Supplements?

[Willo]

I've noticed a few people saying they give their dog various supplements so I was curious as to what you give your dog and for what purpose?

I can't give Olli anything yet as I'm still working on his allergy issues (hopefully winning the battle though!) but I'd like to be able to supplement his diet to help out with the allergy issues and things like keeping his joints as healthy as possible. One step at a time though but a little education wouldn't go a miss!

[claire_88]

I don't use a lot now as i'v seen an improvement with just the diet, but before i used cod liver oil for their coats and salmon oil for the fishy fix..... that's it really.

[Diesels Mom]

I give all my guys glucosamine tablets.

[LindaM]

Hi Willo

Lukey has SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth) - don't know why - he get vit B12 drops as I don't think he absorbs it very well plus folic acid - advised by vet.

His digestion is very stable - very rarely sick and just about never loose motions.

He is on 2 weeks ABs then off 2 weeks so on the weeks off I am giving a probiotic to get the good bacteria back as the ABs don't discriminate between good and bad bacteria (I think).


You will realise he he also epileptic but controlled by meds so I will be slowly introducing milk thistle to help with his liver but haven't started that yet.


When my life gets a little less complicated I will be thinking long term about his joints and may put something in.

Despite his conditions he is as fit as a flea and in great condition.

[Raven]

I only use supplements when I think the dogs need them. They have a varied diet of raw meat and bones and fish so I don't feel they need supplements as a matter of course. I do keep them in stock though, vitamin C, probiotics, L-Glutamine, Slippery Elm, Grapefruit seed extract, herbal mixes, fish oil, honey, echinacea, vitamin E, colloidal silver, Condroitin and Gloucosamine for our old lab. The dogs never see the vet other than when my vet friend comes round for a cup of tea.

[LindaM]

Originally Posted by Raven

I only use supplements when I think the dogs need them. They have a varied diet of raw meat and bones and fish so I don't feel they need supplements as a matter of course. I do keep them in stock though, vitamin C, probiotics, L-Glutamine, Slippery Elm, Grapefruit seed extract, herbal mixes, fish oil, honey, echinacea, vitamin E, colloidal silver, Condroitin and Gloucosamine for our old lab. The dogs never see the vet other than when my vet friend comes round for a cup of tea.

That's great Alison, that's the position I would love to be in. Presumably you would use L-Glutamine for and slippery elm for gut?? what about grapefruitseed extract - always like to learn (have you put any pics of your lovely dogs up yet?)

[Beki]

Ellie gets b complex and salmon oils to aid her behaviour and they both get a minerals and vitamin mixture tablet a day to help supplement their raw

[Stuart]

Unless your dog has a medical problem, then I am not a believer in suppliments at all,.. all the dog needs should be in the food you give

If a dog needs suppliments, then either it has a medical issue where the body is not suppling enough itself or the feeding is wrong

[LindaM]

Originally Posted by Stuart

Unless your dog has a medical problem, then I am not a believer in suppliments at all,.. all the dog needs should be in the food you give

If a dog needs suppliments, then either it has a medical issue where the body is not suppling enough itself or the feeding is wrong

I think you are basically right Stuart but in Lukey's case (and very, very often in human cases) our digestion is not 100% and some vits/minerals are not absorbed.

There are some herbs proven scientifically to help and milk thistle to support liver function is one of them and unfortunately at the moment Lukey is on meds which is why I want to help him.

Ultimately if I could eliminate the need for ABs for SIBO I most def would.

[Sully Monster]

Mine has salmon oil, glucosamine and chondroitin for his hips and has skullcap and valerium for his behaviour