A trivia question:
What substance sold at the grocery store is: considered safe, has few or no side effects, has been used in Chinese medicine for over 4000 years, is a powerful anti-oxidant, has been shown to prevent breast cancer from spreading to the lungs in mice, acts as a natural liver detoxifier, has been shown to stop the growth of new blood vessels in tumors, is a natural antiseptic and antibacterial agent, has been shown to help lower cholesterol, acts as an anti inflammatory drug , is a natural pain killer, helps with skin conditions, protects digestive organs, and, oh yes, is also helpful for irritable bowel syndrome?
The answer is Curcuma Longa, otherwise known as Turmeric. The active ingredient in turmeric is curcumin. Turmeric is native to India and in the same family as ginger.
Turmeric is a great daily supplement for dogs and cats that are experiencing joint pain because it is a natural COX-2 inhibitor. COX-2 is an enzyme discovered in 1988 that is responsible for inflammation and pain.
When adding turmeric to your pets diet, avoid giving in large amounts or on an empty stomach. Check with your veterinarian for the best safe dosage.
Don’t get it on the carpet – turmeric is a natural dye so capsules are often preferable to the powder. Also, avoid giving to pregnant pets or if Fido suffers from bile duct or gall bladder issues.
Wonder drug number 2!
MSM (Methylsulfonyl-methane) is a naturally-occurring form of sulfur compound that can be found in foods such as milk, meat, kelp, fruits, and vegetables. It is commonly used for musculoskeletal pain and to help boost the immune system.
A crusade promoting MSM was prompted by actor James Coburn who had his career destroyed by rheumatoid arthritis. “There was so much pain that every time I stood up, I would break into a sweat” he said during an interview in 1999. He credits MSM as being the miracle that enabled him to return to the stage.
MSM can restore flexibility and permeability to cell walls by enabling fluids to pass through the tissues more easily. This helps equalize pressure and reduce or even eliminate the cause of pain resulting from inflammation.
MSM is considered safe for your pet and comes in capsules or tablets. Give small amounts with food and work your way up to the dosage recommended by your veterinarian. A pet first starting MSM may experience temporary loose stool. MSM tastes terrible, so hiding it in a treat is a good option.
Supplement update:
We no longer recommend Ginko Biloba (formerly recommended for memory disorders) because a study completed in March, 2013 by the NTP (National Toxicology Program) linked Ginko Biloba to liver and thyroid cancer in both male and female mice.