[Corky/Max]

Vitamins for your Pets

Vitamins for your Pets
By: Dr. George Obikoya


When trace minerals are deficient in our food and water, the body's defense systems cannot function properly. Likewise, animals lacking proper amounts of copper, iron, selenium, and others, have been found to be much more likely to develop diseases and have shorter lifespans.

Most animals are usually prescribed drugs, specifically antibiotics and vitamins, at times when they are ill. However, antibiotics kill all germs and rarely discriminate between good and bad germs. When the 'good' germs are constantly assaulted by antibiotics, the 'bad' germs can become super-germs which may then become impervious to drugs. Keeping the immune system healthy in the first place can vastly reduce the need for constant antibiotic treatment. Indeed, antibiotics are only indicated when the body cannot naturally fight against bacteria, not simply when you have a cold but are healthy enough to fight it off.

Vitamins help to fortify the immune system and also control the body's appropriation of minerals. However, if there are no vitamins and no trace minerals, the body has no ability to use the vitamins to help fight disease and therefore the vitamins are useless. It is for that reason that replacing lost minerals in both your diet and your pet's diet is essential.

Our pets need vitamins and minerals. Just like for us, vitamins and minerals are very important nutrients. In today’s environment, they may need them more than we had originally thought as current diets rob us of much beneficial nutrients. Vitamins perform many important functions for our pets. If your pets depend on canned or dried food, it is necessary to consider supplementing their diet with vitamins and minerals. Our pets too live in a polluted world full of toxic chemicals. Besides, they live closer to the ground, closer to pollutants that emanate from synthetic carpets, or to cleaning solvents used on the floor, or to the herbicides and pesticides sprayed in the yard. Indeed, lawn fertilizers have been shown to increase the chance of disease in dogs that play on sprayed lawns.

Pets eat highly processed food, possibly the most highly processed on the planet. Often the ingredients are of questionable origin. Would you eat dog or cat food? Many pet foods are loaded with chemicals. Such as artificial colors that make the food look pretty to your eyes. Some of them are banned in other countries. It seems plausible that some pets are sensitive to such chemicals. The food may look good to you but it may be causing grief for your animal.

Did you know that advertising claims of "complete and balanced" pet diets are based on uncertain minimum nutritional requirements designed for maintenance of barely adequate health, not optimum health? Also it is hardly comforting to know that many vitamins and minerals are lost in the processing or are simply missing to begin with.

Vitamins are classified into 2 main groups: Fat soluble and water soluble. Vitamins A, D, E and K are fat soluble dissolved in fats. A is the skin vitamin. D is for healthy bones and teeth. E is the antioxidant vitamin and K is the blood clotting vitamin. Liver is an excellent food source for all these vitamins. Unfortunately you need to ensure adequate vitamin intake to stay healthy long term. The B vitamin group and vitamin C are water soluble. This means that they are easily lost through cooking and processing. However overdosing is not as big a concern as it is with the fat soluble vitamins. The problem is they flush out of your system regularly, so adequate intake is imperative.

The B family of vitamins is for healthy muscle, skin and blood. Vitamin C, the stress, antioxidant vitamin is a popular vitamin for us humans. Carnivores can make their own vitamin C but lately it is believed that they may not be making enough especially in stressful situations. Again liver and kidney are good food sources for pets. This does not mean liver flavor though!

How would we suspect a vitamin deficiency in your pet? Your dog or cat will show us the signs. For example: poor skin and hair coat when deficient in vitamins A and / or B; Your pet will be anemic and constantly tired if deficient in vitamin B; and will have cancer and heart problems if deficient in vitamin D.

Hopefully, you buy your animal a premium quality food: food that has no preservatives and artificial colors. You also may share some nutritious extras with your pet, things like carrots, broccoli, whole grain rice, oatmeal, and yogurt.

If you want to improve your pet's health you need to provide better than adequate nutrition. That means more than what is available in those bags of pet food. You need to fortify your animal's diet with extra vitamins and minerals.

That will help strengthen your pet internally so it can fight off the effects of contaminants and stress. Supplementation may also help your pet compensate for possible genetic defects that are becoming increasingly common, particularly among pure breed dogs and cats. Animal breeders supplement their animals with vitamin and mineral supplements. They will tell you that pet food is not enough to protect animals or enable them to achieve optimal health.

Well-meaning pet owners who supplement their animals' diets may, in fact, be helping them very little, and possibly causing problems. This is because many pet supplements contain low-quality vitamins and potentially allergenic ingredients such as brewer's yeast and artificial flavors and dyes.

Minerals are vital to digestion, growth, repair of tissues, to strong bones, teeth, claws, skin and hair coat. Major minerals such as calcium, magnesium, iron and potassium are often present in supplements, but often enough, trace minerals are often lacking. Yet they are equally important to our pets.

Most pet supplements also lack vitamin C because dogs and cats, as do most mammals, produce their own vitamin C internally. However, dogs and cats are minimal producers compared to other animals. Vitamin C performs many critical tasks in your pets body. It is a natural pain reliever and detoxifier. It is a major antioxidant and contributor to immune function. And it plays a major role in the building of collagen, the connective tissue that literally holds the body together. It is, therefore, vital to your pet. Ensure adequate intake of vitamin c for your animal.

You should consult your veterinarian on the most appropriate vitamin supplement for your pet and the recommended doses of the vitamins and minerals it needs, as each pet is a bit different.

A good multivitamin is the foundation of health and nutrition.
more to follow on vtamins and minerals, etc.
(coming as soon as I can get it all together)

[Corky/Max]

Vitamin C and its Role in Stress Management, Bone Metabolisim and its Influence on the Skin and Coat of the Dog:

Vitamin C and it's Role in Stress Management, Bone Metabolism and its influence on the skin and coat of the dog - Chinaroad Lowchens of Australia
More on Vitamin C:
Vitamin C
- A deficiency in vitamin C is a deficiency in the healing, glandular, circulatory, immune, and regenerative abilities of the body. Vitamin C is a major factor in the formation and maintenance of bones and tissues, prevents cancer, and may prevent arteriosclerosis.
- The classic vitamin C deficiency is scurvy, with gum disease, loss of teeth, weakened bones, bleeding, bad breath, and general debilitation. Signs of clinical scurvy have been apparent under stress.
- In dogs, Vitamin C can totally resolve the problems of dysplastic hips in younger dogs and arthritis in older ones, as well as help or cure spinal myelopathy, ruptured discs, allergies, viral infections (including distemper), and skin problems. After the "cures," the dog needs to stay on C, but in lesser amounts.
- The vitamin is an antioxidant, a pollution fighter that cleans toxins from the blood and tissues.
- It helps protect against the side-effects of some veterinary drugs (including steroids/cortisone), and it is a major pain reliever.
- It keeps the teeth strong in aging dogs and retards the aging process.
- Supplementing with vitamin C is a major disease preventive; therefore it's emphasized in the daily feeding plans.
- Supplementing with vitamin C can mean the difference between life and death in the case of a sick dog.
- Contrary to myth and rumor, vitamin C will not cause kidney stones, it dissolves them.

[Corky/Max]

The B Complex Vitamins

- This range of vitamins is necessary for a healthy nervous system.
- These vitamins require each other to work and so are taken in the B-complex unit, with occasional additions of the other single B vitamins.
- Mouth, eyes, skin, gastrointestinal tract, and reproductive organs are B deficiency disease sites, as well as behavior, intelligence, and brain and nerve functions.
- Stress depletes the B vitamins, as it does vitamin C, and so does extremely cold weather.

The individual B vitamins known to be vital for a healthy dog are:

Vitamin B-1 (Thiamine)
- Results of this deficiency are brain damage, seizures, and loss of movement control, potentially leading to death.
- Treatment with the vitamin by injection effects full recovery within 24 hours.
- In dogs, B-1 deficiency signs are lack of appetite, vomiting, unsteadiness, and spasticity of the hind legs.
- Dogs also respond to B-1 as a flea repellant.
A tablespoon of brewer's yeast contains 1.25 mg of B-1, but some dogs are allergic to yeast.


Vitamin B-2 (Riboflavin)
- A B-2 deficiency may lead to cataracts in dogs.
- Bloodshot eyes and conjunctivitis are often deficiency symptoms.
- This vitamin is necessary for red blood cell formation, antibody production, food metabolism, and growth.
- Riboflavin prevents birth defects and dandruff.


Vitamin B-3 (Niacin)
- B-3 deficiency may cause black tongue in dogs which is the equivalent to human pellagra.
- Niacin is an immense help in controlling seizures and reducing behavioral problems.
- It reduces cholesterol levels, improves blood circulation, and aids in central nervous system functioning.
- Raw meat and brewers yeast are good niacin sources; cooking destroys many B-complex vitamins.
- Because of the hot flush effect, niacin is usually given only as part of the full B-complex or as niacinamide.


Vitamin B-5 (Pantothenic Acid)
- B-5 adds to dog's longevity.
- It is important for good immune system and adrenal function, and vitamin and food utilization.
- It is essential in fighting allergies, inflammations, asthma, and infections.
- Vitamin C and B-5 together are highly important for skin diseases and allergies.
- The presence of allergies or infections is considered a B-5 deficiency symptom.
- It also helps dogs to combat stress, reduce depression, and ease anxiety.


Vitamin B-6 (Pyridoxine)
- B-6 deficiency symptoms include failure to grow and thrive, epilepsy, anemia, water retention, and kidney stones or kidney damage in dogs.
- Its deficiency is also implicated in artery disease, cancer, arthritis, asthma, and allergies.
- B-6 is essential for the metabolism of protein.
- It is required in the utilization of some minerals for a healthy nervous system, red blood cell production, good brain function, and a strong immune system.


Vitamin B-9 (Folic Acid)
- B-9 deficiency results in reproductive problems, birth defects when the mother is deficient, weight loss and anemia, erratic appetite, low energy, seizures, eye discharge, depression and anxiety, as well as decreased immune function in dogs.
- Red blood cell formation, DNA synthesis, and protein metabolism depend on this vitamin.

Vitamin B-12 (Cobalamin)
- Dogs can suffer from B-12 deficiency anemia, but how much they actually require is unknown.
- Supplementing pregnant females with vitamin B-12 results in stronger, larger, and healthier young, with better disease resistance.
- This vitamin prevents nerve damage, aids fertility, and promotes normal growth and development.
- It is necessary for normal digestion and proper food absorption; raw liver is the best animal food source.


Biotin
- Biotin deficiency results in hair loss and in hair and skin disorders in dogs, but the exact requirement for it are unknown in both.
- This B vitamin is essential for thyroid and adrenal health, strong nervous systems and nerve tissue, healthy reproduction, normal sweat glands and bone marrow, and healthy skin.
- It is necessary for utilization of fat, proteins, and carbohydrates in the body.
- Biotin is a cure for dogs that eat their feces; they may be looking for this vitamin, which is produced to some extent in the intestines. Raw egg whites contain an enzyme that depletes biotin. For this reason, eggs fed to dogs should be cooked to deactivate this enzyme.

[Corky/Max]

Vitamin D
- Vitamin D deficiency leads to rickets, a bone deformity disease in dogs.
- This vitamin prevents osteoporosis and hypocalcemia, and is essential for normal teeth, bones, and growth; and in the absorption of calcium and phosphorus.
- Vitamin D in nature is formed on the animal or human skin by sunlight. The vitamin is not included in most pet foods.
- Cod liver oil is a prime source.
- Little is known about animal requirements, but tropical zoo animals deprived of sunlight in northern winters need supplements to prevent crooked bones.
- Other functions include maintenance of mineral status; skeletal structure; muscle contraction; blood clotting; nerve conduction; cell signaling; phosphorous balance



Vitamin E
- Vitamin E is one of the wonder vitamins, and dogs need supplements.
- It is essential for healing diseases of the circulatory system (and preventing them), including heart tachycardia and arteriosclerosis.
- It promotes fertility, slows aging, prevents cataracts, boosts the immune system, protects the body against pollutants and cancer, and heals the skin.
- Vitamin E boosts muscle power and endurance in working dogs.
- It helps in dissolving tumors, especially in breasts, and in relieving posterior paralysis and disc problems in dogs.
- The vitamin oxygenates the blood and improves the function of all internal organs; its antioxidant abilities protect the lungs.
- This is one of the vitamins to supplement daily as part of a routine diet; it is a must for dogs with skin ailments.
- Other functions include defense against oxidative damage via free radical scavenging.

[Corky/Max]

Calcium and Phosphorus
- Calcium and phosphorus must be in balance in the dog, along with magnesium.
- Few animals are phosphorus deficient, but calcium is another story.
- Calcium deficiencies can cause eclampsia in breeding and nursing female dogs.
- This mineral is essential for bone, tooth, and muscle growth; blood clotting; normal heart rate; and transmission of nerve impulses.
- It helps the body to eliminate lead and other heavy metal poisoning.
- Calcium deficiencies (sometimes brought on by high meat diets, as meat contains an unbalanced amount of phosphorus) can result in nervousness, lameness, muscle spasms, heart palpitations, eczema, decrease in bone density, osteoporosis, gum erosion, increased cholesterol levels, seizures, hemorrhages, high blood pressure, arthritis, breeding difficulties, and bone fractures.
- For dogs, supplement high amounts of calcium only in the first year of life, or during pregnancy and nursing, as too much can cause kidney stones (use vitamin C along with calcium to prevent this totally).
- Many people believe that calcium deficiency causes hip dysplasia in dogs, but the lack of vitamin C is really the cause.
- Vitamin D is required to activate calcium.

Iron
- Iron can be deficient in both dogs, causing anemia, fatigue, diarrhea, pale gums, and hair loss particularly in animals fed on low meat diets.
- Dogs with low iron levels are especially susceptible to hookworm infestations.
- Iron is needed in the creation of hemoglobin (red blood cells), enzyme function, immunity, and energy.


Magnesium
- Magnesium helps to detoxify the body of lead and other heavy metals, and is important for the nervous system, enzyme function, heart rate, bones, and muscles.
- Deficiency symptoms include heart arrhythmia, high blood pressure, seizures, bone pain, nervousness, irritability, twitching, depression, muscle spasms, and retarded weight gain.
- For dogs with arthritis, a calcium/magnesium tablet is a great pain reliever. (Dogs should seldom be fed aspirin.)
- Calcium/magnesium tablets are calmative as well, and for arthritis work best with vitamin C.
- Dogs that chew plaster are probably looking for minerals missing from their diet, primarily magnesium and calcium.



Manganese
- Manganese is necessary for enzyme utilization, lactation, normal reproduction, bone, cartilage and collagen growth, fat and protein assimilation, blood sugar regulation, healthy nerves and immune systems, and normal functioning of the pituitary gland (that regulates all of the other glands).
- It is needed for utilization of thiamine and vitamin E.
- Animal requirements have not been determined.

[Corky/Max]

Potassium and Sodium
- Potassium and sodium must be kept in balance in the body.
- It is very rare that, other than in cases of heat exhaustion, sodium needs to be supplemented in dogs.
- Heat exhaustion with loss of equilibrium, decreased water intake, dry skin, hair loss, retarded growth, and an inability to maintain body water balance are signs of sodium deficiency.
- Potassium deficiency symptoms include restlessness, heart arrhythmia, poor growth, and muscle paralysis, tendency to dehydration, and heart or kidney lesions.
- Potassium helps prevent strokes.
- Some diuretic and heart medications deplete potassium in the body.
- An excellent and easy source of potassium replacement is apple cider vinegar; place 1 tsp to each pint of water in the dog's water bowl daily. (Never use aluminum or galvanized bowls.)

Selenium
- Selenium deficiency diseases include heart disease, cancer, tumors, immune deficiencies, lameness, muscular weakness, skin problems, low fertility, and retarded growth rates.
- This trace mineral is required in very minute amounts as an antioxidant that helps to slow aging and regulate the pancreas (blood sugar).
- It works very well with vitamin E.
- It's been recognized as essential in small amounts in dogs.

[Corky/Max]

Final Thoughts:

There always has been (and probably will be in the future), some controversy regarding vitamin supplementation. Many people feel supplements are very necessary. They feel that even when feeding a high quality food, some of the vitamins may have been destroyed by the processing or storage.

Dog owners feeding a homemade diet or a diet high in table scraps should give a high quality vitamin/mineral supplement. Ill or recovering dogs who may have a poor appetite should also be given a good vitamin/mineral supplement since they are not receiving their daily requirements through the food they eat.

The possibility of vitamin toxicity with the fat-soluble vitamins, especially Vitamin A and D, which are stored in the body, is of concern to some researchers and veterinarians. But the truth is the amount of Vitamin A and D needed to develop toxicity is many times higher than what is contained in a high-quality balanced vitamin/mineral supplement.

Toxicities do not occur when you give your dog the recommended amount of high-quality, commercially prepared vitamin/mineral supplements. This is not to say over-supplementation can not occur. Supplements must be chosen with great care and large numbers of different supplements should not be used together unless prescribed by a veterinarian.

Not every dog has the same requirements and even an individual's needs will change over time. Puppies, a pregnant dog, an ill or 'senior' dog all have different nutritional needs therefore vitamins and supplements should be chosen accordingly.

If you have any questions about choosing the right vitamins or supplements for your dog, talk to your veterinarian or a qualified pet nutritionist.
Me talking here---More than likely your vet will not be of much help here--but a pet nutritionist should be!! Check out some books on the subject (ask your librarian for some books on vitamins for dogs, etc.) Check out the web. I'd be checking for the proper amount mainly! I do have a book that gives the amounts. Not promising to post this info but I may in the next few days--But wish everyone would find this book: Earl Mindell's Nutrition & Health for Dogs. This is a very informative book and one you'd be glad to have. You prob. still can find it on Amazon or Ebay--used at a very small cost. My book is 11 yrs. old but would not part with it for another one on the subjects he talks about. You could try finding it through the library too. This author has R.PH., PH.D. after his name and has written many books on nutrition and vitamin, supplements, etc. (including human ) The thread I have done here is not from his book--I got everything off the web---I would rather of quoted this book--But way too much work---So if you can find his book--Don't think you'll be sorry!

[lil mutt]

wow... nice list...

This is really a very informative thread... I'll share this to my friend.

[Corky/Max]

? Appendix A ? Act 4 - Scene 8 - Food Supplementation ? natural homemade dog and cat food

Once you get on this site--You will prob. want to read the whole site from beginning to end ----A lot of very good and interesting info to be had!

[Corky/Max]

Ester-C is the best! See why below.

New Forms and New Uses in Dogs

by L. Phillips Brown, D.V.M.
The common wisdom is that humans, other primates, guinea pigs, and a few birds need to get vitamin C in their diets. Since the rest of the animals produce it within their own bodies, they no doubt make enough, right? Well, maybe not. In this article, a doctor of veterinary medicine looks at the effects of vitamin C supplementation in dogs and its benefit in fighting arthritis, and other ailments.

Dogs of all ages suffer with various joint and spinal disorders, including hip dysplasia, osteoarthritis, non-specific arthritis, osteochrondritis, spondylitis and spondylosis. Treatment often consists of rest. surgery and/or steroids, nonspecific anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), aspirin, penicillamine or methotrexate. Many therapeutic compounds produce only short-term benefits and may actually accelerate the progression of joint destruction.

Nutritional Considerations

Vitamin C is a vital nutrient in bone and cartilage metabolism. Although dogs, unlike humans, can manufacture their own vitamin C, they may not produce enough to counter the effects of aging, stress, inherited dysfunctions, environmental irritants and poor quality or high fat pet foods.

In fact, early studies in dogs and horses suggest that daily vitamin C supplementation might be beneficial in reducing chronic inflammation. Unfortunately; ordinary vitamin C may cause gastrointestinal upsets i dogs. A form of vitamin C that would promote higher levels of intracellular ascorbic acid without negative side effects would be a useful and unique product.

Clinical Study

The effect of different forms of vitamin C on various locomotor dysfunctions of dogs were investigated by veterinarians at The Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Utah. Over 100 case studies were evaluated, using varying strengths and combinations of mineral ascorbates, ascorbic acid and microcrystalline cellulose during a six-month period. The results indicate that a patented vitamin C ascorbate / vitamin C metabolite complex, administered orally, may have application for the reduction of discomfort associated with nonspecific, chronic inflammatory disorders of dogs. The vitamin C ascorbate / metabolite complex used in the study was Ester-C.

Product Background

According to the manufacturer, Inter-Cal Corporation, of Prescott, Arizona, Ester-C is a patented ascorbate supplement containing calcium ascorbate, naturally occurring dehydroascorbate and the vitamin C metabolite, threonate. Threonate permits ascorbate to be more rapidly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, to cross cell membranes more efficiently, reach higher cellular levels and be excreted more slowly than ordinary vitamin C. Ester-C ascorbate is pH neutral and believed to be water and partially fat soluble.

Mechanism Of Action

Vitamin C may act as an immunoresponsive and chrondrogenerative agent. In degenerative (i.e., aging) or inflammatory conditions, collagen breakdown is excessive, resulting in joint discomfort and skeletal changes. A product that would provide high and prolonged levels of ascorbic acid would help compression resistance of cartilage, mobilized white blood cells to the site of inflammation, and enhance prostaglandin synthesis. The net result would be increased comfort and mobility.

Conclusion

78 percent of the study dogs receiving Ester-C calcium ascorbate showed improved mobility within four to five days.

The consistency and degree of response demonstrated that Ester-C calcium ascorbate provided symptomatic relief to the study dogs suffering from selected chronic joint and musculoskeletal disorders. The findings that the condition of many of the "improved" dogs deteriorated rapidly upon discontinuance of Ester-C ascorbate further verified its usefulness as primary or adjunctive therapy. These studies reinforced the earlier observations that supplemental Ester-C calcium ascorbate corrected mobility problems of dogs and horses.

The findings suggest that, although dogs can manufacture endogenous ascorbic acid, the amount produced my not be sufficient to prevent or counteract stresses associated with aging, injury or joint malpositioning.

From the results of this study, there is significant evidence to recommend oral Ester-C calcium ascorbate in the management of non-specific musculoskeletal disorders of dogs.

(c) L. Phillips Brown, DVM

References

Adkins, T. O. and Kronfield, D.S.: Diet of racing sled dogs affects erythrocyte depression by stress. Canadian Vet. J., 23:260-3, 1982

Allen, T.A., and Hand, M.S.: Conditionally Essential Nutrients. Proc. 8th ACVIM Forum, pp. 809-811, 1990

Belfield, W.O.: Chronic subclinical scurvy and canine hip dysplasia. Veterinary Medicine/Small Animal Clinician, 1399-1401, 1976

Berg, G.E.: Polyascorbate (C-Flex), and interesting alternative by problems in support and movement apparatus in dogs. Norwegian Veterinary Journal 102:579-581, 1990

Dockter, C unpublished data.

Donoghue, S., Kronfeld, D.S. and Banta, C.A.: A possible vitamin C requirements in racing sled dogs fed a high fat diet, In: Nutrition Malnutrition and Diet in Dogs and Cats ed. by meyer, H and Kienzle, E. pp. 110-114, Hanover, Tierarztliche Hochschule, 1988.

Fay, M.J.: Possible effect of ascorbic acid metabolites on the cellular uptake of ascorbic acid and other compounds. A dissertation for degree of Doctor of Philosophy, University of Mississippi, 1992

Goodman, S., Vitamin C; The Master Nutrient, Keats Publishing, Inc. Connecticut, 1991

Kronfeld, D.S.: Stress supplements: Protein and vitamin C, Purebred Dogs / Kennel Gazette, 100.10:8-9. 1983

Lewis, D.L., Morris, Jr. M.L., and Hand, M.S.: Small Animal Clinical Nutrition Mark Morris Assoc., Kansas, 1990

Newman, N.L., unpublished data.

Smith, C.: Moro on vitamin C, Natural Pet, Vol2, No. 6:18-19, 1993

Stein, D.: Natural Healing for Dogs and Cats, The crossing press, California, 1993