Work

Nutraceuticals, Social Interaction, and Psychophysiological Influence on Pet Health and Well-Being: Focus on Dogs and Cats

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Pet humanization, particularly in dogs and cats, has transformed animal healthcare and highlighted the importance of nutrition in promoting human-pet social interaction, pet psychophysical well-being and, possibly, longevity. Nutraceuticals, such as omega-3 fatty acids, prebiotics, probiotics, plant extracts and dietary supplements, are endowed with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immune-modulating, cognitive-enhancing and gut-microbiota balancing properties. These effects have been shown to contribute to the possible prevention and management of bone and skin diseases, as well as gastrointestinal and behavioral disturbs. Moreover, the human-animal bond has been shown to play a pivotal role in reducing stress, improving sociability, and modulating pets' emotional and physiological states. Evidence also suggests that nutrition and social interactions can influence the gut-brain axis, impacting the behavior, cognition, and resilience to stress-related disorders. Besides underlining the value of nutraceutical integration into pet nutrition strategies and offering a comprehensive, evidence-based perspective on their potential in improving animal welfare, literature reports about drawbacks of the use/misuse of such substances have been reported.

Source: Veterinary Sciences

DOI: 10.3390/vetsci12100964

Authors: Mario Nicotra, Tommaso Iannitti, Alessandro Di Cerbo

Institutions: Università di Camerino, University of Ferrara

Language: English

Topic: Human-Animal Interaction Studies

Subfield: Genetics

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,534