Your pet's body undergoes oxidative stress when the capability of these antioxidants is over whelmed or eclipsed by the number of free radicals being produced. Free radicals are continually formed in your pet's body each day as part of their body's normal biological processes. In addition, other factors can contribute to a free radical overload. This includes pesticides, pollution, antibiotics, anesthetics, flea and tick preventatives, chemicals, synthetic pet food preservatives, and foods that are fried at high temperatures and/or burnt.
Scientists estimate that a single cell in your pet's body is exposed to roughly 100,000 free radical hits per second. The role of antioxidants is to 'mop up' these free radicals. Natural, nutrient-rich foods and certain supplements, including Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and Vitamin E along with Lutein, alpha-Lipoic Acid and Co-Enzyme Q10, also have valuable pet antioxidant benefits. They help to fight pet aging by attacking free radicals that would normally damage your pet's genetic material called DNA. In addition, they also attack and damage your pet's protein and several other tissues in your dog and cat's body. Continue reading...