Antioxidants are thought to be effective in helping to keep cells healthy. At the molecular and cellular levels, antioxidants serve to deactivate certain particles called free radicals. In dogs, free radicals usually come in the form of O2, the oxygen molecule. The oxygen molecule wants to be oxidized, and this oxidation process can sometimes lead to health problems.

Free radicals are the natural by-products of many processes within and among cells. They are also created by exposure to various environmental factors, pollution, for instance.

If allowed to go about their business, these free radicals can cause damage to cell walls, certain cell structures, and genetic material within the cells. In the worst case scenario and over a long time period, such damage can become irreversible and lead to serious problems. This is where antioxidants come into play.

Antioxidants play the housekeeper's role, "sponging up" free radicals before they get a chance to do harm.