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I know I read somewhere that dogs don't need supplements but I've read that, if dogs have hip dysplasia, vitamin C and even coconut oil help that condition. Any thoughts on this?
Glucosamine ... you can get it in pill form or liquid or in chicken feet. is your dog limping?Since supplements aren't helpful for dogs, do you have any advice for a dog that may have hip dysplasia?
What you posted is promotional & marketing brochure for Esther-C which regardless of what they say is nothing more than a particular brand name for Vit C pills.In addition to what Doc posted (Dr. Belfields writings) here is another.
This is typical advertising talk saying, "My product is better than all the other products."Dogs of all ages suffer with various joint and spinal disorders, including hip dysplasia, osteoarthritis, non-specific arthritis, osteochrondritis, spondylitis and spondylosis. Treatment often consists of rest. surgery and/or steroids, nonspecific anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), aspirin, penicillamine or methotrexate. Many therapeutic compounds produce only short-term benefits and may actually accelerate the progression of joint destruction.
"Suggest" and "might be ...." are terms used to get around the truth in advertising laws.In fact, early studies in dogs and horses suggest that daily vitamin C supplementation might be beneficial in reducing chronic inflammation. Unfortunately; ordinary vitamin C may cause gastrointestinal upsets i dogs. A form of vitamin C that would promote higher levels of intracellular ascorbic acid without negative side effects would be a useful and unique product.
This is more promotional gunk that indicate Ester-C MAY do something. Also, it MAY NOT but they don't tell you that. Of course the product name is included in this paragraph. It also suggests subtally that "my product is better than the other products."The effect of different forms of vitamin C on various locomotor dysfunctions of dogs were investigated by veterinarians at The Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Utah. Over 100 case studies were evaluated, using varying strengths and combinations of mineral ascorbates, ascorbic acid and microcrystalline cellulose during a six-month period. The results indicate that a patented vitamin C ascorbate / vitamin C metabolite complex, administered orally, may have application for the reduction of discomfort associated with nonspecific, chronic inflammatory disorders of dogs. The vitamin C ascorbate / metabolite complex used in the study was Ester-C.
This is another paragraph that suggests, "My product is better than the others."According to the manufacturer, Inter-Cal Corporation, of Prescott, Arizona, Ester-C is a patented ascorbate supplement containing calcium ascorbate, naturally occurring dehydroascorbate and the vitamin C metabolite, threonate. Threonate permits ascorbate to be more rapidly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, to cross cell membranes more efficiently, reach higher cellular levels and be excreted more slowly than ordinary vitamin C. Ester-C ascorbate is pH neutral and believed to be water and partially fat soluble.
This paragraph is so cool if you analyze it. It talks about a mythical product that MAY do wonders for a dogs pain. The subtle inplication here is that the mythical product is Ester-C. This is very clever promotional material. I like it. :smile:Vitamin C may act as an immunoresponsive and chrondrogenerative agent. In degenerative (i.e., aging) or inflammatory conditions, collagen breakdown is excessive, resulting in joint discomfort and skeletal changes. A product that would provide high and prolonged levels of ascorbic acid would help compression resistance of cartilage, mobilized white blood cells to the site of inflammation, and enhance prostaglandin synthesis. The net result would be increased comfort and mobility.
They are very vague with the number of dogs actually receiving Ester-C in the study. They are vague about everything in this study. This paragraph reminds me of the old toothpaste ads saying "4 out of 5 dentists say you will have significantly fewer cavaties if you use such and such toothpaste."78 percent of the study dogs receiving Ester-C calcium ascorbate showed improved mobility within four to five days.
The consistency and degree of response demonstrated that Ester-C calcium ascorbate provided symptomatic relief to the study dogs suffering from selected chronic joint and musculoskeletal disorders. The findings that the condition of many of the "improved" dogs deteriorated rapidly upon discontinuance of Ester-C ascorbate further verified its usefulness as primary or adjunctive therapy. These studies reinforced the earlier observations that supplemental Ester-C calcium ascorbate corrected mobility problems of dogs and horses.
The findings suggest that, although dogs can manufacture endogenous ascorbic acid, the amount produced my not be sufficient to prevent or counteract stresses associated with aging, injury or joint malpositioning.
This is another "My product is better than all the other products" combined with, "My product will cure most any poblem your dog has." For a second I thought I was reading an ad for ACV. :smile:From the results of this study, there is significant evidence to recommend oral Ester-C calcium ascorbate in the management of non-specific musculoskeletal disorders of dogs.
Of course it does. Belfield also sells Vitamin C. His is called Mega-C Plus. You can find that at Orthomolecular Specialties ? New Concepts in Pet Health Care - Alternative Pet Health CareYes, that came from a site that sells Ester C, with information that has a lot in common with Belfield's paper.
Ahhhh, thank you, thats my point. There is actual scientific research that proves conclusevly with hard numbers that Vit C has no relationship to skeletal disorders in dogs. (See my post #7 in this thread). ALL the evidence that Vit C has positive implications is purely anecdotal and full of words like "may be", "indicates", "might", "poiints towards the posibility", "suggests", etc. The greatest majority of these claims comes from people or places that sell Vit C.I personally have "anecdotal" evidence of Ester C being beneficial for a dog diagnosed with HD as a pup.
I have had 3 dogs that I gave glucosimine and chontroitin and MSM to. The one I'm treating now, I'm giving massive doses to. Like 3,000mg/day. Until a few years ago, I had a bad hip because of an injury many years ago. Arthritis developed in it. I aslo took those supplements for about a year. I could not tell the difference either in my dogs or myself.Anyway, I already tried a joint supplement called Triple Joint Max or something like that, and it had glucosamine and chondroitin and MSM and some other things in it but it didn't seem to make much difference.
If your dog has arthritis or hip Dysplasia there is nothing your vet can do other than replace the hip (thats what I did) or give the dog pain pills. If your dog has ligiment problems in either the knee or other joint then that can often be repaired but it's very expensive. I spent about $2,000 on a dog's knee.Yes, my dog does have a limp. He needs to go to the vet but it's a little complicated. He hates to ride in a vehicle and gets very anxious and throws up and/or slobbers, so it's stressful for him and us.
USUALLY the only improvement I see in dogs with natural therapies is placebo effect.So . . . I'm looking for natural therapies to help my ailing doggy.
If you are talking about a truly wild dog, I don't think he would get those problems. My opinion is that human intervention in breeding and poor diet is the cause of most of the chronic problems in today's domestic dogs.We talk on here about a raw diet, which is supposed to be natural and what a dog would eat if living in the wild. So would a dog living in the wild get hip dysplasia? Would he go to the vet? Would he take supplements?
Does your dog eat oranges??? I think that is the ONLY thing that Owen will NOT eat!! :biggrin:Well I aint reel sur but Paw sayz to feed dem dawgs ornges but old Tater dont like em much. Paw sayz it good fer dair bones and joints but you knowd wot - old Tater dont ate dem ornges and he aint limpn round nowars.