Maca for Pets

If you’ve got a beloved furry friend in your life, you’re probably very particular about what you feed them. Many pet-owners put a lot of thought into what they put in the food bowl, for good reason - a good diet can spell a much longer, happier life for Fluffy! You might even serve your pet supplements in order to keep their health in top shape. But have you ever fed them maca root? Your pet might be able to take the same maca you enjoy, with similar effects!

Is Maca Good For My Pet?

Animals have long played a significant role in research on the health benefits of maca. Lab testing on rats has provided a great deal of information on the ways maca can improve a consumer’s quality of life, namely with regard to boosting virility.

That said, the answer to this question isn’t as straightforward as you might like to believe - as with humans, a licensed medical professional (i.e., your pet’s veterinarian) will likely know best. Make sure you’re aware of any dietary constraints or existing health conditions that might affect the way your pet’s body reacts to the addition of maca to their diet.

The practice of feeding animals maca isn’t a new one. Historically, Peruvian farmers fed maca to livestock such as alpaca, vicuna and ccattle imported to the Americas from Spain in order to improve their health and fertility. This is because the same vitamins and enzymes that have a positive impact on human bodies would have benefited animals as well. Don’t just rely on the historical accounts - research performed in 2010 found that supplementing bulls’ diets with maca resulted in an improvement in the quantity and quality of semen produced.

In previous blog posts we’ve discussed the use of maca root, particularly red maca, in order to boost fertility. A 2005 study found that feeding otherwise healthy adult female mice maca resulted in an increased litter size.

That said, there aren’t many people keeping bulls or mice as pets. What about our domesticated friends like dogs and cats? The Journal of Veterinary Medicine recognized maca as a “functional” pet food, a term used by the Mayo Clinic to denote foods that have a potentially positive effect on health beyond basic nutrition - foods like maca.

Where Can I Buy Maca For My Pet?

You probably already understand how important it is to make sure you know exactly what’s in your pet’s food. Though the FDA does regulate pet food, it doesn’t regulate products being advertised as maca - that means that it’s possible the maca product you’re purchasing from a pet supply store or website might contain unadvertised additives.

If you want to be sure that you’re purchasing 100% pure, organic maca for your beloved furbaby, be sure to buy from a reliable retailer like The Maca Team. Unless other ingredients are listed in products like our Morning Motivator maca coffee blend, our fair-trade, sustainably-grown maca is just that - maca root.

Consult with your vet on what maca formulation and serving size is best for your pet. While some pets might not have any trouble with the addition of products like our raw maca powder to their food, a dog or cat with a sensitive digestive system might have a harder time with it. You might want to consider something like our organic gelatinized maca powder instead, which has been pre-cooked to break down the starch content that might trouble sensitive stomachs.

DON’T hesitate to reach out if you have any questions. You can Contact Us using our web form, or call us toll-free at 888-919-8616.

Enjoy the Day!