Frequently Asked Questions

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How is Ocu-GLO™ administered? How do I pill my dog?

There is no added flavor included in the Ocu-GLO™, however, antioxidants tend to be bitter-tasting. It is best if the dog does not chew the Gelcap and instead swallows it whole. The main reason for this is that if the Gelcap were chewed, the contents could stain carpet (and also the face of white dogs), but the staining easily washes out with water. Do not mistake this staining for blood!

If your dog won't readily take Ocu-GLO™, all the "usual suggestions" that Veterinarians give pet owners apply. You can also google search "how to pill my pet" for helpful tips.

Can I trust Ocu-GLO™ for my dog?

Two very important reasons that you can trust Ocu-GLO™:

1. Two Board-Certified Veterinary Ophthalmologists and a Compounding Pharmacist, with over 75 years combined experience in veterinary health, designed Ocu-GLO™ and tested its safety and palatability.

2. The 12 antioxidant ingredients in Ocu-GLO™ are all pharmaceutical grade, which means that they are made under strict Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) guidelines. GMP standards are much higher than those which nutritional product manufacturers are required to meet. The ingredients are natural and of the highest quality. Copies of our GMP's available upon request

I have read that grapes are toxic to dogs, why is Ocu-GLO™ safe?

This is a common question and there are some articles in the literature about this topic. There are two components to grapes that have nutritional benefits. The seeds of grapes are completely safe for all species evaluated so far, including dogs. The seeds of grapes contain proanthocyanidins, a group of antioxidants that benefit eyes and the rest of the body. There have been no side effects to grapeseeds known as of yet. However, there are compounds in the skins of grapes and raisins, especially darker varieties of the fruits, that cause kidney damage in dogs.

What is the shelf life of Ocu-GLO™?

The shelf life is three years due to the special way in which Ocu-GLO™ is manufactured. Because oxygen can oxidize and break down antioxidants, oxygen is intentionally removed from the inside of the Gelcap during the manufacturing process via a nitrogen gas exchange process.

What sizes does Ocu-GLO™ come in? What is the suggested administration, and do the Gelcaps need to be administered at mealtime?

Ocu-GLO™ comes in 90 count bottles in two convenient sizes:

1. One for Small Dogs weighing 10 lbs or less. They are given 1 Gelcap daily.

2. One for Medium to Large Dogs weighing 11 lbs or more. Dogs between 11 and 30 lbs receive 1 Gelcap daily; 31 to 60 lbs receive 2 Gelcaps daily; 61 lbs and over receive 3 Gelcaps daily. Giant breed dogs over 100 lbs can receive 3 or 4 Gelcaps daily.

Two Small Dog Size Gelcaps equals ONE Medium/Large Dog Size Gelcap.

If the daily dose is more than one Gelcap, it can be given all at once or divided throughout the day. It should be administered at mealtime to improve absorption.

We also have Ocu-GLO™ Power Blend for dogs and cats. You can open up the capsules and sprinkle the powder. It is much more palatable and easier to take.

What is your product guarantee?

Animal Necessity products are 100% guaranteed. Any unopened products may be returned within 30 days after ordering for any reason.

How long will one bottle of Ocu-GLO™ (or any Animal Necessity supplement) last?

This depends on the weight of your animal. Please use our main menu or search box above to find any supplement you're interested in. Each supplement has a Suggested Use tab that will inform how long that supplement will last.

How do I order Ocu-GLO™? How much does it cost?

Both pet owners and veterinarians can purchase Ocu-GLO™ from our website, both by the bottle or by the case (12 bottles/case). Pet owners purchasing online receive the MSRP (manufacturer's suggested retail price).

Veterinarians purchasing online receive the Health Professionals' price but must first register and provide state licensure information (which is then verified by Animal Necessity) in order to create a log-in account. Upon being verified, Veterinarians must then log-in in order to obtain the Health Professionals' price when ordering Ocu-GLO™.

If you are a pet owner, you might wish to ask your Veterinarian if they dispense or will dispense Ocu-GLO™ from their hospital for your dog.

How big are the Ocu-GLO™ Gelcaps?

The Ocu-GLO™ GelCaps in the Medium/Large Dog size are 2cm long and 0.5cm wide. The Small Dog size GelCaps are approximately half that size.

What if my dog does not want to just take the Ocu-GLO™ Gelcap. Do you have any suggestions?

1. Try our new Ocu-GLO™ Powder Blend first! It is a more palatable powder that you can sprinkle. Also, it can be used for cats, too!

2. Because the reddish-orange gelcap contents can stain fabric and carpet, it is best if you can find a creative way to have your pet swallow the Ocu-GLO™ gelcap whole and NOT have them chew it. You can google "best methods to pill my pet" for more answers.

3. Professional method: Open your dog's mouth, place the gelcap as far back in the throat as possible and hold the mouth shut for 5-10 seconds to make them swallow. You might also try gently blowing in your dog's nose as this will cause them to swallow. If you are not sure how to do this, have your veterinarian's staff show you how.

What is the meaning of the percentages after the individual ingredients listed (like on the Ocu-GLO™ label)? Specifically Lutein 20% and Omega 95%?

The percentages listed refer to the percentage of active ingredient in each powder that we use, not the percentage of that ingredient in the proprietary blend. For example: when you buy grapeseed extract it contains 95% active ingredient and 5% inert or inactive ingredient. That means that for every 1000mg of the extract that we use we only get 950mg of the active ingredient. Therefore, if we want to get 25mg of the active ingredient in grapeseed we will need to add 27.4mg of the extract.

This conversion becomes much more important when we are referring to Lutein 20% or the Omega blend which contains only 55% EPA/DHA. One gram (1000mg) of our 20% Lutein contains 200mg of actual Lutein, the rest is inert ingredients from the plant, so we must include 5 times the amount of the actual active ingredient that we want to include. The Omega blend contains 55% EPA and DHA, so 1000mg of that blend only contains 550mg of actual EPA and DHA. These conversions have have been carefully considered and calculated so that our product contains 100% of what we say it does. Some manufacturers do not do this and may give you 25mg of the Extract, which in the case of Lutein would only provide 5mg of actual Lutein. Some manufacturers do not do this and may give you 25mg of the Extract, which in the case of Lutein would only provide 5mg of actual Lutein.

Do I need to stop Ocu-GLO™ before during or after surgery for any reason?

Many veterinary ophthalmologists advise clients to administer Ocu-GLO™ up until the evening prior to surgery, and then no food, supplement, or oral medications the morning of surgery.

Ocu-GLO™ is to be administered at mealtime the evening of surgery if the patient is eating well -- either at home or if the patient is in the clinic. We always recommend that the owner check with their veterinarian before administering any supplement prior to surgery.

What if I notice a discoloration in my pet's stool after giving them Ocu-GLO™?

Fecal coloration change with Ocu-GLO™, which can be normal. Usually you will see more of a hint of yellow because of the strong lutein ingredient that comes from the yellow marigold plant.

We are always concerned because dark, tarry stool can mean digested blood (which is not good). If noticed, we usually ask clients to stop Ocu-GLO™ for 3 days and see if there is a change back to normal stool. If so, then we suggest starting back on Ocu-GLO™ at 1/2 the dose.

For example, if this animal is on one Ocu-GLO™ a day, then we would give one Ocu-GLO™ every other day, as many animals can have sensitive gastrointestinal tracts. Also, any medications that animals are on while on Ocu-GLO™ is very important to know, as the medication alone can cause indigestion which can change stool color (for example, pentoxifylline).

Is it necessary to give a multi-vitamin with Ocu-GLO™?

Most multi-vitamins available for dogs have very low amounts of vitamins and minerals and are primarily to complement the diet that they are eating. The better quality foods are supplemented with a variety of antioxidants and vitamins/minerals but if they are cooked at too high a temperature, many of those nutrients may be somewhat depleted. Therefore, supplementing is a good idea.

We put the equivalent of a multivitamin into Ocu-GLO™ so that owners would not have to give a separate multivitamin. However, if you choose to give a separate multi-vitamin, it is unlikely that you will overdose your dog. The bottom line is that if you only want to use one product, use Ocu-GLO™; but, if you like the multi-vitamin that you use, we are happy to advise you on whether it is too much or just right.

Is there Caffeine found in Ocu-GLO™?

Yes. Green tea extract raw material present in Ocu-GLO™ contains approximately 0.3 to 0.4 % caffeine. There is 40 mg raw material per softgel in Ocu-GLO™ which is equivalent to 0.12-0.16 mg caffeine per softgel. This is the trace amount of caffeine present in one softgel.

Are there animal products in Ocu-GLO™?

Yes, the outer gelatin coating has beef made from bones and the omega fatty acids are from sardines and anchovies.

If beef is a potential allergen in your dog, please call or contact us to discuss.

What is the Calorie, Fat, Protein and Carbohydrate content is in a single dose in Ocu-GLO™?

In Ocu-GLO™ Medium/Large each softgel contains 4.02 calories. This is derived by combining together 300mg of Fat (2.7 calories), 220mg of Protein (0.88 calories) and 110mg of Carbohydrates (0.44 calories).

In Ocu-GLO™ Small each softgel contains 2.07 calories. This is derived by combining together 150mg of Fat (1.35 calories), 120mg of Protein (0.48 calories) and 60mg of Carbohydrates (0.24 calories).

My dog is already on an omega-3 fatty acid supplement. If I give Ocu-GLO™ will this be too much in omega 3 fatty acid concentration?

Ocu-GLO™ has an appropriate amount of Omega 3 fatty acids for the weight of your dog, however, some dogs (and humans) can tolerate higher doses if they need to take more for other diseases such as skin problems.

We recommend stopping the extra Omega 3 fatty acids while you begin Ocu-GLO™, then after a week, you can gradually add in the other Omega product. If your dog develops diarrhea, then the amount of omegas is too high and do not use the extra dose.

Is there Zeaxanthin in Ocu-GLO™?

While zeaxanthin is not a specific ingredient in the Ocu-GLO formulation, a form of the carotenoid, called meso-zeaxanthin, is provided via the conversion of lutein once it reaches the eye. Meso-zeaxanthin is a potent carotenoid located in the retina. It can not be found in dietary food sources, and there is no evidence to prove that laboratory extraction of meso-zeaxanthin from synthetic lutein is available for absorption by the body. The most natural means, therefore, of providing this potent retinal carotenoid to the body is via supplemental lutein.

Are there any carbohydrates or sugars in Ocu-GLO™?

Glycerin in the shell of Ocu-GLO™ is a source for carbohydrates but the amount is not high (due to softgel size). No other RM in the product is carbohydrates or sugars. Gelatin is a source for protein and not for carbohydrates or sugars.

Do you offer an Auto-Ship Service?

Yes! We offer Auto-Ship Service for all of your pet's vitamin needs. Simply check the Auto-Ship boxes on checkout and select your weekly timeline. If you'd like, please view our Auto-Ship Frequently Asked Questions.