Is it ok to give dogs human grade vitamins? Specifically, vit. C, E, fish oil, calcium and kids multi-vitamin. I have been giving my dogs these vitamins for several wks and their noses have become lighter in color.

Vitamin C: Yes. Ester-C is the best because it's more easily absorbed, but it isn't necessary to give a healthy young dog Vitamin C because healthy dogs produce enough on their own.

Fish Oil: Yes.

Vitamin E: Yes, but if you are giving fish oil you don't need to give Vitamin E as well.

Calcium: You may want to ask your vet about this one. I have not seen any calcium supplements for dogs, so I'm not sure.

Kid's Multi-Vitamin: No. There are too many 'extra' things in a multivitamin that dogs do not need, and can actually be harmful to them.


You really should talk to your vet about whether your dog NEEDS these supplements first of all. He or she can also give you the appropriate dosages and tell you whether or not you can use people-versions of the vitamins/minerals/whatever.

Kristen,

I give Fish oil and VITAMIN E. I was told that if given fish oil, I should give VITAMIN E. Is that not correct?

Calcium- Raw egg shell. Excellent supplu of natural Calcium. But only two times a week. Lots of calcium is not good for bones!

Regards,

Rashmi

 Quote:

Calcium- Raw egg shell

This is true, but he was asking about actually supplementing with a calcium pill. That's a heck of a lot more than what the dog can get from eating egg shells or raw bones. You answered that pretty well - no calcium supplements, because too much can cause problems.

I think you're right too about the Vitamin E being paired with fish oil to reap the full benefit, but it has to be the natural version of vitamin E (d-alpha tocopherol) and not the synthetic (dl-alpha tocopherol).

If you feed fish oil YOU NEED to give Vitamin E also.

Omega 3's (like fish oil) can deplete the bodies reserves of Vitamin E so I always recommend you add 200 to 400 IU per day.

Thank you Cindy. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

That is what I give my Pup.

Regards,

Rashmi

Thanks Kristen.

As we are on the topics of supplements. If I were to feed my pup WELLNESS PUPPY FOOD, should I continue to add the supplements like FISH OIL, VITAMIN E and MEGA PET DAILY tablets to his food?

Rashmi

Personally, I don't give any supplements. I don't see the need to, and I think it's a waste of money, especially when feeding such a high quality food; but it's completely up to you as to whether you want to do it or not.

Thanks. But it is not going to harm him in anyway. Correct?
I just don't want to discontinue as I have to leave my pup with the breeder for few days and the breeder does not have a freezer to give RAW food.


Rashmi

 Quote:

Thanks. But it is not going to harm him in anyway. Correct?
I just don't want to discontinue as I have to leave my pup with the breeder for few days and the breeder does not have a freezer to give RAW food.Rashmi

In that case, it's very important not to throw off the ratio (especially of MINERALS in most dog multis) by adding a supplement to a food that contains the RDA.

So, short answer: It depends on what's already in the food the breeder will be giving him. This link will explain what's what. It's not perfect, but it has a lot of detail.
http://www.giveusahome.co.uk/articles/supplement.htm

This paragraph says a lot, IMO.
QUOTE: Supplements

Deciding which vitamins your dog should get and how much of each....very difficult..... over-supplementation can destroy the nutritional balance of the food and can even be hazardous to the dogs health.

Other researchers believe that a certain amount of supplements is needed for several reasons, the most important being that the high temperatures used for processing dog foods can affect the nutritional value of the food. Some ingredients may contain the needed vitamins, but the dog may not be able to digest and metabolize them adequately. The ability to metabolize vitamins can be affected by the quality and type of ingredients being eaten, the dog' s breed heritage, age, general health and medication.

Before deciding to add vitamin supplements to your dog's diet, research the food you are feeding (or would like to feed) and find out about the quality of the ingredients, find out also if vitamins are added to the food. Look at your dog: What is the dog's state of health? Is its coat shiny and healthy? Is the dog happy and energetic? Is it mentally alert? If you have any questions, talk to your veterinarian. END QUOTE

IMO, fish oil plus E are always good. The fish oil (Omega 3s) is beneficial in a dozen ways, but as pointed out by Cindy Easton Rhodes, it can deplete Vitamin E.........hence the pairing.

Also, the ground flaxseed added to some high-end commercial foods is indeed a source of Omega 3s, but with not quite all the acids present in fish (or fish oil). That doesn't mean it's bad -- just that you might not count on it as the sole source of Omega 3 fatty acids.

Certain supplements are great; a multi when a commercial food already containing supplements is being fed can be bad (IMO).