Vitamin C dosage

[Vally]

Wow it’s confusing and my maths is always questionable.

I’ve been giving Bingo, along with 2,000 other supplements, 1/16 tsp Ester-C (vitamin C, but easier on the stomach) twice a day.  The container says 1/4 tsp of Ester-C powder = 1 gram.

I bought some more without realising they were tablets.  1 tablet = 625 mg.

Soooooo (I’m scared of overdosing or underdosing or anything else) can someone please confirm – I work out 1/16 tsp powder is equivalent to 250mg, right???  Therefore, I give half tablet (312ish)mg twice a day.  That sounds okay right???

I think safe dosage for dogs his weight (very proudly 7.8kg – about 17 lbs) is between 500mg and 1000mg daily.  The tablet dosage will just bump it up a smidgen from 500 daily to 625 daily.

Thanks very muchly.

Vally & Bingo.

[Linda]

Oh goodness Vally – another supplement to give Sadie? I’m sorry – I don’t know about the dosage. Or that Vit C was good for them. But makes total sense. Let me know what you find out.

I just started Sade on Glucisamine/Chondroitin again. I took her off when she got the dreaded AIHA. Vet, before illness, said to give it to her and it did seem to help. Since weaning off the Prednisone and now the Atopica, she is really creaking. Plus, her hind legs shake. So, i just started her back – giving her one pill a day – 750mg of Glucosamine and 600mg of Chpondrotin. Anyone else use this?

I do think the acupuncture was helping,but have decided I can’t spend the $500.00, plus at times, that the holistic vet was charging. May start seeing the new holistic vet that went in with the office. I take Sadie. She’s less expensive (I
think….).

I wonder if we could make a list of supplements our AIHA dogs are getting and the benefit? Just a thought…..

Huge hugs to Bingo. Linda and creaky Sadie

[Vally]

Linda, Bingo gets Vitamin C, as I understand (that’s not saying much) it’s good for rheumatoid arthritis but high doses may NOT be good for osteoarthritis.  Vitamin C can also cause stomach problems so Bingo gets Ester-C, which is supposed to be a bit easier on the stomach.

Also Bingo gets green lipped mussel powder rather than <span style=”line-height: 1.428571429;”>glucisamine or chondroitin.  I think this is great stuff for arthritis.  I tell everyone.  Labrador down the road had a very bad limp (hip displasia) and was reluctant to walk anywhere.  They had been to the vet and the next step was a specialist.  Only a young dog, about 2 years old.  I gave her some green lipped mussel to convince her to try for a month – she was quite skeptical and I knew she wouldn’t buy them.  Dog is now fabulous.  It plays football in the park with her kids. She said she can’t believe the change in him.  Took about 2 weeks to start to kick in. </span>

Also, I’d recommend gelatine (I pay a fortune for preservative free – all of ours here have preservatives) but you can get the Knox brand in US for cheap I understand.  Bingo gets half a teaspoon morning and night.  (Thank you Lynn, this was your idea).

One more thing I’d add is MSM powder.

I can add more if you like :)   as I said Bingo gets about 2000 supplements.

These are all ARTHRITIS supplements, not AIHA supplements – if you get what I mean.

Vally & Belly full of supplements (and some food)

 

[Linda]

Can you e-mail me all this? I think you did before but can’t find it. In starting the GC, it seems her poo is soft again. Thinking it may not br the thing to give her. What you’re giving Bingo, in combination, may be better.

I understand about these and other supplements not being AIHA suppkements, but it seems these bad (good) drugs sure play havoc on their joints/bones. Of course, prior to this illness, Sadie was spring loaded and would jump up on my VERY high bed from the floor. I have a bench at the foot and now she actually uses that. Silly pup.

Thanks Vally!! Love and hugs, Linda

[Patrice]

In short, many people do give their dogs Vitamin C for a number of health reasons. Some dogs have trouble with Vit C as ascorbic acid and do better with other buffered forms such as Ester C.

Combining Vit C with bioflavinoids helps dogs with allergies and a specific form of bioflavinoid, quercetin, is especially good at reducing allergic reactions in dogs. I used that for Chance for his allergies.

What is particularly interesting is that dogs (and other animals), unlike humans, are capable to a certain extent of manufacturing their own Vit C and tend to have variable levels of circulating Vit C in their blood. In humans we know Vit C to be more or less a water soluble vitamin and must replace it daily through our diet. See this article for an interesting report about the use of Vit C in dogs:
Benefits of Vitamin C to Your Dog
http://www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/1_7/features/5309-1.html

The criteria you can use for dosage is to start at a moderate dosage and raise it slowly about 100 milligrams at a time until it results in loose stools, then back down from that dose. A dog the size of a Giant Schnauzer would do well with 1000 milligrams a day.

I have always recommended using vitamins and supplements manufactured for humans rather than dogs because there is more scrutiny of the quality of these versus the abject lack of attention paid to the manufacture of canine supplements. Pick a company that takes pride in the purity of their product. I like Nature Made and there are a few others that provide the best quality.

So both my dogs get a daily B-50, fish oil capsules plus a daily Vit E. Cassie also gets CO Q10, turmeric (curcumin), and a human grade Glucosamine Chondroitin Complex that includes MSM, herbal blend, more turmeric, Boswellia serrata and hyaluronic acid. This is expensive but I have always felt it was worth it, or at least I hoped it was….

At Cassie’s appointment with the surgeon to prepare for her upcoming knee surgery, he asked me if I used any supplement for her for arthritis. I told him what I use and he was very pleased with what I was giving her, I guess this is a highly recommended complex of glucosamine chondroitin. I started it two years ago on her and he said that has helped her a lot and to keep using it.

my best, patrice

[Linda]

Thsns Patrice. What is the brand name?

Linda

[Patrice]

Ha, I knew you would ask me that. I can’t find it anywhere but at BJ’s, it’s called Generation Earth and there are no other brands that have this exact same blend. I wish they would put it up on the website so I could refer people to it. BJ’s will occasionally have coupons and I can get it for $10 off. I can never figure out their special house only products, they fail to advertise them well, but they are very good. I wonder if Costco has something like this?

[Linda]

I looked it uo and it does look like it’s their brand. I started giving Sadie the Costco Glucosamine/Chondroitin last week. There s no MSM in it though. I think it has given her diarrhea again. I read several places thatvit can do that. Not for sure it’s that, but I haven’t added anything else. Rats. She really needs something. Her little legs click sbd creak. I was going to try the green mussel powder (thanks Lynn and Vally). But this might work too. We have a BJ’s close by. :)

Sadie’s stomach has always been very sensitive, and for the last few months, even worse. Throwing the dice – it continues.

Linda