Vitamin C

[DaisyJRT]

The breeder of my pup recommends a vitamin C supplement. I was wondering if anyone had any thoughts on it. Which brand is best? I found some "ester c" supplements. Which is the same as vitamin c. First there was the 21st Century brand 60tab at $6.99. And then the NutriVet brand 60tab at $9.99. Usually when it comes to stuff like this...you get what you pay for.

[macassie]

Well, I would ask your vet. I've asked my vet about nutritional supplements (not specifically C) and she feels that as long as you are feeding a good, nutrionally balanced and complete food, supplements are a waste of money.

[DaisyJRT]

Vets are not nutritional experts. Some Vets sell Science Diet which contains BHA, A cancer causing preservative. I which I could post the article I read, I can't find it online. I would copy and paste but the article was sent to me in picture form.

[DaisyJRT]

The Department Of Pathology, Nagoya City University Medical School Japan, recently completed a study to determine the toxicology of BHA, BHT, Ethoxyquin and Propyl Gallate.

* ETHOXYQUIN Promoted kidney carcinogenesis. Significantly increased incidence of stomach tumors. Enhanced bladder carcinogesis.
* BHA Enhanced stomach and urinary bladder carcinogenesis. Causes squamous-cell carcinomas in stomachs (Cancers of this type are among the most lethal and fastest acting, the swiftest effects being seen among animals with light colored fur.)
* BHT Promoted urinary bladder carcinogenesis Could be a promoter of thyroid carcinogeneis
The study noted that BHA and other antioxidants, particularly propyl gallate and ethoxyquin, showed additional effects in inducing stomich hyperplasia and cytotoxicity. According to Dr. Wendell Belfield, DVM, practicing veterinarian for some 26 years, both BHA and BHT are known to cause liver and kidney dysfunction and are banned in some European countries. He adds that ethoxyquin is suspected of causing cancer and that propylene glycol ( a pet food ingredient closely related to anti-freeze ) causes destruction of red blood cells.

Ethoxyquin is listed and identified as hazardous chemical by OSHA. It has a rating of 3 on a scale of 1 to 6, with 6 being super toxic requiring less than 7 drops to cause death. ~When manufactured by Monsanto, the containers are marked with the word POISON. Monsanto makes no representations and will not be responsible for damages of any nature whatsoever. Department of Agriculture lists Ethoxyquin as a pesticide.

[RWDVM]

Dear Daisy:

I am a veterinarian. I encourage you to place more value on the advice of a veterinarian rather than a breeder with regard your pet's nutritional needs. Breeders are not medically trained. Therefore, they do not understand the physiologic systems on a macro or molecular level, at play in the different species of companion animals.

For a prolific example of breeders' lack of nutritional expertise, please refer to the article in my newsletter at the website listed below about the raw meat diet (aka. the barf diet) fad in dogs and cats. You will find that, not only does this diet have zero scientific basis for its recommendation, but it is down right dangerous. I have treated cats and dogs for e coli, campylobacter, and salmonella (some of which died) secondary to the administration of this diet. Who gave this advice to the owners of these poor animals in the majority of cases? BREEDERS!

With regard to your carcinogenic preservatives, keep in mind that there are literally thousands of preservatives used in human food as well that have been tagged "carcinogenic." These preservatives continue to remain in our foods because extensive clinical trials by the FDA has deemed them safe in the micro-quantities present in the food. One would also expect, that if a brand like Science Diet that is consumed by millions of pets yearly truly had preservatives that were predisposing them to cancer of the urinary bladder, kidneys, and thyroid, we would see this in clinical practice. The reality is that primary cancer of these organs is extremely rare in dogs and cats (primary cancer in the urinary bladder of cats is virtually non-existent).

Macassie is absolutely correct in her statement that vitamin supplementation is not necessary if the dog or cat is placed on a reputable, well balanced dog feed. Based on amount money alotted to research yearly, as well as fantastic personal clinical success with implementing their various prescription veterinary diets, I tend to favor Hill's (the maker of Science Diet) and Eukanuba.

Finally, vitamin supplementation can be a dangerous practice when not done under the careful guidance of a veterinarian. Vitamins A,D,E,& K are fat soluble and therefore can build up to toxic levels. Vitamin C is water soluble, and unlikely to intoxicate the animal, but will often cause diarrhea.

Do not be so quick to dismiss the 8 years of intensive training it requires to become a veterinarian. While as a profession we certainly are not infallable, our training places us in a unique position where our decisions are guided by intimate medical knowledge and scientific method.

Sincerely,

Roger L. Welton, DVM
Veterinarian, Webmaster http://www.askdvm.com

[DaisyJRT]

I dont feed Barf, Never said I did. I feed Canidae which is a far better food that Science Diet. The only vitamin I was going to feed is Vitamin C. I trust my vet, I love my vet, I would never switch to another vet. But as far as diet goes I trust the word of breeders whom have bred dogs for 30 years. They have seen the affects of vitamin C on their dogs over a period of years. I have read nothing but praise as to the great effects of extra vitamin c.