FAQs

How do I place an order?

It could not be easier to order through our site! Follow the easy steps below to place your order;

·        Browse our site and add the products to your basket you wish to purchase using the 'add to basket' button on all our product pages.

·        When you are ready to visit your basket, click on the basket icon on the top right- hand corner of the screen

·        Have a glance over your basket and confirm everything looks ok and click 'continue to checkout'

·        Follow our simple checkout process to choose a delivery method, address, billing and payment method.

Alternatively, you can call our office on 01604 263002 to place an order over the phone.

What payment methods do you accept?

We accept a range of payment methods, see below:

·        Mastercard

·        VISA

·        VISA Debit

·        VISA Electron

·        Maestro

·        PayPal

When will I be charged for your order?

You will be charged immediately for your order. This allows us to dispatch your order as soon as possible.

Can I change or cancel my order once it has been placed?

As we aim to dispatch your order as promptly as possible, it may not always be possible to amend your order, however, our team will be accommodating as possible.

In the event you wish to make an amend to your order, please contact us.

How will I know that my order has been placed?

Once you have placed an order, whether it be online or via phone, you will receive an email confirmation to confirm that your order has been placed.

You will receive a separate email once items have been dispatched, inlcuding tracking information from the courier. 

In the event you do not receive an order confirmation, please contact us.

How do I use a discount code?

In your shopping basket there is a field titled 'Apply Discount Code'. Simply pop the discount code into this box and your discount will be applied.

I am unsure which supplements are right for my horse, can you help?

Yes, our experienced Nutritional team are here to provide expert, impartial advice Monday – Friday from 9am-5pm. Visit our contact page to get in touch.

Do you have reviews of your products?

Yes, we are proud to be rated ‘Excellent’ on TrustPilot. You can take a look at our TrustPilot reviews here.

Do you offer Next Day Delivery?

We offer Premium Delivery to UK Mainland addresses, up until 2pm. This means your order will arrive within 1-2 workding days via tracked delivery. Simply select the ‘Premium Delivery’ option at checkout.

If you do not select next day delivery, your order will be placed on standard delivery, which will take 3-4 working days.

Do you offer Saturday or Named Day Delivery?

Please contact us for Saturday or Named Day Delivery. 

How do I change the delivery address on my order?

As we aim to dispatch your order as promptly as possible, it may not always be possible to amend your order, however, our team will be accommodating as possible.

In the event you wish to make an amend to your order, please contact us.

How do I return an item?

For more information on how to return an item, view our returns process.

Who pays for the return?

You will be liable to cover the cost of the return of the item. We highly recommend using a tracked courier, as we can only process items that arrive with us safely in a saleable condition and are not liable for products once they have been safely delivered by the courier. 

How long will it take for me to receive my refund?

We aim for as the refund to be actioned as quickly as possible. Due to the multiple stages required in the refund process, it can sometimes take up to 14 working days.

Can you ship internationally?

Orders placed online can only be shipped to a UK address. For shipping to an address outside the UK, please contact us.

How do I reset my password?

To reset your password, simply click on the ‘Reset Password’ link. An email will then be sent to you directing you to update your password.

How do I sign up to your newsletter?

On the bottom footer of all our webpage pages we have a quick sign up button allowing you to sign up to our newsletter. Simply enter your email address and click sign up. You will then start receiving the latest news, research and product updates.

How do I unsubscribe from your emails?

You can unsubscribe from our mailing list at any time. Either simply click the ‘Unsubscribe’ button at the bottom of our marketing emails, or send an email to info@sciencesupplements.co.uk advising that you wish to be removed from our mailing list.

How do I request for my personal information to be deleted form your records?

Yes, personal information can be removed from our records. Please contact us via one of the below methods

Email us at info@sciencesupplements.co.uk

Phone us on +44 (0)1604 236002

Write to us at Science Supplements, 3 Pennard Close, Brackmills, NN4 7BE

Please note: We will keep your general data, but we will delete your personal information so that we can’t trace your data back to you. Once you have placed an order with Science Supplements we are legally obliged to keep the following information for 6 years to ensure that we comply with HMRC rules: Order information , Name, Address and Contact details

What’s the difference between FlexAbility Professional and FlexAbility Plus?

The formulation of FlexAbility Professional was built upon the success of FlexAbility Plus. The formulation of FlexAbility Plus underwent extensive research at the Animal Health Trust. The findings of the study were then published in the Journal of Equine Science and presented at BEVA Congress.

FlexAbility Professional was designed with hard working/ older horses in mind, and because of this we have included additional ingredients which work to reduce oxidative damage and soothe hard working joints.

What’s the difference between GastroKind and Gut Balancer?

Both these products offer high specification gastrointestinal support, but they have been designed to target different areas of the digestive tract.

GastroKind provides nutritional support for the stomach, with horses that have suffered from gastric sensitivity or gastric ulcers in mind. The combination of ingredients work together to neutralise stomach acidity, soothe and protect the stomach lining, and provide anti-oxidant support.

Gut Balancer provides nutritional support for the hind gut support, specifically horses which have recurrent digestive upsets, those who are overly sensitive to change, or prone to loose or soft droppings. Gut Balancer is a blend of pre and pro-biotics, intended to support the huge populations of bacteria living in the horses hindgut which are essential for digestive health. 

Both these products are suitable for long term use, and can also be used alongside each other for horses which are at risk of both conditions.

For horses with an acute digestive upset, which may have been caused by the spring grass coming through, or the stress of a move we would recommend Gut Balancer Express. This is a super concentrated pre and probiotic designed for short term use.

How does ProKalm actually work?

ProKalm has been rated as the number 1 calmer in a survey of more than 1,500 participants. It is different from many other supplements because it does not contain magnesium, valerian or tryptophan. It is suitable for competition use, as it does not contain any banned substances.

ProKalm is a blend of herbs and amino acids. This unique combination has been shown to be effective in a number of clinical trials which we are happy to share with customers.

ProKalm has been designed to support horses which show signs of anxiety and nervousness. There is no single magic ingredient, instead, what is important is the blend of ingredients, and how they work together to promote a calm, relaxed yet alert mental attitude which is able to focus more easily, and is less susceptible to distractions.

Why is ProKalm different from other calmers?

It is different from many other supplements because it does not contain magnesium, valerian or tryptophan. It is suitable for competition use, as it does not contain any banned substances. It has also been rated the UK’s number 1 calmer, in an independent survey of more than 1,500 participants.

What is ProKalm for?

ProKalm has been designed to support horses who show signs of anxiety and nervousness. There is no single magic ingredient; instead, what is important is the blend of ingredients, and how they work together to promote a calm and relaxed yet alert mental attitude which leaves them able to focus more easily, and be less susceptible to distractions.

How should I feed ProKalm?

ProKalm can be fed on either a daily or ad hoc basis, depending on the horse. Some horses may benefit from regular daily support (anxious personality, box resting, stereotypy support, a period following a yard move etc), while in other cases it’s context specific support that’s needed (traveling, competing, schooling, fireworks, hacking, etc).

Effects can last up to 8 hours, with the peak effect 1-4hrs after being fed (30mins-4hrs for the syringes). For ad hoc support, it’s best to feed so that the context you’re trying to help with falls within the peak effect time-period.

Individual needs will vary and the feeding rate can be adjusted to the individual – start with the minimum feeding rate, and increase where needed to achieve the desired effect.

My horse lacks energy, what should I use?

There are various reasons why your horse may seem flat and tired which could be due to a lack of energy. The first step is to speak with your vet and ensure that clinical reasons for this are assessed. Following this we would be happy to discuss their assessment and provide advice based on what you could try that’s in line with your vet’s guidance. Unfortunately, there’s no one-size-fixes-all when it comes to energy levels and a multifactorial discussion is needed to be able to best advise.

What is BETA NOPS?

The BETA NOPS scheme was set up by the British Equestrian Trade Association in 2009.

The BETA NOPS scheme was designed to help eliminate the contamination of equine feed material with NOPS (Naturally Occurring Prohibited Substances), which could result in a positive drugs test for a competitor.

These substances could contaminate the raw material in the place it is grown, or in the place it is processed and made into a product for a horse to eat.

The BETA NOPS scheme is focussed on avoiding contamination in the first place as appose to just testing for contamination. This is a far safer than relying on batch testing alone. All companies producing feed material for horses can choose to enrol in the scheme, even if their products are produced overseas.

If the feed or supplement company you use is not accredited with the scheme, we urge you to ask yourself why this might be? 

Common excuses are, we work inline with the BETA NOPS scheme, we do not need to because we batch test, we cant because the products are produced abroad.

None of these statements are valid reasons, if they aren’t accredited it is most likely to because they can’t pass the accreditation!

Are your products FEI legal?

The FEI classify drugs and certain feed materials (mainly herbs) as either banned or controlled.

A banned ingredient is one that should never be fed or used on a horse registered with the FEI.

Whereas controlled substances are ones which we accept that may be useful at times, but cannot be used during competition. A drug example of a controlled substance would be Bute, a feed material example would be Devils Claw.

Therefore, for a feed or supplement to be “FEI Legal” it must not contain any banned or controlled substances.

We do not use or allow any ingredients which appear on either list into our factory or to be included in any of our products.

Which WellHorse Supplement is the right WellHorse for my horse?

Our WellHorse range are concentrated nutritional balancers containing vitamins and minerals formulated to NRC guidelines.  

·       WellHorse Leisure is our ‘foundation’ option suitable for most leisure horses in light to moderate work.

·       WellHorse Veteran contains this same formulation with additional anti-oxidants, joint support and hindgut support. This makes it suitable for older horses, as well as those with metabolic diseases, insulin resistance, and/or a history of laminitis.

·       Well Horse Performance contains higher nutritional provisions of vitamins and minerals per serving for horses in moderate to hard work. It also contains additional anti-oxidants, joint support and hindgut support .

What supplements should I try with my own horse?

The situation we are always keen to avoid is the feed bowl or feed room which contains more powders than feed!

Where this is happening, it is often an indication that the base diet is incorrect.

If this sounds familiar, we very much encourage you to get in touch with us so that we can discuss your horse specifically.

My horse has a complicated history, how do I decide what to use?

You can contact us and speak to the nutritional team about your horse to receive specific and free recommendations. We’re happy to discuss the diet as a whole, as well as specific problems you wish to address, and consider clinical history alongside our advice.

Should I feed SafeSalt or Complete Electrolytes?

Electrolytes are compounds that break up into charged components, and are essential for things like nerve and muscle function. The general diet tends to not provide enough salt for maintenance, and can often not meet requirements for other electrolytes when there is greater demand than maintenance. It’s therefore advisable to use an electrolytes supplement salt for all horses regardless of work load, and for horses who work harder/are sweating more, our Complete Electrolytes is a good option to cover salt as well as the additional electrolytes that may be lacking.

Should I feed SafeSalt/Complete Electrolytes or is plain salt ok?

If your horse currently has, or has a history of having gastric ulcers, then our encapsulated SafeSalt or Complete Electrolytes may be the best option, as this prevents direct contact with the stomach lining that could irritate ulceration if present. If your horse has no history of gastric ulcers, then you could feed plain salt for maintenance.

We do find that our SafeSalt/Complete Electrolytes are helpful options for horses who aren’t keen on eating plain salt because of the taste, as being encapsulated significantly improves palatability.

How do I stop my horse from having diarrhoea/fecal water?

Diarrhoea and faecal water syndrome are symptoms that can occur due toa range of different underlying causes. Diarrhoea can develop into a serious illness for a horse if it is profuse and persistent. Veterinary attention should be sought for horses with diarrhoea, especially if the horse is also quiet or under the weather. 

In contrast faecal water syndrome tends to affect perfectly healthy horses. It is more of an annoyance to owners, as it requires endless tail washing. A mild case of loose droppings or the onset of faecal water syndrome is often an indication that there is disruption to the microbiome of the gut. This community can be supported by feeding pre and probiotics (which can be found in Gut Balancer and Gut Balancer Express).

My horse has a medical condition, is your product safe to feed?

Our products are safe to feed in the majority of situations. We’re transparent about our ingredients and formulations, which means you can easily discuss their use with us and with your vet. Every horse is an individual, so if you have a specific concern please do not hesitate to get in touch with our team of nutritional advisors.  

How much starch and sugar are in your products?

You can find a full breakdown of the contents of all our products using our handy calorie guide. Our range are all concentrated supplements, and therefore the majority fed at their advised feeding rates are the equivalent of no more than a handful of hay.

I think my horse has ulcers, can I try GastroKind without having my horse scoped?

We would always recommend discussing symptoms with your vet first and foremost, as symptoms are not specific to stomach soreness, or a reliable indicator of severity.  However in the short-term GastroKind can be added to the diet to support a healthy and comfortable stomach.

Can I feed GastroKind alongside ongoing ulcer treatment?

We recommend you ask your vets advice when medication is being used, though many vets commonly advise using GastroKind both alongside and following medication.

I haven’t tried a joint supplement with my horse before, which should I try?

If you haven’t tried one before, then our FlexAbility Plus is high specification support that many horses benefit from. Though if your horse is harder working, or has arthritic changes that make him/her stiff or sore, our FlexAbility Professional may be worthwhile to offer support that’s more in line with their needs.

Should I use the powder, or the syringe?

Our syringes are designed to provide the same formulation as their powder alternatives, but in a form that is particularly helpful when under pressure at shows, when support is needed as quickly as possible, or if a horse isn’t cooperating with eating a feed. They allow for immediate supplementation that by being provided without feed, can mean quicker absorption of active ingredients, and can be helpful for supplementing horses who are refusing to eat a bowl feed.

I’m trying to help my horse gain muscle/top line, what can I do/try?

Developing muscle condition depends on a range of variables that all must be considered to ensure this is possible:

1.     A positive energy balance – the horse must be consuming more calories per day than are being used, to fuel the workload of muscles, development of muscle tissue, and recovery of energy stores

2.     An increasing exercise regime – the frequency and/or difficulty of exercise must be increasing at a gradual rate over time to stimulate development

3.     A sufficient supply of quality protein – the amino acid ‘building blocks’ that are used to build muscle must be in sufficient quantity, and often some of these essential amino acids are not present in the diet and limit development

If all three points have been covered, the addition of Muscle Builder can help support muscle development.

Show me the research!?

We believe that scientific understanding should underpin impactful products. Our research and development team who formulate our products consist of veterinary surgeons, nutritionists, and doctorate researchers. Our product formulations are based on ingredients with research to justify their use, and on the professional experience of our team. We perform research trials on our products, and we’re more than happy to share them – just get in touch and ask!

How should I introduce a new product to my horse?

We recommend you introduce new products gradually, as this is best practice to allow your horses digestive system to adapt to something new, and helps your horse to be introduced to the flavour and texture so they are happy eating it. An example of how to introduce them would be to add a pinch to the first feed, and add small amounts more over the space of 5 days until the full feeding rate is achieved. This process may be done in more or less time, depending on the amount that’s being introduced, but if in doubt, more time is better!

What if my horse refuses to eat a product?

All of our products are palatability tested to ensure the majority of horses are happy eating them, but as horses are all individuals, sometimes this can happen. If your horse is unhappy with a product, it’s worth removing from the bowl feed completely, and then trying to introduce it again very gradually alongside something mixable and very tasty – grated carrot, apple sauce, or even sugar free ribena can be helpful, and the supplement can then be increased to the feeding rate and the ‘tasty additive’ reduced gradually until the horse is happy.

If this doesn’t work, we have a full money back guarantee when you order directly from us (not available on more than 1 month supply products where a smaller or 1 month supply option is available), which means the product can be returned for a full refund and we won’t leave you with supplement you can’t use.

Can you send me a sample for my fussy horse?

All of our products are palatability tested to ensure the majority of horses are happy eating them, but as horses are all individuals, sometimes this can happen. We don’t produce samples as we have a full money back guarantee when you order directly from us (not available on more than 1 month supply products where a smaller or 1 month supply option is available), which means the product can be returned for a full refund and we won’t leave you with supplement you can’t use in the unlikely event that your horse is unhappy with it.

Why should I feed a vitamin and mineral balancer?

Horses would naturally graze vast areas of landscape, and engage in browsing and exploratory behaviour that would provide a broader range of nutrition than what is normal for domestically kept horses. This means that in a domestic situation that’s more reliant on monocultures and limited variety of vegetation, it’s common for the general diet to have deficiencies in some of the vitamin and mineral requirements, which can present in peculiar ways in the short and long term if not supplemented. This is why a nutritional balancer relative to NRC guidelines is important to provide as a staple of the diet, and we produce our WellHorse range to this standard. These are suitable for year-round support.

Are your products safe for horses with laminitis?

The majority of our range are safe to feed to horses with a history of laminitis, and we have a contents table for all our products that can help clarify the starch/sugar and calorie content. Though we would urge you to discuss your horse or pony with us so that we can make the best suggestion as to what is appropriate for them.

Can you feed multiple supplements?

In short – yes, though feeding some products means others are not necessary due to cross-over, and it’s important to make sure that the use of any product is relative to a genuine need for support. Get in touch with our nutrition team if you have a bit of a feed/supplement potion, as we’re happy to help simplify and make sure you’re only using what’s necessary. It’s also important to avoid over-supplementation of some ingredients/additives, so it is worthwhile relying on knowledgeable advice to ensure this isn’t the case.

What is the difference between LiverAid and MycoBind?

LiverAid is a nutritional formulation to support a broad spectrum of requirements where there is a strong suspicion or diagnosis of liver damage. This includes:

·       Nutraceuticals that are supported by research to be helpful in these cases

·       Vitamins and minerals that are likely to be deficient/required in greater quantities to support health where the liver is unable to function healthily

·       Anti-oxidant support to mop up free radicals that may cause further damage

·       Digestive support where processes here are highly related to the nature of end products being sent to the liver

·       Mycotoxin binder to absorb mycotoxins that may still be being ingested

Whereas MycoBind is suitable for any horse (with or without confirmed or suspected liver damage) where there’s concern over ingested material containing mycotoxins. It can therefore be used to neutralise any potential harm done by mycotoxins, before liver damage occurs, or halt it enhancing damage that has already occurred. It contains:

·       Generous mycotoxin binder

·       Digestive support where processes here are highly related to the nature of end products being sent to the liver.

What’s the difference between 4Feet and 4Feet Plus?

4Feet was developed in line with research that supports the supplementation of bioavailable biotin as being useful for improving hoof quality. We performed our own research on our 4Feet formulation which found this was the case (improved dorsal hoof wall, hoof wall surface, wall solar margin, and shoeing after 3 months).

We later developed 4Feet Plus which is a higher specification product. The comprehensive ingredient list accounts for common nutritional deficiencies which can result in poor quality hoof growth. The trace minerals include Zinc, Copper and Manganese and these are in chelated forms to maximise absorption.

Should I try Linseed Conditioner or Linseed Oil?

Linseed Conditioner contains whole linseed which has been micronized (ground up and then heated). Nothing has been taken away, making this a high oil and high protein feed. Whereas linseed oil contains only the oil fraction from the linseed, no protein, carbohydrates, or fibre.

Linseed oil contains more calories per gram fed, and takes up less space in the feed bowl. This makes it a good choice if you need to increase calorie content without increasing meal size. It is also a more concentrated source of omega 3 fatty acids.

Linseed Conditioner contains highly digestible protein alongside a high calorie, low sugar and starch energy source (the natural oil content). This makes it the ideal dietary addition if condition and topline are desired.

Both Linseed Conditioner and Linseed Oil have Vitamin E added to counterbalance for the increased oil content in the diet. Linseed Conditioner also has calcium added to balance the calcium: phosphorus ratio.

If you are looking to supplement omega 3: choose Linseed Oil

If you are looking to increase energy levels without increasing meal size: choose Linseed Oil

If you are looking to improve coat shine: choose either Linseed Oil or Linseed Conditioner

If you want to support muscle development and condition: choose Linseed Conditioner

If you want to support healthy skin: choose Linseed Conditioner

Should I try Muscle Builder or Muscle Aid?

We’ve written a handy blog to help clarify the difference between these products and help guide which would be best for your horse, which you can read by following the link below.

Though we would encourage you to get in touch and discuss with our expert nutrition team so that we can offer advice that’s specific to you and your horse.

Why is there ‘linseed meal’ in the canine supplements?

The linseed meal is used as an ‘excipient’. In formulating supplements, excipients are generally substances that are included alongside ‘active’ ingredients to support;

- The stability of the substance
- The delivery of the active ingredients in an accessible and convenient volume
- The manufacturing and mixing process.

Linseed meal is what is left after oil has been extracted and is typically palatable and a good source of fibre. In our canine supplements, the linseed meal maintains the stability and delivery of the supplement in a palatable and workable volume. This is important as sometimes being able to accurately measure small volumes.

In what form are the canine supplements? Are they powders or pellets?

All the supplements in the Science Supplements Canine range are in powder form. This can make acceptance and mixing into/adding to food easier than pelleted supplements. In most cases, the supplements are easily sprinkled onto the surface of your dog’s food, and as they are highly palatable thanks to the inclusion of dried liver, your dog should consume them happily. It is also possible to mix the supplement with some water in your dog’s food or mix to a paste that can then be mixed into, or smeared onto your dog’s food, a likimat or similar.

My dog can be fussy with new foods or substances added to their food.  Do you provide samples to try?

We do not provide samples of our supplements to try but we do offer a full money guarantee if you purchase any supplements from us directly, if you are not entirely satisfied for any reason.  This means that should there be any issue with palatability or if you were unhappy for any reason, you would be entitled to a full refund. If your dog can be fussy when new substances are added to their diet, we would also suggest adding a small amount to their normal meals initially and then gradually increasing the amount to the recommended feeding level over 7-10 days.

My dog has certain allergies and/or intolerances. Are your supplements safe to feed?

In most cases, our supplements should be entirely safe to be fed. However, in certain individual situations, allergies and intolerances are possible. Our products do include full details of ingredients to help you determine if there is likely to be an ingredient of concern, but if you have any questions or queries, please feel free to contact us for support and advice.

My dog is currently on a prescribed medication from our vet. Is it safe to feed your supplements at the same time?

Our supplements are carefully formulated to provide nutritional support for your dog and in most cases are safe to be used alongside prescribed medications.  However, we would always recommend that you speak to your veterinary surgeon in the first instance if you are concerned about their use. Our products do have full ingredient lists to aid transparency and if you have any questions or queries, please feel free to contact us for support and advice.

I have been feeding the supplement to my dog for a week or so now and I don’t think the supplement is making any difference to them. What can I do?

At Science Supplements, we are proud of the supplements we have carefully formulated to support your dog’s health and wellbeing. When introducing a new supplement to your dog’s diet, we would typically suggest monitoring their overall health, movement, condition, skin/coat condition and behaviour for at least a month in the first instance. This is because where positive nutritional changes are going to take effect, it often takes longer than a week or two. For some there may not be an obvious outward change, or changes may be subtle and progress with time, making them difficult to notice, but nonetheless still could be being supportive.

If for any reason you are unhappy with your supplement, please get in touch and let us know so that one of our nutritionists and/or a customer service advisor can help. If you have purchased directly from us, we offer a full money-back guarantee.

I feed my dog a complete and balanced diet. Are there any risks that I could over-supplement any vitamins or minerals when using these supplements?

Our supplements are carefully formulated to support your dog’s health and wellbeing and have been developed to target areas that can benefit from nutritional support. In most cases, there should be no specific concerns regarding the potential for over-supplementation, although if you are concerned, please feel free to contact us directly for advice.

Can I split the amount of supplement to be fed over several meals?

It is possible to split the recommended feeding amount of the supplements over two (or more meals) per day. While there is no reason why you could not add the full amount to a single meal, in some situations, splitting the required amount can be easier and more acceptable for your dog. Just remember to split the recommended feeding amount appropriately so that you don’t overfeed the amount of supplement!

Do I have to add the supplement to meals, or can it be fed in alternative ways?

While adding the supplement to meals is often the easiest and most convenient way to provide a supplement, sometimes it is beneficial to supply it in different ways. For dogs who perhaps are not meal-fed out of bowls, you could sprinkle the recommended amount of supplement on to a likimat (or similar) with a little wet food and give to your dog.  You could also mix the supplement with some wet food (or even mix with some water to create a paste) and add to a Kong toy (or similar). If you find other creative ways of feeding your dog’s supplement, please do share with us!

Why do the canine supplements contain pork liver and chicken liver?

The pork and chicken liver that is included in the composition list of the canine supplements is there to support the palatability of the supplement and ensure that your dog will eat it! This can be useful for dogs who might be a little wary of powders being added to their meals, or for dogs who might not like some of the stronger flavoured ingredients in some of the supplements such as curcumin.

I feed my dog a raw diet. How can I best add the supplements to their food?

All of our dog supplements are in a powder form that means they should be easily added to a range of different types of diet. They also include dried chicken and pork liver for added palatability and to disguise the taste of some of the strongly tasting ingredients (such as curcumin) in some supplements that can be off-putting to some dogs. In most cases, simply sprinkling the recommended feeding rate onto your dog’s meal will ensure they consume it. If this does not occur, you could consider mixing the powder into their food (especially if it is minced or in chunks) or adding some water to their meal and mixing the powder into the water.  You can even mix the powder with a little water and make a paste that can then be smeared onto their food or mixed in as it might be more likely to stick.

Why are some of the supplements bright orange in colour? (Old Friend, Skin and Coat, FlexAbility Working)

The orange colour of some of the supplements is a result of curcumin being included. Curcumin is a bright yellow/orange pigment found in the root of turmeric plants.  It is the major active compound found in turmeric and has biological benefits when ingested, notably being linked with anti-inflammatory effects. Turmeric typically only contains between 2 and 5% curcumin. This means that curcumin as an ingredient has significant advantages in terms of the amount that needs to be fed. The curcumin that we use is 95% pure and we also include piperine, which is the active compound in black pepper to support the body’s use of curcumin.

I have been feeding FlexAbility Working/Old Friend/Skin and Coat to my dog and noticed that some parts of their coat are looking yellow.  What could have caused this?

The FlexAbility Working/Old Friend/Skin and Coat supplements all contain curcumin as an ingredient. Curcumin is included for its beneficial, anti-inflammatory effects but it is a bright yellow/orange pigment from the turmeric plant.  This means that there is a possibility that it can stain light coloured hair or fur.  If this is a concern, we would recommend that you wash with soapy water any areas that are stained or have been in contact with the supplement.

What is a probiotic?

A probiotic is defined as a microorganism that when given in appropriate amounts to an animal, can produce a positive health effect. Many probiotics are live bacterial or yeast species that are naturally found in the gastrointestinal systems of healthy animals. These organisms can be given to animals orally to support situations where digestive health might be impacted, with the intention that the live bacteria or fungi will colonise areas of the digestive system (notably the small and large intestine) to replace microorganisms that might have died, or to out-compete potentially disease-causing species.

What is a prebiotic?

A prebiotic is a substance that is provided to support the survival of ‘friendly’ microorganisms in the digestive system. Prebiotics are not live organisms in the same way that probiotics are but are useful to support probiotics and are often included alongside them. Many prebiotics are derived from plant or fungal-fibre sources and can be fermented in the small intestine to produce substances that support gut and microbiome health. Prebiotics included in the Science Supplements canine range include MOS (mannan-oligosaccharides), beta-glucans and scFOS (short-chain fructo-oligosaccharides).

What does CFU mean in the Healthy Tummy supplement?

CFU stands for Colony Forming Units and is a measure of how many viable probiotic bacteria are supplied in a given amount of supplement. The higher the number, the more viable bacteria in each fed amount. Because bacteria are so small, the numbers needed are huge and the typical feeding amount of Healthy Tummy for a medium dog contains 10,000 million CFUs. In fact, it is estimated that more than 90% of the body’s cells are bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract and the colon can have 1 x 1012 bacteria per gram, demonstrating the importance of probiotic bacteria!

My dog has been prescribed metronidazole.  Can I feed Healthy Tummy at the same time?

Metronidazole is an antibiotic often prescribed to treat specific gastrointestinal infections. The probiotic (E. faecium) that is included in Health Tummy is not susceptible to metronidazole and thus, they can both be used at the same time. 

Are the supplements safe to be fed to pregnant and lactating animals?

All of the supplements should be safe to be fed to pregnant or lactating animals, although if you are concerned, please seek advice. Old Friend does contain Ashwagandha, and some concern has been noted about the use of it during pregnancy, although this supplement is intended to be fed to older dogs, unlikely to be reproducing.  Notably, Healthy Tummy might be of particular benefit to whelping and lactating bitches.

How does ProKalm work?

ProKalm is formulated to support calming mechanisms in the nervous system and contains ingredients that support relaxed behaviour, including the amino acid L-theanine, lemon balm extract and passion flower. All of these ingredients appear to support the management of calm and relaxed behaviour. The canine version of ProKalm is modelled on the highly successful equine version of ProKalm that supports horses in reaching their potential and aiding concentration. ProKalm can be fed either regularly to support dogs that might be prone to anxious behaviour, or in a more targeted way, perhaps in the run-up to a particular event or situation.  In the latter case, we would suggest feeding for 1-2 weeks before the anticipated event/situation.

What is Green Tea Concentrate and why is it included in ProKalm?

Green tea concentrate is a key source of the amino acid, L-theanine. L-theanine is only naturally found in the tea plant and in some species of mushrooms. It is not typically provided in the diet and is not considered to be one of the ‘essential amino acids’ needed by the body. However, L-theanine has been linked with supporting a reduction in the symptoms of stress and anxiety and may promote relaxation. Research suggests that following oral ingestion, L-theanine reaches the brain and its structure is similar to that of the neurotransmitters that are derived from it (notably GABA and Glutamate). For these reasons, green tea concentrate has been included as a source of L-theanine in our ProKalm supplement to support the brain’s natural calming pathways.

What is the E. faecium in the Healthy Tummy supplement?

E. faecium is the shorthand form of Enterococcus faecium which is a probiotic bacterium that can support the microbial population in your dog’s digestive system. The microbial population within the digestive system is called the microbiome and this can sometimes be affected by dietary changes, environmental changes, exposure to stressful situations, the use of antibiotics or deworming medications. Sometimes the microbiome can also benefit from additional support in situations after illness, injury, or infection.  E. faecium is a naturally occurring bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract of dogs and its use after digestive disturbance can be beneficial to support the overall health of the digestive system, either in a targeted way, or it can be fed on a more regular basis.

Do I need to feed a ‘loading’ feeding rate of any of the supplements?

All the canine supplements are formulated to a high specification and when fed at the recommended feeding rate, provide ingredients at a high level to support specific areas. For this reason, none of our supplements need to be fed at an elevated feeding rate initially, including the joint support-supplements, FlexAbility Regular and FlexAbility Working.

Why is vitamin C and vitamin E included in some supplements?

Both vitamin C and vitamin E are powerful antioxidants. This makes them nutritionally beneficial in situations where potentially damaging substances called ROS (reactive oxygen species) can be produced and cause harm to the body. Inflammatory conditions are linked with the production of ROS and dietary antioxidants can be beneficial in such cases, as well as supporting overall health and wellbeing.

What is the difference between FlexAbility Regular and FlexAbility Working?

The FlexAbility Regular and FlexAbility Working canine supplements benefit from the inclusion of glucosamine HCl, chondroitin sulphate, vitamins C and E, hyaluronic acid and MSM at high levels to provide nutritional support for joint health in dogs of all shapes, sizes, ages, and activity levels. These ingredients are well recognised to support the health and integrity of joints, by providing nutritional ‘building blocks’ to aid the maintenance, repair and lubrication of joints. For dogs who might benefit from enhanced levels of joint support such as highly active, working or dogs who might be ‘slowing down’ a little, FlexAbility Working is a great option, providing additional nutritional support in the form of omega-3 DHA and EPA, Boswellia, curcumin (the active ingredient of turmeric) and piperine. These ingredients all combine to provide additional nutritional support for joint health via their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits.

What is the E. faecium in the Healthy Tummy supplement?

E. faecium is the shorthand form of Enterococcus faecium which is a probiotic bacterium that can support the microbial population in your dog’s digestive system. The microbial population within the digestive system is called the microbiome and this can sometimes be affected by dietary changes, environmental changes, exposure to stressful situations, the use of antibiotics or deworming medications. Sometimes the microbiome can also benefit from additional support in situations after illness, injury, or infection.  E. faecium is a naturally occurring bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract of dogs and its use after digestive disturbance can be beneficial to support the overall health of the digestive system, either in a targeted way, or it can be fed on a more regular basis.