What’s Yucca Schidigera and Why Is It in My Pet’s Food?

Have you seen this ingredient in your pet’s food and wondered what it was? What’s it for? Why is Yucca Schidigera in Pet Food?

Yucca Schidigera is a herbaceous plant of the lily family that is native to the Mojave Desert, Chihuahuan Desert and Sonoran Desert of southeastern California, Baja California, New Mexico, southern Nevada and Arizona. Yucca Schidigera is also commonly known as Mojave Yucca, Spanish Dagger or just Yucca.

Is Yucca Schidigera Good For My Pet?

Yucca was purportedly used in Native American herbal medicine as a cure for dandruff, headaches and arthritis. It’s also been used for centuries as a deodorizer and to make soap. Studies show that adding Yucca Schidigera to animal feed (including your pet’s food) might help support joint health. Yucca has high numbers of saponins and polyphenolics which might help reduce joint inflammation. Bottom line? Yucca is an all-natural ingredient that offers anti-arthritic and anti-inflammatory properties.

Why is Yucca Schidigera in My Pet’s Food?

Yucca Schidigera is an ingredient that can be added to pet food as an extract, where the plant is shredded, dried and ground. It might also be added as a juice from the leaves. Yucca is primarily added to pet food to help reduce the odor of their waste. Research shows that adding Yucca to pet food helps to reduce waste-odor by as much as 26%.

In Redbarn Canned Patés for dogs and cats, you can find Yucca Schidigera, along with other functional ingredients that help cater to your dog’s particular health needs.