Exploring Animal Health Nutraceuticals

Recent industry conference examines the growing use of nutraceuticals to benefit companion and production animal health.

Vets Plus, Inc., in conjunction with the University of Wisconsin-Stout, recently presented the first-ever international conference on the growing use of nutraceuticals to benefit companion and production animal health. The International Conference on Animal Health Nutraceuticals, or ICAHN 2019, was conducted July 17-19 at UW-Stout’s Memorial Student Center conference facility in Menomonie, Wisconsin.

ICAHN was designed to explore the current state and future development of nutraceuticals in animal health and disease.

“All veterinarians use nutraceuticals for a growing list of companion and production animal indications, but far fewer have access to up-to-date information about their use,” said Raj Lall, Vets Plus’ founder and CEO. “ICAHN enabled veterinarians and industry professionals to receive cutting edge information from leading scientists on advancements, applications and potential concerns about nutraceutical use.”

The symposium covered common conditions and health concerns in animals and the role that nutritional intervention can play as part of an integrated approach. Presenters included:

• Ramesh C. Gupta, DVM, MVSc, PhD, who presented an overview of nutraceuticals in animal health and disease nutraceuticals in joint health, with a special emphasis
  on osteoarthritis.
• Steve Lerner, PhD, discussed the role of probiotics and their applications in animal health
• Margaret H. Dohnalek, PhD, talked about building a formulation solution for inflammation and immunity in companion animals.
• Dr. Gerald Buchoff, DVM, BVScAH, MS, presented on transferrin and nutraceutical applications in pets.
• Dr. Gary Richter, DVM, discussed therapeutic uses of cannabinoids in companion animals.

“To our knowledge, this is the first time a group of leading nutraceutical scientists has appeared together in this kind of dedicated forum,” said Dr. Ajay Srivastava, Vets Plus’ chief scientific officer. “We are proud of the caliber of the scientific presenters at ICAHN. Some of the brightest minds in the nutritional science category provided public access to their work.”

ICAHN 2019 also coincided with the publication of Nutraceuticals in Veterinary Medicine, the first comprehensive collection of scientific articles on the therapeutic use of nutritional compounds in animals.

“The conference was an overwhelming success both in terms of attendance and the quality of the interchange between scientists, practitioners and other attendees,” said Paul Hays, Vets Plus’ Chief Commercial Officer. “We can clearly see ICAHN as an ongoing meeting place for nutraceutical scientists and as a clearinghouse for their work. Over time, ICAHN represents a real opportunity to advance the quality of companion animal health and production animal performance through a science-based approach to nutritional support.”

For more information visit: icahn2019.com.