PetVet Magazine PetVet Magazine
  • Issues
  • Subscribe
  • Advisory Board
  • Media Kit
  • Advertise
PetVet Magazine
  • Issues
  • Categories
    • Client Services
    • Best Practices
    • Business Trends
    • Beyond the Stethoscope
    • Industry News
    • Lifestyle
    • Why It Matters To Me
    • PetVet Profile
    • PetVet Top 10
    • Veterinarian Life Advice
  • Subscribe
  • Advisory Board
  • Media Kit
  • Advertise
  • Business Trends

“The Natural Choice”: The Growing Trend Towards Supplements

  • 2019-02-08
  • James Bascharon
"The Natural Choice": The Growing Trend Towards Supplements
Total
4
Shares
4
0
0
0

As the world of veterinary medicine continues to evolve, so do natural treatment options for pets, including the use of all–natural supplements. If you have any doubts on the popularity of supplements consider this; the pet supplement market reached roughly $2.5 Billion in sales in 2017 and is expected to continue to grow in the coming years. There is a shift among pet parents to seek healthier and more natural treatment options for themselves and their pets, and many are seeking their veterinarian’s advice on the use and benefits of supplements.

The Veterinarian’s Role

The veterinarian’s role is to advise pet parents on the health and wellness of their pets, and this needs to include a multi–faceted approach aimed towards both prevention and treatment.

Prescription veterinary diets have traditionally been a staple in the prevention and management of a variety of medical conditions in pets including renal, hepatic, urinary, osteoarthritis and other conditions. They were first introduced by Hill’s in 1951, and thus without recognizing it, veterinarians have been using nutritional supplementation as an integral part of their therapeutic approach for almost seven decades. Fast forward to 2019, we now have a wide range of supplements that encompass both broad and specific health issues that can offer similar or added benefits when compared to prescription diets.

Included in the range of supplement options are those that are intended for overall digestive, immune and general health, as well as supplements for disease-specific conditions such as osteoarthritis, hepatic, behavioral issues, dental disease and everything else in between. With the plethora of supplements available in terms of conditions, ingredients, brands and quality, the veterinarian’s role in guiding their clients to the right choice is not only more difficult, but also more important than ever.

Integrative Approach = Practicing Better Medicine

There are three main approaches to practicing veterinary medicine. Traditional veterinary medicine is what most veterinarians subscribe to and actively practice. This form of medicine relies heavily on vaccines, drugs, medications, diagnostics and surgical intervention to treat individual disease(s) and body organs and systems.

Holistic veterinary medicine uses natural, homeopathic and herbal medicines, as well as treatments such as acupuncture for a less invasive and more holistic approach. There are multiple clear advantages and disadvantages to both.

At the crossroads of the two is Integrative veterinary medicine, which utilizes the best of both worlds for a more comprehensive approach. Integrating the use of natural supplements in conjunction with traditional drugs and medications allows the veterinary practitioner to get the advantages of Traditional medicine (i.e. more immediate and dramatic results) with the advantages of Holistic medicine (i.e. minimizing side effects & long–term management). Clients appreciate a comprehensive approach that incorporates both natural and preventive measures, along with traditional medications to ensure the health and well–being of their pets.

Whereas veterinarians previously reserved supplements as OTC recommendations to be purchased outside of the veterinary practice, more practice owners are recognizing that dispensing supplements in-clinic represents practicing a higher quality of medicine while providing additional clinic revenue through added product sales.

Many clients are already familiar with common types of human supplements that they use for themselves and typically will expect supplement recommendations to be offered as part of the treatment options for their pet. For those clients who are unfamiliar with supplements (either human or veterinary), the added guidance can add significant value to the veterinary visit and can increase overall client satisfaction.

Guiding Clients on Supplement Options

To understand how to recommend the right supplements for patients, it is important to understand common questions and concerns that clients have in regards to using supplements. For most clients, the wide variety of choices in supplements can be very confusing. It is therefore important for the veterinarian to become familiar with trusted brands/companies that deliver high quality ingredients with reliable sourcing.

Unfortunately, with the advent of market places such as Amazon, the barrier to entry for any would–be–opportunist looking to sell their own brand of pet supplement is lower than ever. Veterinarians should therefore consider becoming familiar with trusted supplement companies through veterinary trade–shows at CE events, through veterinary distributors, veterinary journals and peer reviewed studies before recommending them to others.

Clients will typically have questions involving overall safety, side effects, palatability and dosing of supplements. Additional questions will be around length of use, and if combining supplements together or with other medications poses a problem. Because these questions vary for each individual supplement, it is important for the veterinarian to become familiarized with the supplements the same way they would prior to prescribing prescription drugs and medications.

Current Supplement Options

The diagram below illustrates some of the different supplement option categories that veterinarians can recommend for common conditions in pets. In the practice of veterinary medicine, it is important to “practice” recommending both traditional medications along with supplements as part of a comprehensive therapeutic approach.

When considering which categories and types of supplements to carry in–clinic (or to recommend) it is helpful to consider including some or all of the options from the following:

CATEGORIES OF SUPPLEMENTS

CATEGORIES OF SUPPLEMENTS

Beyond offering numerous health benefits and promoting preventive medicine, supplements typically have minimal side effects, are safe for long-term use, and can be a cost-effective option for the management and prevention of many common conditions in pets. So the next time you reach for the antibiotic, steroid, or NSAID; consider the natural choice and integrating a supplement to your treatment plan. +

Total
4
Shares
Share 4
Tweet 0
Share 0
Pin it 0
James Bacharon
James Bascharon

James Bascharon is a veterinarian, entrepreneur, and the Founder & CEO of Vetnique Labs. Vetnique Labs is an animal health company that focuses on innovative pet products and supplements for companion animals. James is also the creator of Glandex®, the first treatment designed for pets with anal gland problems. He is an innovator in the field of veterinary medicine and continues to explore novel therapeutic options for pets. As a veterinarian, his focus has been on emergency, house call and general medicine. James’ love for pets and veterinary medicine began at a very young age, shadowing and helping his father (also a veterinarian) in their family businesses.

Next Article
6 Ways to Build a Top Customer Service Team
  • Client Services

6 Ways to Build a Top Customer Service Team

  • 2019-02-08
  • Amy P. Castro
View Post
Previous Article
Dr. William Waddell: An African-American Veterinary Pioneer
  • Why It Matters To Me

Dr. William Waddell: An African-American Veterinary Pioneer

  • 2019-02-08
  • Courtney Campbell, DVM, DACVS-SA
View Post
  • December 2022 / January 2023
    • 2022-12-06
  • Veterinarian Life Advice
    • 2022-12-14
  • Answering the Age-Old Client Question: “What Should I Feed My Pet?”
    • 2022-12-14
  • Dr. Jonathan Stockman: Dedicated to Dispelling Myths & Revolutionizing Pet Nutrition
    • 2022-12-14
  • The Environmental Impact of Pet Food Protein Sources
    • 2022-12-14
  • 4 Plant-Based Dog Food Myths Debunked
    • 2022-12-14
  • Are You a Smarte? The Secret to Practice Success
    • 2022-12-14
  • 3 Nutrition Hacks to Help You Take Charge of Your Health
    • 2022-12-14
  • Veterinary Hope Foundation: Offering Support for the Animal Care Community
    • 2022-12-14
  • PetVet Top 10
    • 2022-12-14
  • October/November 2022 Issue
    • 2022-10-12
  • Veterinarian Life Advice
    • 2022-10-18
Social Accounts
  • Home
  • Subscribe
  • Advisory Board
  • Media Kit
  • Advertise
  • Privacy Policy
PetVet Magazine

A Practical Guide for Pet Health Professionals

Launching in the Summer of 2018, PetVet Magazine is an all-encompassing trade magazine that will cover all aspects of the ever changing veterinary industry. From customer service to the latest technology; PetVet Magazine will deliver Quality Content to Motivate & Educate Veterinarians and their staff.

© 2018-2022 PetVet Magazine

Issues
  • December 2022 / January 2023
  • October/November 2022 Issue
  • August/September 2022 Issue

Input your search keywords and press Enter.