More Questions about Supplements

[LuvableLabs]

Hey everyone!

I've been reading a few sites and I'm just getting more confused. I just recently put Midnite on Glucosmaine 1000mg and Chondroitin 800mg (human grade).

Should I add vitamin C? If so is ester-C better?

What about Magnesium, MSM, Selenium and vitamin D?

Midnite weighs about 48lbs. if I should add these supplements these are the amounts that I figured for some of them, tell me what you think?

vitamin C/ester-C: 1000mg
Magnesium: 30mg
MSM: I believe comes in capsule form-give 1 capsule
Selenium: 50mg
vitamin D: not sure??

It just seems like a whole lot of supplements and I'm wondering if I just should stick with the Glucosamine/Chondroitin and just add the ester-C since its human grade. I'm a bit confused :/ Thanks again!​

 

[Mordy]

i'd say it very much depends on what your dog already gets in the regular diet. commercial foods are sufficiently fortified with vitamin D and selenium for example, so there's really no need for an extra supplement. if you feed a home prepared diet, you should know what comes up short and what doesn't.

vitamin C isn't a bad idea, but for a 48 pound dog 1000 mg ester C isn't necessary. it's more efficiently absorbed than regulat vitamin C since it's buffered, so half of the dose of regular vitamin C is plenty. i'd see how your dog does with 500 mg per day, since bowel tolerance differs in individuals.

glucosamine/chondroitin: if you give it for prevention (not for treating an acute condition), 500 mg per day would be sufficient, but you should give double the dose for the first two weeks to "load" the body's reserves.

MSN: for a 48 pound dog as a preventive dose, 500 mg.

magnesium: also depends on what's in the diet already. all minerals interact with each other and overdosing on one can throw all kinds of things out of balance. magnesium, phosphorus and calcium affect each otehr's utilization and absorption levels.

 

[LuvableLabs]

Thanks Mordy!

I think I'm just going to add the 500mg of ester-C and MSM. She's on the raw diet and I'm pretty sure she gets enough magnesium from the meat. I might add the vitamin D since she doesn't get any of the foods listed on your site. This weekend I'm definately picking up the ester-C and MSM.​

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