One of the more rapidly growing groups of products in today 's medical world are those substances known as nutriceuticals. The term is used to describe a group of naturally occurring products that have scientifically proven health benefits, including disease treatment and prevention. Nutriceuticals derive their name from a combination of the terms "nutrient" and "pharmaceutical". They are thought to possess characteristics of both food products and drugs, but are not categorized as either one. Although their future role is still unclear, it appears that veterinary nutriceuticals may become increasingly more important in the management and prevention of illness in animals.

Nutriceuticals are currently being prescribed by some veterinarians as an alternative to traditional drug therapy in canine patients. It must be kept in mind that at present time there is no federal agency that regulates the manufacture or sale of these orally administered products. Nutriceuticals also differ from traditional drugs as they are not subjected to pre-market evaluation. The lack of regulations and guidelines for veterinary nutriceuticals should be reason to suggest cautious use of these products. The question of product safety is of some concern, although the most commonly prescribed nutriceuticals have not been associated with significant adverse reactions. Perhaps a more important aspect to question is that of efficacy. In other words, do these products have a significant beneficial effect?

The most common veterinary nutriceuticals are those products used to treat osteoarthritis in dogs. Also known as chondroprotective agents, because of their reported effect on joint cartilage, these products include glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, and polysulfated glycosaminoglycans. Common trade names include Cosequin, GlycoFlex, and CartiFlex. These products are derived from natural sources such as the green-lipped mussel, bovine cartilage, and shark cartilage. One of the primary uses for these products is to improve the quality of the joint fluid and thereby reduce joint pain. They may also have an anti-inflammatory effect. Many claims have been made regarding the effectiveness of the various nutriceuticals as a treatment for canine osteoarthritis. Independent, unbiased studies have had mixed results. Some veterinarians and dog trainers advocate the use of anti-arthritic nutriceuticals as regular supplements to improve joint comfort and potentially enhance a dog 's performance in canine competitive events. Although this may be a safe practice, such treatment also has the potential to mask early clinical signs of an injury.

The North American Veterinary Nutriceutical Council (NAVNC) was formed in 1996 by interested persons in the veterinary profession and the nutriceutical industry. The primary goal of the NAVNC is to promote and further enhance the quality, safety, and long-term effectiveness of nutriceutical use in veterinary care. Although this council is not affiliated with a governmental regulatory agency, such as the Food and Drug Administration, NAVNC has adopted a number of goals intended to protect veterinarians, animal owners, and animals. Among the most important goals are to establish criteria for documenting the clinical effects of nutriceuticals and to develop standard guidelines for product labeling.