The more research I do the more I'm reading about the lack of quality control concerning dog vitimans, minerals, and other supplements. I would like to know if anyone knows of a Consumer web site that provides lists of manufacturers that are not practicing or adhereing to their claims. Are there any that provide this information to the public free of charge? I do believe that this is a "BUYER BEWARE" market and just because a lable says a product has a guaranteed X amount of this and X amount of that some independent laboratories such as consumerlabs.com are finding that this is not so in some or many products. Especially in the area of multi-vitamins for dogs. Consumer Labs is a membership type web site so I would like to find one or two that supply the same information for free, if there is such a thing.

I think too many people are in too big of a hurry, if their like me <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> and jump into something before they do their reasearch. Most of us take advise from anyone but never asking the questions that really need to be asked. I mean people keep throwing about remedies, supplements, etc; but never tell a person about how this stuff was tested or if the Company has had problems with quality control. Not all name brands are equal and I think we trust too much in what we read on the labels. We should be able too but I don't believe this is always the best way to select vitamins, supplements, etc. I think people in general want to do the very best thing for their dogs diet, even spending more money than they can really afford. I am guilty of this. So, I guess my point would be to do everything possible to make sure that if I am spending the extra money that's hard for some of us to come by it would be nice to "GET" what you are supposed to be paying for.

Glenn

don't know about you, but i feed raw. I read, researched and asked a lot of questions before i started - for those very reasons. but ultimately the decision came down to me feeling comfortable with it. not because of the anecdotal shiny coat and clean teeth crap, but because logically it makes sense to me.

as for quality control and 'dog vitamins' and supplements, my advice is to do what i do - keep it simple. i buy the best quality meats i can afford (and find). i choose the veggies and other ingredients that go in. as far as supplements, i buy human quality, name brands from local health food stores or vitamin shops.

you may feel that people jump into things too fast, and some probably do, but i think there is also a tendency for people to worry about these things too much, and fall into the trap of "oh my god, i have to get this and this and that and it has to be from brand x and so and so said this what am i gonna do?"

keep it simple. do what you feel comfortable with. pay attention to your dog's health. if you're worried about the results, get blood work done. often.

but i don't think it's worth sweating over. the idea of feeding raw or supplementing quality kibble is to give the best overall results for your dog AND YOU.

undue stress or endless second guessing don't fall into that category for me.

good luck.
cb

I buy name brand human quality supplements from http://www.vitaglo.com

I could be wrong but I think I just read in a book I'm reading that the guidelines on Animal Supplements are more stringent that that of Human Grade Supplements. This outta get things going <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> while I dig through these books to see if I was reading things correctly.

Glenn

well, then the answer seems pretty clear: don't supplement.

I misread the paragraph in this book that talked about animal supplements having more regulations than human grade supplements. This is "not" the case. Human grade supplements are regulated more stiffly. Sorry. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Glenn

There are very few animal supplements that are higher quality that human ones. Cosequin and Glycoflex are the only examples that I know of.

That's why I buy human grade meat for my dog as well instead of the stuff too bad to even be hotdogs (it's got to be bad to not go into the shady looking bright red ones).

Lauren I knew I read something about stiffer regulations for animal supplements. It pertains to Nutraceuticals. Thanks for the information you provided. I would be interested in what human grade supplements you are giving and the amounts per meal, per day, etc.

Glenn