I'm having no luck finding a dose to give a 115 lb. Rottweiler (weight problem due to Prednisone). I purchased 25g containers of Ascorbic Acid powder but don't know how much to give!! (Was recommended in Dr.Pitcairn's book.)

http://www.b-naturals.com/newsletter/category/vitamins/

The amounts listed are minimums. Should be a good place to start.

You'll know you gave too much if the dog gets diarrhea.

Thank you very much Mr. Wise. I read yesterday that 1/4 tsp. of Ascorbic Acid is about 1000 mg...I will start with half that since she has a very sensitive system.

Was this powder a good thing to get? I've read about four or five different sources of Vit. C but this is what the pharmacy ordered for me when I asked for sodium ascorbate.

Oh, one more thing...should I dissolve it in water or give it mixed with her food?

Powder is okay. I would give it with food as I have read it can cause stomach distress. You can also buy Ester-C and try that with a pill to give 2 times a day...it usually can found in 500 mg. So...500 mg once a day, then 2x a day, etc. till loose stool then back off of the dose.

Moist food if possible I would think.

Edited by Jo Harker (05/29/2009 01:43 PM)
Edit reason: added moist food.

Thank you Ms. Harker! I would like to stick with the powder if possible--it's very inexpensive. I know, I know, furry family members can be expensive but we're spending hundreds of dollars a month on this one and are going without ourselves to ensure she gets what she needs...but I just have to be careful with the spending, ha ha.

I will start with an 1/8 of a tsp. today with a late afternoon snack.

Totally understand...both of mine have medical problems so I understand budgeting and doing what is best within the limits of that budget. Good for you!

Just when I needed a gin and tonic most, we stopped buying alcohol to ensure she doesn't go without, ha ha. Funny, we have less company come over now that our bar is no longer stocked and anyone who wants to drink on the patio has to BYOB, ha ha. Nice and quiet though.

I just found a bottle of 1000 mg time-released Vit. C tablets in the pantry with rose hips...human stuff of course, I bought it in the winter for myself but started a multi-vitamin with enough C in it instead. Could I give her this?

Oh, what do you know? I have some echinacea too! I've read varying information on giving it to dogs? What's your opinion?

(BTW, Could your dog get ANY cuter????)

I don't do herbs much with dogs, so I can't give you an opinion on the rosehips o echinacea.

I do know some dog supplements contain rosehips, but you would need to find a journal online of testing or some other holistic site to tell you whether it would be okay. Sorry.

Oh...and thanks for the compliment on Lucy! She is my sweet girl. She has a "snappy" personality! She is a lovey dog, too.

Hi Carrie,

I just wanted to add one comment here about Vitamin C.
I recently purchased some powdered product from Berte's Naturals and it appeared like a good product. But upon returning home with it, I looked at the ingredients and found that they had added "sorbitol" and fruit flavor.
I believe that "sorbitol" is a sugar alcohol and has no place being added to something given to dogs. (this is just my opinion)
So, I returned it to the place I bought it from.
I do believe that a powedered form of Vitamin C is the easiest to give the dogs, just read the label to make sure there aren't any ingredients that should not be there.
I think Michael was just giving you the info for dosage purposes, but I just wanted to add my 2 cents.

I happened to find a good price for Ester C in a pill form, and I just place the pill under some wax paper and smash with a rubber mallet, and it turns to powder quite easy.
It is easiest put into ground meats or into a small amount of pure canned pumpkin. If you feed any veggie mix, you can throw it in there easily too.
Anyhow, that is what I do, again just my 2 cents!