PCQ Pet: A Major Scientific Achievement
Developed by nutrition scientists in collaboration with university researchers and veterinarians, PCQ Pet directly impacts the major inflammatory pathways associated with mild to moderate or occasional inflammation and age-related health conditions in dogs and cats.
Some of the researched and reported benefits of PCQ Pet include:
- Relieves joint, muscle and nerve discomfort.
- Improves itchy, red skin
- Supports gut health and a better mood
One of Few Pet Supplements with Formula-Specific Research
In clinical research at the Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine, PCQ Pet was shown to reduce joint inflammation and increase mobility in older companion dogs.
The researchers found that older companion dogs who consumed PCQ Pet experienced significant improvements in pain, physical activity, and quality of life during middle and older ages.
In the clinical study, dogs taking PCQ Pet™ experienced the following:
- 58% reduction in pain interference
- 57% improvement in quality of life
- 32% reduction in pain severity
In this study, PCQ Pet was tested in family-owned dogs with osteoarthritis.
After 8 weeks of daily PCQ Pet, beneficial effects were demonstrated by improvement in pain scores and gait, overall quality of life and improvements in inflammatory markers.
(Read the PCQ Dog Study)
The PCQ Story
As a neurophysiologist working with companion and performance animals, Dr. Geoff Pfeifer saw the destructive effects of inflammation on a daily basis.
Some commonly used synthetic substances appeared to work at first -- but many had dangerous side effects, or stopped working.
Others, like glucosamine, MSM and other natural solutions had a very small effect, that often weren’t better than placebo.
Nothing had fast-acting, comprehensive activity that reduced mild to moderate pain and skin issues that are so frequent in companion animals, like dogs and cats.
Dr. Geoff Pfeifer, Co-Inventor of PCQ Pet
Some commonly used synthetic substances appeared to work at first -- but many had dangerous side effects, or stopped working.
Others, like glucosamine, MSM and other natural solutions had a very small effect, that often weren’t better than placebo.
Nothing had fast-acting, comprehensive activity that reduced mild to moderate pain and skin issues that are so frequent in companion animals.
One day, while studying the impact of cytokines and the endocannabinoid system on inflammation, Dr. Pfeifer found a molecule from food that was made by the body as part of its own anti-inflammatory system.
It worked as a 'fuel molecule' for the cellular engines that regulate pain and inflammation.
It had already been studied in Europe in numerous large human clinical trials, showing excellent safety and anti-inflammatory effects.
The molecule was called palmitoylethanolamide, or PEA.
First isolated from eggs, soybeans and peanuts, palmitoylethanolamide is a fatty acid amide, similar to omega-3 fatty acids, that are produced in animal and plant cells.
PEA was the subject of research spanning many decades -- including by Nobel laureate Rita Levi-Montalcini for immune modulation, neuropathic pain and stabilization of histamine release related to pain as well as occasional or seasonal allergies.
PEA is made by every cell of all mammals - which our bodies use like a "key" in the lock of our inflammatory pathways.
After looking at the literature, PEA had a very high margin of safety. In many years of use in Europe and in numerous clinical trials, no adverse events or side effects were reported.
And best of all, when he tried it on himself and his animals, he saw relief from pain and inflammation, and reduced immune issues like allergies.
Dr. Pfeifer felt so positive about PEA, he then gave it to his elderly mother, who felt immediate relief from her moderate inflammatory issues almost immediately after taking it!
Dosage
PCQ Pet is most effective when taken once daily, with food, for at least 2 weeks.
For intensive use, a loading dose for the first week often helps to speed results.
PCQ Pet is an easy-to-administer, flavorless powder.
Simply mix the amount listed on the label dosage chart with your dog's favorite food.
Please review the product label for complete product and dosage information.
Safety
PCQ Pet is a safer alternative to many other products.
PCQ Pet contains only three ingredients, with no added fillers, preservatives or stabilizers.
All three ingredients in PCQ (Palmitoylethanolamide, curcuminoids from turmeric root, and quercetin) are found in the human and animal food supply.
Combined, these ingredients are subject to more than 5,000 biomedical studies combined, with a remarkable record of safety.
Mechanism of Action
PCQ Pet contains a combination of three ingredients combined in a particular ratio, which exhibits strong synergistic activity on key cytokines.
In the original research conducted at Texas A&M University, mRNA expression of IL-1b, Cox-2, TNF-α was lowered in activated macrophages treated with increasing concentrations of PEA, curcuminoids extract from turmeric, and quercetin.
This combination effect was exponentially greater than the same concentration of any two of the individual compounds.
PCQ Pet Ingredients Supported by 400+ Clinical Studies
Dogs have a very similar biochemistry as humans. More than 400 human clinical studies have been published on PCQ Pet's ingredients. To see these studies, see the References section at bottom.
For Veterinarians
PCQ Pet has been successfully adopted and integrated into advanced and integrative veterinarian practices.
Contact us to open a veterinarian account, including special veterinarian pricing, samples and technical support from our medical team.
Research History of PCQ Pet
PCQ Pet and PCQ Gold (for human use) was developed and patented after extensive research by Professor Susanne Talcott, PhD; Ariela Thomas, PhD; Geoff Pfeifer, PhD; and Blake Ebersole.
The research focused on the underlying cellular mechanisms and pathways of inflammation, pain and allergies: Interleukin-1a (IL-1a), PPAR-a, TNF-a.
During bioactivity-guided screening, numerous compounds, including natural and pharmaceutical, were tested for activity and combinatorial effects in these cellular inflammation models.
After two years of work, the PCQ combination was discovered in 2018.
Then, the combination was clinically studied veterinary school director Brian Saunders, DVM, PhD, at a major University Clinic.
Starting in 2019, PCQ Pet was distributed to a selected group of veterinarians, and was quickly adopted as a front line, natural anti-inflammatory choice for pain and allergies.
In 2022, U.S. Patent 11,523,998 was issued as a result of the unique synergistic effect of the particular composition in PCQ Pet.
This effect was described by the researchers:
"Previously, we demonstrated that PCQ Pet, containing PEA, curcuminoids and quercetin, are able to mitigate oxidative stress by reducing ROS and NO production, as well as downregulate expression of inflammatory markers such as Cox-2, iNOS and TNF-α in RAW264.7 macrophages.
Most importantly, a synergistic interaction was demonstrated between PEA and quercetin and PEA and curcuminoids in downregulation of IL-1b mRNA expression. Synergy parameters such as the combination index (CI), dose reduction index (DRI) and isobolograms for two different experimental designs were presented.
These results provide evidence and rationale for the use of these ingredients in association in nutraceutical formulations targeting prevention and treatment of chronic inflammation and pain."
References and Technical Info
-
PCQ Dog Study "Synergistic anti-inflammatory activity of a novel combination of
curcumin, quercetin and palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) in dogs", Thomas A., Talcott ST, 2019 - PCQ Patent (U.S. Patent 11,523,998
- Scientific References on PCQ ingredients
- Clinical Studies on Palmitoylethanolamide
- Clinical Studies on Turmeric / Curcuminoids
- Clinical Studies on Quercetin
- Certificate of Analysis (Representative)
- Technical Data Sheet / Product Specification