These days, it seems like every time you head into the store there is a new product on the shelf claiming to provide your pets with the nutrition and vitamins they need. Pet supplement claims may sound enticing, but how can you trust what they say? You may wonder if anyone is even monitoring the benefits or harmful effects of the ingredients.
The short answer is, yes!
The National Animal Supplement Council (NASC) is an organization dedicated to regulating pet supplements so you can have confidence in nutraceuticals you give to your pets.
The Mission of the NASC
The NASC is a nonprofit collective of nearly 300 companies who strive to give pet owners peace of mind when buying supplements. The mission of the NASC has two main goals:
To promote the health and well being of companion animals and horses that are given animal health supplements
To protect and enhance the animal health supplement industry
How Does the NASC Monitor Quality?
The NASC has a Quality Program to make sure the supplements they recommend are good for your pets. This includes strict guidelines for the following:
How to maintain the quality of supplements
Where to source ingredients
How to report adverse events
How to label and explain the benefits
How Do I Know if a Supplement is NASC Certified?
One of the easiest ways to make sure your pet supplements have been researched and deemed safe for your pets is to look for the NASC Quality Seal. Think of the quality seal as a stamp of approval.
To use the Quality Seal on products and marketing materials, a company must be a member of NASC and complete the following requirements:
Pass a comprehensive facility audit every two years
Maintain ongoing compliance with rigorous NASC quality standards
Participate in annual continuing education facilitated by NASC
Pass random independent testing of their products to ensure they are meeting label claims
If you’re curious whether a supplement you currently give your pets is certified by the NASC, you can look through the list of NASC members. You can also read more about the rigorous NASC quality standards companies must follow to maintain their status as a Quality Seal member.
All this effort and testing is to make sure you can trust the supplements you give your pets. So next time you see a new product in the store or a social media ad, check for the Quality Seal. If it’s not there, you may want to pass on it. Your pets will thank you!
ABOUT KRISTI DIAZ
Dr. Diaz’s nurturing nature led her into medicine where she became a Board Certified Anesthesiologist. While she loved her career and her patients, she also wanted to be a stay-at-home mother. After retiring from her practice and achieving her goal of being a home-based parent, Kristi began looking for ways to give back to her community. At the same time, she and her husband were looking for home-based business opportunities.
Kristi knew she found the perfect opportunity when she discovered pawTree. The value Kristi placed on diet and nutrition for health and wellness, coupled with her family’s love of animals, aligned seamlessly with pawTree’s company values.
Dr. Diaz’s philosophy is that diet, genetics, and luck all work together to create the quality of a pet's life. While owners can’t control their pets’ genetics or luck, they can control their diet. Pets have no choice but to count on their owners their entire lives for great nutrition. Feeding dogs and cats high-quality food and supplements will give them the best chance to live healthy, vibrant lives.
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