Supplements for Daily Use
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I hope to cover the minimum supplements needed for a dry dog food diet, a fresh food or raw diet and a combined diet of fresh and dry dog food in this article. The word supplements covers a wide variety of nutrients. This could mean vitamins, minerals, herbs, probiotics, digestive enzymes, herbs or green foods, such as sea algae, kelp and sprouts. Many of these are sold as combinations, or individually, so often dog owners are overlapping in their supplements, without realizing it. |
| I will try and explain each one by type and define when and how often they are needed. These will include: – Vitamin C with bioflavonoids – Vitamin E – Sea Kelp – Alfalfa – Sea Vegetation Blends (Green Blend) – Digestive Enzymes (Berte’s Zyme) (editor’s note: Use Food Science All Zyme) – Omega-3 Fatty Acids – Garlic – Organic Apple Cider Vinegar (editor’s note no longer available) |
| At the end of this article, I outline some specific supplements helpful for common ailments. |
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Vitamins Vitamin C with Bioflavanoids This is an essential antioxidant and immune builder. Vitamin C has many functions, including collagen building (present in connective tissue), adrenal gland functioning, stimulates production of lymphocytes, fights bacteria and viruses, enhances ability of chemotherapy drugs, helps prevent high blood pressure and serum cholesterol, aids in healing of wounds and production of antistress hormones. |
| Vitamin C is water soluble and is flushed from the body quickly. It is important to give this supplement at each meal. Foods that are high in vitamin C include broccoli, Brussels sprouts, kale, cabbage, parsley, pineapple, strawberries, spinach, turnip greens and collards. |
| There are several types of vitamin C, but easiest on dogs is the calcium ascorbate type, as it is buffered and easier on the digestive tract. |
| Bioflavonoids, although not exactly a vitamin, are found in the rinds of citrus fruits. When taken with vitamin C, they help with the absorption rate and are an antioxidant. They help to strengthen capillary walls, hemorrhages and prevent bruising. They are shown to be helpful with inflammatory conditions and arthritis. Bioflavonoids may also be helpful in treatment and prevention of cataracts. |
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Vitamin C with Bioflavanoid minimum dosage (twice daily): 0-25 pounds – 100 mg 25-50 pounds – 250 mg 50-75 pounds – 500 mg 50-100 pounds – 1,000 mg |
| Note: There is 5,000 mg per teaspoon |
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Vitamin E This vitamin is also an antioxidant and anticarinogen. It helps to protect vitamin C and vitamin A from oxidation. It aids circulation, healing of wounds, aids in arthritis, helps with normal functioning of the nervous system, improves athletic performance and prevents cell damage and may prevent aging. It is found in whole grains, dark green leafy vegetables, eggs, and organ meats. |
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Vitamin E minimum dosage: 0-25 pounds – 50-100 IUs 25-50 pounds 100-200 IUs 50-75 pounds 400 IUs 75- 100 pounds 400-800 IUs |
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Minerals While minerals can be given separately, or by each type, a quick and natural form is in sea algae and green foods. These can be easily assimilated, and eliminated by the body if not needed. Two ways to do this are by giving sea kelp and alfalfa powder, or a sea algae blend. |
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Sea Kelp Kelp is a type of cold water seaweed, that is sold as a powder, pill or granules. It contains iodine, calcium, potassium, sulfur, magnesium, lecithin and vitamins A, E, B and D. It has been found to enhance coat color and is beneficial for coat and skin health and thyroid function. While it does contain arsenic, it is in trace amounts, which is also a trace mineral needed by dogs and people alike. |
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Alfalfa This is one of the richest mineral foods, and contains calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, and all known vitamins. Attributes accredited to alfalfa include relief from pain of arthritis, healing of intestinal ulcers, gastritis, liver disorders, good for better breath, cancer and help in lactating bitches. It also has some digestive enzymes, which help aid in proper digestion. |
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Berte’s Green Blend: This blend of sea vegetation includes blue green algae, spirulina, dulce, irish moss and chlorophyll. It contains 16 types of sea algae. It also contains whole lemon powder and papain to aid in digestion, and carotene, a powerful antioxidant. The nutrients include calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, potassium, iron, vitamin A, B vitamins, biotin, inosital, choline and vitamin E. Great for energy and endurance, coat and skin and good general maintenance. |
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Digestion Aids Many dogs on dry or processed foods are missing two vital ingredients in a daily diet. These are the good, friendly bacteria that are needed for good digestion of food, and the other is digestive enzymes, which help process and breakdown fats, proteins and carbohydrates. |
| Heat over 110 degrees kill both of these elements, and processed dog foods are heated when cooked and extruded for making the kibble. For those who feed a fresh food diet, or a mixture, both friendly flora and fauna and digestive enzymes are in uncooked foods. |
| Good bacteria include acidolphilus (lactobacillus acidolphilus) and lactobacillus bifidus. These are also contained naturally in buttermilk, yogurt, acidolphilus milk, kefir and some cheeses. Acidolphilus may be helpful in detoxifying harmful substances, it has an antibacterial effect, antifungal properties, aid digestion and help in absorption of nutrients. |
| It also assists in creating a healthy intestinal tract for the manufacture of vitamin B complex and vitamin K, which is helpful in blood clotting. It is useful when using antibiotics and corticosteroids, to keep stools firm, and also in combating yeast infections in the ears. Keep any of these products refridgerated. Useful for puppies, lactating bitches and any type of illness or disease, and before and after vaccinations. |
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Ultra ProBiotic Powder Contains lactobacillus, streptoccoccus faecium, bacillus subtilis and amylase, protease and lipase. |
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Digestive Enzymes Enzymes are needed for digesting food, repair of tissue and all functioning of the body. While the body can make it own enzymes, it must also get them from food. As stated above, heat destroys enzymes, so they must be obtained from raw foods, and for dogs, particularly raw vegetables and raw meat. Enzymes help to construct new muscle tissue, nerve cells, bone and skin. They also promote oxidation and convert poisons and toxins in the body into harmless substances. |
| The three types of enzymes in the body are amylase, protease and lipase. Amylase helps with breakdown of carbohydrates, protease with proteins and lipase with fat digestion. Unripe papayas and pineapples are high in proteolytic enzymes, which work on proteins. |
| Other enzymes besides these for proteins are pepsin, trypsin, rennin, pancreatin and chymostrypsin. Proteolytic enzymes are good for reducing inflammation, diseases of the respiratory tract, bronchitis, pneumonia, viral diseases, cancer and arthritis. Bromelain, the enzyme from pineapple, is also helpful for the proper uptake of other supplements. |
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Berte’s Zyme (editor’s note: Use Food Science All Zyme) Contains digestive enzymes for all phases of digestion and assimilation of fats, proteins and carbohydrates |
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Omega-3 Fatty Acids The two major types of essential fatty acids include the Omega-6 fatty acids and the Omega-3 fatty acids. Since Omega-6 fatty acids are more available in most plant oils, Omega-3 fatty acids will be discussed here. The word essential means that the body cannot make these oils, and they must be provided in food. |
| Omega-3 fatty acids beneficial to a healthy coat and skin, aid in prevention of arthritis, reduce blood pressure, essential for normal function of the brain and enhance the immune system. Sources for Omega-3 fatty acids include cold fish oil, such as salmon, cod and mackerel and Flaxseed Oil. It is important to give vitamin with this oil, as the oil can deplete the body of vitamin E. |
| Omega-3 fatty acid minimum dosage: 0-25 pounds – 100 mg 25-50 pounds – 250 mg 50-75 pounds – 500 mg 100 pounds – 1000 mg |
| Organic Flaxseed Oil Caps Salmon Oil caps |