I've been supplementing my dogs raw food with , Omega 3, Vitamins, E,C cod liver oil etc...
I was browsing the web and read that supplements aren't required here

Any takes..

We give these two books to every new leerburg puppy customer- as a result we never get questions on diet

# Raw Dog Food - By Carina Beth MacDonald
# Natural Nutrition for Dogs and Cats - by Kymythy R. Schultze

http//:leerburg.com/feedingdogs.htm

Yes Ed,

Cindy had recommended those books and I will be ordering them soon. But, in the meanwhile I was wondering what people's opinion on the article that I added.

Regards,

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I've been supplementing my dogs raw food with , Omega 3, Vitamins, E,C cod liver oil etc...
I was browsing the web and read that supplements aren't required here ...Any takes..

Here's one:

I agree that some of the supplements listed on that web page are probably useless. But she includes a few that virtually every vet college in the country has researched recently and found beneficial. Also, the list is just plopped there....no references, no research, no reasons for any item. Just that person's whim, apparently.

You can do much better in terms of research. Good job, ordering the books!

I have been feeding raw for almost 15 years. Supplements I use and recommend:

Oil with Omega's. I use salmon oil, hemp seed oil, olive oil and sometimes a 'pet oil' that you can buy at pet stores/health food stores. Obviously, I don't give ALL the above but use one then may switch to another to give my dog a variety. Generally, they get oil in every meal (I feed once a day and fast once a week).

Vit C. I give this in small amounts every couple of days, sometimes every meal depending on the dog. Older dogs get it daily, dogs under stress (working/competing etc) get it daily. I know that dogs produce thier own Vit C, however, I don't beleive that they produce enough to counter the toxicity that they encounter daily.

Cod Liver Oil MUST be used sparingly!!!! I do use this in some of the winter months with the dogs but in very small amounts. Where I live you literally will NOT see the sun for months on end.

Vit E is given VERY rarely. Might give it once a week. This vit is stored in fat and thus you can get toxic on it.

I give a bit of garlic during the 'flea season' every couple of days. Otherwise don't use.

I NEVER give brewers yeast. WAY too many dogs are allergic to this and it is not needed.

I absolutely beleive that dogs need veggies/fruit and they usually get this daily. I might skip a day here or there etc. I juice mine and then put the pulp back with the juice to feed.

I do also give other 'supplements'. Usually a very good dog vit/mineral powder or vitamin and again I switch often to give the dog a variety. I DON"T give this daily but several times a week. Again it will depend on the dog, it's age, health, stress level they will be experiencing etc.

Generally, I also feel that dogs are over supplemented on raw. But, one has to look at each dog individually. If your dog is having a health crisis and is VERY stressed then they may be very appropriate.

A lot also depends on 'how' and 'what' you are feeding for raw. Are you giving enough variety? Different meats/organs/veggies/fruits etc. The more variety, the better and likley the less you have to supplement. I supplement more when I am travleing as generally the dogs do NOT get the variety or the food that they would get at home.

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I have been feeding raw for almost 15 years. Supplements I use and recommend: ......

One thing I'd add is that the dog's system uses up Vitamin E in processing oil supplements. (This is my understanding, from my reading.)

I definitely agree about fish liver oil, Shelley (as opposed to fish muscle oil); I think the possible toxicity especially from Vitamins A and D in liver oil (but also from the fact that it's liver oil -- liver is a toxin filter) is often overlooked.

Vitamin E is different from the other oil-soluble vitamins (for dogs), as follows:

About Vitamin E, this is quoting myself on an old (February) thread:

Salmon oil for people: Follow the bottle suggestions, assuming they mean a 150-pound person, and adjust accordingly for the dog's weight.

Vitamin E:

The dog RDA is 50 IU per pound of food, but I use considerably more.

I found some of the Vitamin E articles I read explaining why more than the canine RDA of Vitamin E could be tolerated.

This site: http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=2&articleid=710
has this to say:

QUOTE: There are no known Vitamin E toxicities in the dog and cat. Fed even at huge levels, no interruption of bodily functions has been demonstrated. Recommendations on the daily dose are highly variable depending on the source. END

Also, scroll down to the "Vitamin E" heading here:

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FDN/is_2001_Sept/ai_80532259/pg_3

Also looked at the Pitcairn book, which says (a little vaguely) "I include extra Vitamin E in the diet for several reasons. Not only does it aid important body functions, such as fighting disease, but it also helps minimize the effects of pollution."

JMO! I'm not a health professional.

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I absolutely beleive that dogs need veggies/fruit and they usually get this daily. I might skip a day here or there etc. I juice mine and then put the pulp back with the juice to feed.

I feel the same way.. I try to add a variety of veggies ie. carrots, zuchinni,parsley, green leafy veggies,garlic etc..

As regards to the Vitamin E, I tend to go with Connie's view on that matter.

What I'm trying to find is the dose per weight.
I have a 35LB MAL pup. ("a little off the subject" based on what I'm reading I can give up to 10% of bodyweight in food ie.. 3.5LB .. I've tried that.. he EATS THEM ALL!! and still looks to me for MORE!!..

Any ideas of how much of the following should be given (in IU if possible):

Calcium
Omega 3
Cod Liver oil
Alfalfa
Kelp
Vitamin E
Vitamin C
Vitamin A
Vitamin D

Thanks for all the input..

 Quote:

......What I'm trying to find is the dose per weight.
I have a 35LB MAL pup........
Any ideas of how much of the following should be given (in IU if possible):

Calcium
Omega 3
Cod Liver oil
Alfalfa
Kelp
Vitamin E
Vitamin C
Vitamin A
Vitamin D

Thanks for all the input..

Don't supplement calcium. You are feeding RMBs, right? That's the correct calcium-phosphorous ratio. JMO, but I'm not alone. This is the most important paragraph in my reply.

Instead of cod liver oil, if you use fish *muscle* oil (salmon oil), you'll avoid oversupplementing vitamins that can be toxic (A and D) and the other toxicities possible in liver oil. Omega 3s are in the fish oil. Assume that the serving on the bottle refers to a 150-pound person and adjust for weight. (If you're buying a pet brand, it will say.)

We covered vitamin E earlier in the thread, I think.

Vitamin C -- depends on what else you're feeding. If you want to add some, it's safe (IMO) because it will be excreted in urine (and, in fact, in diarrhea if you give way too much) if unneeded.........I like Shelley's explanation (earlier in this thread) about when to use C. I do use 100 mg. often with the big dog and 50 mg. with the small one. (Aside from E, most of the items you want to use aren't measured in IUs.)

A and D -- you probably don't need to supplement (JMO) unless you have no sunlight and have to consider D.

Kelp: I use a pinch of powdered (like a light sprinkle of salt) or a little strip of dried every other day, for the minerals. JMO.

I don't use alfalfa because of having dogs with allergies, but I'm sure someone can answer that.

http://www.njboxers.com/faqs.htm#sup

All JMO! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Good questions!

Thanks for the info..

I'll stop the calcium since he does get Chicken necks/backs, eggs (with shell) to name a few... I suppose that his calcium intake is fine.. I was supplementing with Calcium cause he was (still is) teething and his ears weren't standing (not even before teething began). His ears are standing most of the time on walks and when he's alert so I'm not worried anymore.

Ps. I'm having great success with convincing people to switch to the RAW diet.. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

When I first started my dog on raw around 3 years ago (thanks to this board!) I supplemented all the time. Vit E, Vit C, kelp, alfalfa, salmon oil, and a glucosamine supplement similar to Grand Flex. When his blood was checked all his panels were normal. (nice to know I wasn't screwing anything up) Now I don't supplement on a regular basis (lazy I guess) and his blood panels are still great. He does love his fruit and veggies though and he gets lots of veggie/fruit mush as well as pieces of any kind of fruit we happen to be eating at the time (we all share). Actually last night he had half an apple and some orange segments while we were watching NHL playoffs.