one nutrient, you end up providing your animal with many other things it may need as well).

Turning to the downside, we need to take cognizance of the fact that most of these natural pet health supplements have not been subjected to any formal studies or analysis, and as such, their efficacy and safety are still matters of conjecture. There tends to be no guidelines with regard to dosages, possible side effects and possible toxicity of the natural pet health supplements. Some unscrupulous folks have also been known to come up with all manner of concoctions, which they sell to unsuspecting people in the name of natural pet supplements.