The Benefit of Liquid over Pills and Chews

Why should I choose Licks supplements for my pets over other chews?! Most pet owners do not realize there is a big difference between the two! In this blog we’ll go over the advantages to liquid pet supplements and why it matters!

What are the advantages to using liquid?

A: Liquid supplements can have up to a 98% absorption rate compared to 5 – 18% with pills and capsules. Along with high absorption, liquids are also easier to administer since the body will absorb the same amount of ingredients as pills but in fewer doses. Also, the ingredients found in liquids are not compressed which allows them to enter the bloodstream faster since there is no additional digestion needed. Since liquids can enter the bloodstream at a faster rate than pills the desired results typically occur in less time. 

Q: What are the disadvantages to using pills?

A: At best, pills have an absorption rate of 18%, which means the majority of ingredients are excreted or eliminated from the body. For the small amount of ingredients that do enter the digestive tract, it takes hours for your body to break down a pill. Additional digestion is also required by your body to break down a pill because the ingredients are compressed with buffers, binders, and fillers. Since there are added elements inside the capsule the absorption rate and effectiveness of the ingredients are ultimately reduced. 

Q: Why does absorption matter?

A: Over the years many studies have shown that liquid supplements have a greater advantage than pill-based products. In the Physician’s Desk Reference, a commonly referred-to reference book, it is noted that liquids can be absorbed up to 98% compared to 5 – 18% with pills and capsules. This means that up to 95% of ingredients found in pills do not enter the bloodstream.