How to read a pet supplement label

A supplement bottle is mostly label, and most of the label is there for a reason. Here is how we read one in the garage before it goes anywhere near Ella, in the order the lines usually appear. None of this tells you whether a product is right for your pet; that is the vet's job. It does tell you which questions to bring.

The pet and size line

Somewhere near the top the maker says who the bottle is for: dogs, cats, or both, and often a weight band such as under 30 lb or medium and large dogs. That line decides which bottle you are even looking at. Two products can share a name and differ only here, which is why our product titles carry the pet label right after the name. If your pet sits on the edge of a weight band, that is the first thing to ask about.

The ingredient list

The label lists what is in each capsule, usually by name and amount per serving, sometimes with a trademarked ingredient in capitals and a registered mark. Read it as a list, not a promise. If a name means nothing to you, write it down as it appears, spelling and all, so the person you ask can look up the exact thing. The other ingredients line, the capsule shell and fillers, matters for a pet with a known food sensitivity and is worth reading twice.

The directions

The serving line says how many capsules, how often, and whether with food. It is the maker's instruction for the maker's product and it is the number you follow, not a number from a different bottle, a forum, or us. If the directions give a range by weight, find your pet's weight on it before you open the bottle. Some labels also say how long to expect before anything is noticeable; treat that as the maker's statement, nothing more.

Lot, date and where it was made

A lot number and a best-by date should be printed on the bottle, not just the box. Keep the bottle until it is empty so the lot number is there if you ever need to reference it. The maker's name and city appear on the label too; on this site, Rooted Owl Pet Supplements is in New York, New York, and that is who ships the bottle to you.

What the label does not tell you

Whether your pet needs it, whether it fits alongside a medication, and whether the dose is right for an animal with a condition you already manage. Those are questions for a professional who knows the animal. Bring the bottle, or a photo of the whole label, to the appointment. Not a substitute for veterinary care; check with your vet before adding a supplement, especially for a pet on medication.

In the Supplements section

The supplements we carry are one maker's line, Rooted Owl Pet Supplements, sold through Shopify Collective and shipped directly from Rooted Owl in New York, New York. Every product description there is the maker's own wording, attributed as such; Sniff and Shift makes freeze-dried treats and makes no claim of its own about what any supplement does.

The only thing on this site we make ourselves is the treat. If a capsule needs a chaperone, a freeze-dried treat from our kitchen in Malvern, Pennsylvania usually does it.

Questions

Do I need to keep the box?

Keep whichever part carries the lot number and best-by date, which is usually the bottle. Recycle the rest.

The label says one capsule a day. Can I split it?

Ask the maker or your vet, not us. Some capsules are made to be given whole, and only the maker can say whether theirs is one of them.

What if two labels disagree?

Follow the label on the bottle in your hand, and mention the difference to your vet. Makers change formulas and directions, and the newest bottle is the one that counts.