I was cooking a curry the other day, and as the onions sizzled and mustard seeds popped, I grated some fresh turmeric. In that special way only turmeric can, it effortlessly transferred its steadfast, staining yellowness to me and everything I touched, along with quite a few objects I’m sure I didn’t.
Anyway, as I attempted to wipe it from my yellowed fingers, I got to thinking about turmeric and its assorted health benefits – specifically for pets and horses (because that’s my thing – and if you’re reading this, presumably it’s yours too).
Promoted for its antioxidant effects, ability to support joints and even suppress ulcers, I got to wondering how much of that is REALLY accurate? Does species-specific science support the claims?
The short answer is… Turmeric has the potential to do a lot of good, but there is a caveat or two. For the full lowdown, read on.
So first up, what are we dealing with?
Hello, tropical, yellow root
Turmeric belongs to the ginger family (onomatopoeically named Zingiberaceae), and the part we’re interested in is the root (though, to be fair, the flowers & leaves are super pretty too).
It grows anywhere you find palm trees swaying in the humid breeze, and originally comes from India and Southeast Asia. Most commonly used is Indian turmeric - mainly Curcuma longa (Madras), but this species has other cultivars including Alleppey, and Lakadong, which all differ in levels of curcumin, colour and taste. There’s also a different species, Javanese turmeric (Curcuma xanthorrhiza), which contains xanthorrhizol – more about that in a minute.
So, what is turmeric touted to do?
It’s fed to horses, cats and dogs for its purported value as:
1. a natural anti-inflammatory and antioxidant,
2. to help with creaky/arthritic joints (ie. mobility) and reduce lameness,
3. to promote gut health,
4. for liver support
5. for its anti-microbial and anti-fungal properties, and most recently
6. to reduce the occurrence of gastric ulcers (in horses)
What is turmeric’s MO?
Curcumin steals the limelight as the best-known bioactive component (and main polyphenol) in turmeric – I’m sure you’ve heard of it already. It’s the compound used for the first 3 points on the list above. But curcumin is just one of three curcuminoids found in turmeric, and this yellow root also contains a swag of other biochemical compounds besides.
Another super important bioactive ingredient is xanthorrhizol. It’s found in Javanese but not Indian turmeric. Xanthorrhizol is a sesquiterpenoid and is associated with benefits 4-6 above. It also has the added bonus of being way more bioavailable than curcumin.
Wait what? Is this stuff not very bioavailable?
Sadly no. Curcumin on its own is not well absorbed. That’s why it’s so often fed (could we say famously fed?) together with black pepper, which contains piperine. In humans and rats, piperine has been shown to significantly increase curcumin exposure.
Curcuminoids are also lipophilic (fat-loving and hence, not water-soluble). Studies in humans have shown that when turmeric is consumed together with oil, curcumin exposure increases significantly.
But as discussed above, xanthorrhizol is naturally more bioavailable. This, plus the fact that curcumin and xanthorrhizol have different biological effects, is why quality supplements often contain a blend of Indian and Javanese turmeric.
I got chatting with Lisa Jones, GM at ‘Stance Equitec’ about this. Their supplement ‘Tumericle®’ contains both Indian turmeric (Alleppey) and Javanese turmeric because of their dual modes of action. They don’t use the most common cultivar of Indian turmeric, Curcuma Longa (Madras), “because of issues with heavy metal levels, especially Lead.”
To be clear, not all Indian Madras turmeric is necessarily high in heavy metals, but it was enough to make me wonder…
Are heavy metals in turmeric a thing to worry about?
Obviously, depending on the conditions plants are grown in – soil, water and agricultural inputs - heavy metals can be an issue in any crop. And the fact that heavy metals can accumulate in roots/rhizomes (the part of the turmeric plant we eat), might make us look twice. But it’s not that simple.
On closer inspection, it seems like the issue is less about the plant and more about the all-too-common practice of cutting powdered turmeric with lead chromate 😬. Lead chromate is an intense yellow pigment, and it’s used to pep up (colour-wise) and extend the shelf life of powdered turmeric. A 2026 study in Eastern India showed that 30% of samples tested exceeded India’s permissible lead limit. That starts to matter when your pet is consuming supplementary turmeric on the regular.
Of course, this doesn’t mean ‘don’t feed your pet turmeric’ – but it does mean you should only buy it from suppliers you can trust (who test for heavy metals as a matter of course). Which brings us back to efficacy…
Does turmeric actually live up to the hype?
Scott Williams, nutritionist and founder at ‘Pet Food Solutions’, assured me there was some robust science in support of turmeric’s benefits for pets. This is what I found…
Assorted studies in dogs have shown that (often in combination with other supplements – ranging from collagen, green tea, and green-lipped mussel to blackcurrant leaf extract) turmeric does seem to be associated with significantly reduced pain, reduced inflammatory markers and improved mobility in dogs with osteoarthritis. Excellent.
Similarly, in cats, turmeric seems to have a positive effect. A 2024 study looking at cats with osteoarthritis found that consuming a combination of turmeric, EPA, DHA and hydrolysed collagen was associated with a significantly improved ability to bear weight, climb stairs and increased nighttime activity. I’m not sure if the owners/staff of those cats would love that last one, but it’s definitely a lovely indicator of a feline who’s feeling good.
In horses, there was an encouraging 2009 ex vivo study linking curcumin to reduced cartilage degradation. Likewise, a 2022 study showed a combination of Tamarind and Indian turmeric extract to be associated with reduced lameness, increased joint flexibility and reduced inflammatory markers in working horses. That’s joints, and it’s super encouraging. But what about ulcers?
A 2019 study looked at the effects of Javanese turmeric (+ coconut oil) on gastric ulcer formation in horses. Turmeric seemed to reduce the development and severity of squamous ulcers (but not glandular ulcers).
One thing that does muddy the waters here a bit, is that studies often feed turmeric in a combo with other supplements; the type of turmeric used can vary, and so too can the levels of curcuminoids and xanthorrhizol present. This is not to say turmeric doesn’t work, only that the research into it is a bit more complex than first meets the eye.
The colour of happiness and deserving of the hype
So there you have it. Colourful, aromatic and packed with helpful attributes, it looks like, within reason, the marketing hype around turmeric does indeed stack up for our beloved feline, canine and equine friends.
Words and pictures by Amanda Sun.
© Amanda Sun 2026. All rights reserved.
——————————————
Disclaimer: This article is intended for general educational and informational purposes only. The discussion and interpretation of scientific research reflect the author’s understanding of the available evidence and should not be taken as definitive conclusions or professional veterinary advice. Research findings are subject to the limitations of individual studies and may not apply to every animal, supplement or formulation. This article does not constitute veterinary or medical advice, diagnosis or treatment recommendations. Always consult a qualified veterinarian before introducing supplements or making changes to your animal’s diet, particularly if your animal has an existing health condition, is taking medication, is pregnant, or is undergoing veterinary treatment. Never delay or discontinue veterinary care based on information in this article.
——————————————
If you’d like to dive deeper down the turmeric rabbit hole, here are the sources I used….
Clutterbuck AL, Mobasheri A, Shakibaei M, Allaway D, Harris P. Interleukin-1beta-induced extracellular matrix degradation and glycosaminoglycan release is inhibited by curcumin in an explant model of cartilage inflammation. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2009 Aug;1171:428-35. doi: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2009.04687.x. PMID: 19723086.
Corbee RJ. The efficacy of a nutritional supplement containing green-lipped mussel, curcumin and blackcurrant leaf extract in dogs and cats with osteoarthritis. Vet Med Sci. 2022 May;8(3):1025-1035. doi: 10.1002/vms3.779. Epub 2022 Mar 10. PMID: 35274496; PMCID: PMC9122405.
Fletcher, S. P. S., & Gough, S. L. (2019). Pre-treatment with turmeric (Curcuma xanthorrhiza) reduces the severity of squamous gastric ulceration in feed restricted horses. Journal of Animal Science and Research, 3(1). https://doi.org/10.16966/2576-6457.125
Forsyth JE, Sinha M, Bandekar A, Mistree D, Parida M, Nash E, Nambiar L, Elmera C, Luby SP. Systemic drivers of toxic food adulteration: lead chromate in turmeric across eastern India. NPJ Sci Food. 2026 May 6;10(1):220. doi: 10.1038/s41538-026-00867-8. PMID: 42091913; PMCID: PMC13357593.
Jain S, Patil SG, Chinta G, Alluri KV. TamaFlex™-A novel nutraceutical blend improves lameness and joint functions in working horses. Vet Med Sci. 2022 Sep;8(5):1936-1945. doi: 10.1002/vms3.894. Epub 2022 Jul 29. PMID: 35905197; PMCID: PMC9514497.
Lefort-Holguin M, Delsart A, Otis C, Moreau M, Barbeau-Grégoire M, Mellet F, Biourge V, Lussier B, Pelletier JP, Martel-Pelletier J, Troncy E. Efficacy and Safety of a Diet Enriched with EPA and DHA, Turmeric Extract and Hydrolysed Collagen in Management of Naturally Occurring Osteoarthritis in Cats: A Prospective, Randomised, Blinded, Placebo- and Time-Controlled Study. Animals (Basel). 2024 Nov 16;14(22):3298. doi: 10.3390/ani14223298. PMID: 39595350; PMCID: PMC11591455.
Tripathi SD, Suresh S, Khangal P, Sasi Kumar M, Nandini HS. Protective effects of turmerosaccharides rich extract of Curcuma longa L. in osteoarthritic dogs. Front Vet Sci. 2026 Mar 18;13:1536366. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2026.1536366. PMID: 41929275; PMCID: PMC13041522.