NOW Foods Cardiovascular Support Supplement Formulated for Cats & Dogs Powder 4.5 oz

What it is

NOW Pets Cardiovascular Support is a powdered supplement for dogs and cats, sold in a 4.5 oz (127 gram) green glass bottle. The powder is measured out with a household teaspoon and mixed into food rather than given as a tablet or capsule. Its label lists seven active ingredients — L-carnitine, taurine, hawthorn leaf and flower extract, CoQ10, organic dandelion root, vitamin E and magnesium — in a base of chicken bone broth powder, which is what gives the powder its flavor. The bottle is produced by NOW Foods of Bloomingdale, Illinois, and the panel states that it is made in the USA from US and globally sourced ingredients.

The reference amount used on the ingredient panel is ½ teaspoon, which the label puts at 1.41 grams. The amount an animal is actually given each day is set by its weight, and ranges from a quarter teaspoon to a teaspoon and a half.

What's in it

Every amount below is transcribed from the bottle's own Product Facts panel and is stated per ½ teaspoon. The descriptions explain what each substance is and where it comes from — they are not statements about what the product does for an animal.

• L-Carnitine (200 mg) — a compound built from the amino acids lysine and methionine. It occurs naturally in animal tissue, with red meat being the densest everyday source, and it is a long-standing ingredient in both human and animal supplement formulas.
• Taurine (200 mg) — an amino sulfonic acid rather than a true protein-building amino acid. It is concentrated in muscle and other animal tissue, which is why fish and meat are its richest dietary sources. It is the ingredient NOW chose to name on the front of this label.
• Hawthorn Leaf/Flower Extract (50 mg) — hawthorn is a thorny shrub or small tree in the rose family, genus Crataegus, found across Europe, North America and Asia. The leaves and flowers, rather than the berries, are the parts extracted here, and both have a long documented history in traditional European herbal practice.
• CoQ10, Coenzyme Q10 (25 mg) — a fat-soluble, vitamin-like compound also known as ubiquinone. It is present in nearly every animal cell, which is where that alternative name comes from.
• Organic Dandelion Root (25 mg) — the root of Taraxacum officinale, the common lawn dandelion. The root rather than the leaf is used here, and the label specifies that this ingredient is organic.
• Vitamin E, as d-alpha tocopheryl succinate (6 mg) — a fat-soluble vitamin. The "d-alpha" prefix marks it as the naturally occurring form rather than the synthetic "dl-alpha" one.
• Magnesium, from magnesium glycinate (4 mg) — a dietary mineral. Glycinate means the magnesium is bound to glycine, the smallest amino acid; the 4 mg figure on the panel is the magnesium content of that compound.

The two inactive ingredients are chicken bone broth powder, which the panel marks as being there for flavor, and silica, a common anti-caking agent that keeps a powder pourable. The panel also states that the product contains no artificial flavors, colors or preservatives, and the back of the bottle prints "Gluten Free". A Non-GMO mark appears on both the front label and the ingredient panel.

For general background on two of these substances, the US National Institutes of Health publishes consumer fact sheets on vitamin E and magnesium, and a general overview of botanical dietary supplements that covers plant extracts of the kind used here. These are written for human nutrition and are offered only as background on the substances themselves — they are not guidance for animals, and they say nothing about this product. Questions about your own animal belong with your veterinarian.

How to give it

The label's Directions for Use say the powder can be given during or after meal time, and the amount is set by the animal's weight. These are the figures exactly as printed on the bottle:

• Dogs up to 20 lbs — ¼ teaspoon daily
• Dogs 21 to 40 lbs — ½ teaspoon daily
• Dogs 41 to 60 lbs — 1 teaspoon daily
• Dogs over 61 lbs — 1½ teaspoons daily
• Cats — ¼ teaspoon daily

The bottle is labeled for use in dogs and cats only. Storage instructions are to keep it in a cool, dry, dark place after opening, and the label asks that the freshness packet stay in the bottle rather than being thrown away once the seal is broken.

Who it's for

This is a daily powder for owners who would rather mix something into a bowl than persuade an animal to swallow a tablet. The chicken bone broth base exists to make that easier, and the weight bands cover everything from a cat to a big dog on the same bottle. Because the measurement is done with an ordinary teaspoon and the amounts step up by weight, one bottle can serve a multi-animal household. You can find it alongside the rest of our pet supplements, within the wider pet health range.

It is not a food and not a meal replacement, and it is not for people — the label states plainly that it is not for human consumption.

Good to know

The bottle carries a set of printed cautions, and they are worth reading before the first dose:

• If the animal's condition worsens or does not improve, stop giving the product and consult your veterinarian.
• Safe use in pregnant animals, or animals intended for breeding, has not been proven.
• Give it during or after the animal has eaten, which the label says reduces the incidence of gastrointestinal upset.
• An examination by a veterinarian is recommended before using this product.
• Not for human consumption. Keep out of the reach of children and animals.
• In case of accidental overdose, contact a health professional immediately.

The front label carries the National Animal Supplement Council (NASC) Quality Seal. No California Proposition 65 warning is printed anywhere on this packaging.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much powder does my dog need?

It depends on weight: a quarter teaspoon daily up to 20 lbs, half a teaspoon from 21 to 40 lbs, one teaspoon from 41 to 60 lbs, and one and a half teaspoons over 61 lbs. The label sets these bands and asks that the powder be given during or after a meal. An ordinary kitchen teaspoon is all that is needed to measure it.

Can I give this to a cat as well as a dog?

Yes — the bottle is labeled for dogs and cats, and the cat amount is a quarter teaspoon daily regardless of the cat's size. The same bottle covers both, which is why the front of the label reads "For DOGS/CATS".

What does it taste like, and will a fussy animal eat it?

The powder is flavored with chicken bone broth powder, which the ingredient panel lists as an inactive ingredient included specifically for flavor. We cannot promise any particular animal will accept it. Mixing it into food during or after a meal is what the label directs, and that is also the most practical way to introduce it.

How many servings are in the 4.5 oz bottle?

The bottle holds 127 grams and the panel's reference amount is ½ teaspoon, stated as 1.41 grams, so it contains roughly 90 of those half-teaspoon measures. That figure is arithmetic from the two printed numbers, not a count printed on the label, and the number of days it covers depends on your animal's weight band.

How is this packaged for delivery?

Orders ship in plain outer packaging. It will not show the Gear Isle name.

Product information compiled and reviewed by the Gear Isle product team. We transcribe product specifications directly from manufacturer packaging. Found an error? Tell us.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. For adults 18 and over. Consult a licensed healthcare professional before use, especially if you have a medical condition or a known allergy to any listed ingredient. Keep out of reach of children.