Cats make their own C, but environmental and other stresses can deplete an animal's reserves. Maintaining your pet's antioxidant supply might help save its life one day. Studies show that antioxidants can lessen the damage caused by traumatic injuries, heart failure and stroke. But the antioxidants must be in the animal's body already. Be aware that anesthesia is one of the things that can deplete your animal's antioxidants.
Drugs used for anesthesia generate large amounts of free radicals.
If your animal has to undergo surgery, you may want to boost his or her antioxidants before and after. Your dog's immunity can be affected by a lack of vitamin E. A study from the American Journal of Veterinary Research finds that dogs with vitamin E deficiency have depressed immune cell proliferation. Diseases of dogs and cats Companion animals suffer from many of the same diseases we do. Cancer, heart liver and kidney diseases are major causes of death in our pets. Given that our animals share our lifestyle and eat a version of our own diet, it's not surprising they get the same diseases.