Choose and use pet-friendly supplements: even the most pampered pooch or coddled kitty may not be getting the supplements it needs. Is your cat or dog one of them?(SUPPLEMENTS: HOW TO)

Pet lovers spend billions of dollars every year on medications to keep their four-footed friends healthy. These pharmaceuticals save lives and ease symptoms, but they are not free of side effects. So while a visit to the veterinarian is the first stop when it comes to pet health, alternative remedies are increasingly popular for non-emergency conditions. "The best way to treat any animal disorder is by starting with the gentlest technique available," says holistic veterinarian Richard Palmquist, DVM, of Centinela Animal Hospital in Inglewood, CA.

Multivitamins for Dogs and Cats

Of course, preventing pets from becoming ill is the first step, and that's why multivitamins are so important. Even the best pet food may not supply optimal amounts of important nutrients. The solution: antioxidant-rich vitamin and mineral supplements to prevent deficiencies and to combat free-radical damage to cells.

Dogs: In general, a good multivitamin/mineral formula for dogs should contain at least three important antioxidants, vitamins A, C, D and E, plus vitamin B complex and the minerals zinc, calcium, magnesium and iron.

Cats: Felines need a multi designed specifically for cats. These generally contain vitamins A, C and E, vitamin B complex, selenium, and the vitally important amino acid taurine.

Fish Oil: Every Pet's Friend

Fish provides animals with the same heart-friendly benefits it bestows on humans. But when it comes to pets, hold the halibut. Nearly all fish now contains the heavy metal mercury and other toxins, making molecularly distilled fish oil the first choice for pets.