Tails of Truth: The Truth about Veterinary Medicine

Which Pet Supplements Can You Actually Trust?

Dr. Angie Krause, DVM CVA CCRT Episode 69

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0:00 | 24:51

Tell Us What You Think

In this episode of Tails of Truth, Dr. Angie Krause and veterinary nurse JoJo dig into the murky world of pet supplements: what's actually worth buying, what's marketing hype, and how pet parents can tell the difference. They talk through the emotional pull of supplement ads, including Dr. Angie's own impulse buy, why fear is such effective marketing, and why a page of five-star reviews doesn't mean a product works. The conversation covers what the NASC seal actually means, why CBD chews for pets can vary wildly in potency, and which supplements Dr. Angie actually trusts and stocks, including fish oil, probiotics, and Chinese herbs. They close with a simple gut check for choosing a supplement without falling down a research rabbit hole.

Key Takeaways

  • Fear is one of the most effective marketing tools in the pet supplement space. Ads leaning on "your senior pet could live longer" or reversing a scary diagnosis are designed to bypass rational decision-making.
  • A high review count says nothing about whether a supplement is safe or effective.
  • The NASC seal and a third-party certificate of analysis are real green flags, but neither guarantees a pet actually needs the product.
  • Many supplements don't contain therapeutic doses of their active ingredients, partly because manufacturers balance dosing against palatability.
  • CBD chews for pets can have inconsistent THC distribution between doses, even within the same bag.
  • Fish oil is one of the most broadly useful supplements, supporting joint, skin, cognitive, heart, kidney, and anxiety-related health.
  • Dogs and cats generally don't need a multivitamin if their diet is properly balanced.
  • Probiotics need consistent long-term use to work, not a quick start right before antibiotics.
  • A veterinary consult can save pet parents money by cutting an oversized supplement list down to what actually matters.

Sound bites

"Anyone can start a supplement company."  — Dr. Angie 

"Fear is fantastic marketing."  — JoJo

"Fish oil is one of the most underrated supplements. I think that's helpful for almost any condition."  — Dr. Angie 

"A consultation with you might save people money."  — JoJo

"My philosophy overall is if I have a good diet, I shouldn't need that many supplements."  — Dr. Angie 

"What really irritates me is how then you'll have people come on and say, I thought I was gonna have to euthanize my dog, but then I started this supplement and now he's totally fine."  — Dr. Angie 

Please subscribe and review! xoxo Dr. Angie & JoJo