Frequently Asked Questions

Below are some general questions about the products we sell. Click here to read questions submitted by other pet owners.

Can the Thorne products (capsules) be opened or do I need to have my pet swallow them? The capsules can be opened and the contents sprinkled or mixed into your pet's food. The capsules can also be swallowed whole.

My dog won't eat his food if there is anything mixed in it. He swallows capsules just fine. If the dosage calls for a 1/2 capsule per day, can I give a whole capsule every other day? Yes, the amount of vitamins and minerals are well below any unsafe levels.

Should Gastriplex be given on an empty stomach? If possible, Gastriplex should be given on an empty stomach with the dosage divided throughout the day. However, if gastric upset occurs, offer the Gastriplex with food. The capsules may be swallowed whole or they can be opened and mixed in with your pet's food.

How long will it take to see stools become formed instead of runny after starting Gastriplex? Chronic conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease will take some time to respond to Gastriplex. Because many gastrointestinal conditions are multi-component, changes in diet are also crucial in helping decrease GI responses. It may take up to a month to see a response with chronic issues, but if given basically for an acute condition it should work within a few days.

Some of the PetAlive products are granules and it says to put the granules on the back of the pet's tongue. Can I put it on their food instead? Yes, you can put the granules on their food or mixed in your pet's water. Another option is to mix the herbs or granules with tuna water/oil from the can, fish oil supplement, or chicken broth. If you use a dairy product to disguise the taste, be aware that cats do not have lactase, which is the enzyme that breaks down lactose. Therefore it may cause a soft stool. Mixing herbs in plain fat free yogurt may work best because the probiotics breakdown lactase thus decreasing the chance of soft stool or diarrhea. The probiotics found in yogurt will also help older pets because it helps digestion and the immune system.

Do your products contain alcohol? The liquid Pet Alive products contain a small amount of pharmaceutical ethanol in them- less than one percent when diluted as directed. The alcohol helps to extract the active components of the herbal ingredients and also means that the tincture remains fresh and effective for a long time. If you are at all concerned about the alcohol in any of the Pet Alive tincture remedies, we recommend that you dilute the tincture in water that is just off the boil and allow it to cool before dosing it to your pet. This will evaporate all the alcohol off the remedy without decreasing its effectiveness.

Is Grape Seed Extract safe? I thought grapes and raisins caused renal failure in pets? Scientists believe it is the flesh of the grape/raisin that contains the toxic component. The flavanoids in the seed are known to reduce inflammation, and support the immune system particularly with respiratory issues, allergies, and skin problems. Grape Seed Extract has been used in cats and dogs successfully without any reported problems. (For more information, see the Antioxidant section.

I've read that too much Vitamin A can be toxic to animals. I want to give my dog Ocu-Clear and Small Animal Antioxidants but I'm concerned about the Vitamin A. The minimum daily requirement for Vitamin A for dogs is 50 IU/lb. or 1,250 IU daily for a 25 lb dog. The toxic level of Vitamin A is 2,500 IU /lb or 62,500 IU for a 25 lb. dog. One capsule of Ocu-Clear contains 7,500 IUs and one capsule of Small Animal Antioxidant contains 1,800 IU so you would be well within the safe dosage level if you gave your dog both supplements.

Can your immune support product Immugen be taken with Small Animal Antioxidant? Yes, while some of the ingredients do overlap, the Immugen has additional components specifically for the immune system and the Small Animal Antioxidant contains extra antioxidants, like Milk Thistle and Grape See Extract, not found in the Immugen. Alternating between the two products (giving the Immugen one day and the Small Animal Antioxidant the next) is a good way to provide the best of both products.

Some of the PetAlive products are a liquid and the dosage says to give 3-4 drops, but there is no dropper with the product. How do I give it? No dropper is needed. The bottle has a plastic dispensor over the opening and you simply turn the bottle and "shake out" a few drops.