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The Role of Plant Extracts in Enhancing Nutrition and Health for Dogs and Cats: Safety, Benefits, and Applications

Summary

This review examines how plant-based supplements like tea extracts, curcumin, and quercetin can improve the health of pet dogs and cats. These natural compounds act as antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents, supporting gut health, immune function, and overall wellness in companion animals. While generally safe when properly dosed, cats and dogs metabolize these compounds differently, requiring species-specific dosing strategies to maximize benefits and minimize risks.

Background

Plant extracts contain bioactive compounds including polyphenols, alkaloids, flavonoids, and volatile oils that exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties. Pet owners increasingly incorporate plant-derived supplements into companion animal diets to improve health outcomes. The application of plant extracts in canine and feline nutrition requires comprehensive evaluation of safety, metabolism, and efficacy.

Objective

This review aims to comprehensively examine the metabolism, toxicology, and health benefits of plant extracts in dogs and cats. The review evaluates the impact of plant extracts on overall health, gastrointestinal health, immune function, cardiovascular health, redox balance, and disease management in companion animals.

Results

Plant extracts including tea polyphenols, curcumin, quercetin, and naringin demonstrated beneficial effects on pet health with generally safe metabolic profiles when properly dosed. Species-specific differences in metabolism were identified, particularly in cats with reduced glucuronidation capacity. Plant extracts showed positive effects on gut microbiota, immune function, antioxidant capacity, and management of conditions including obesity, inflammatory bowel disease, and myocardial ischemia.

Conclusion

Plant extracts offer promising nutritional and therapeutic benefits for companion animals as alternatives to synthetic additives and adjunctive therapies. Further standardized pharmacokinetic and safety studies are needed to establish optimal dosing regimens and ensure consistent product quality. Species-specific metabolic differences between dogs and cats must be considered in dietary formulation and supplementation strategies.
  • Published in:Veterinary Sciences,
  • Study Type:Review,
  • Source: PMID: 39330805
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