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Canine Arthritis And Joint
  • Home
  • ONLINE COURSE for COMPLETE GUIDE TO NATURAL HEALTH AND HOMEMADE DIET FOR DOGS
    • Testimonial For Online Course
  • Complete Guide To Natural Health and Homemade Diet For Dogs
    • Testimonials for book
  • Book Website
  • CUSTOM Supplemental Plan For Your Dog
  • Cyplexinol for Bone and Tissue Repair and Restore
  • ​The Assisi Loop
  • PROTOCOL For Canine Arthritis and Joint
  • Safe Recommended Joint Supplements >
    • Boswellia Improves Symptoms of Arthritis
    • Anti- inflammatory Herbs For Arthritis
    • Cats Claw For Arthritis
    • Devils Claw
    • Cetyl Myristoleate For Osteoarthritis In Dogs
    • Ester C For Your Dog
    • GLUCOSAMINE AND MSM
    • Hydrangea Root For Bone Spurs And Kidney Stones
    • Rosehips For Pets
    • Sea Cucumber: A Natural Arthritis Treatment
  • Recommended Daily Diet Supplements for the Arthritic Dog
  • Inactive Ingredients To Avoid
  • Ingredients In Supplements
  • Sign Up For Our Canine Arthritis Newsletter
  • ACL Injuries In Dogs >
    • Canine Cruciate Ligament (or ACL) Surgery Questions
    • How To Heal A Torn ACL Without Surgery
    • What You Need to Know After Your Dog has ACL Surgery
    • Understanding TPLO
    • Canine ACL Surgery
    • Prolotherapy In Animals
    • The Dog Meniscus
  • Acupressure For Pets
  • Acupuncture for Animals
  • Adequan
  • Aging Gracefully
  • Arthritis in Dogs- Can Magnesium Help
  • Bone Disease In Growing Dogs
  • Canine Rehabilitation After Surgery
  • Carpal Hyperextension Injury
  • Cauda Equina Syndrome In Dogs
  • CBD Oil And Your Arthritic Dog
  • Chiropractic For Your Pet
  • Degenerative Myelopathy
  • Diskospondylitis (Spondylitis) in Dogs
  • Dont Forget Your Dogs Diet With Arthritis
  • Early Joint issues In Canines
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Fibrocartilaginous Embolism (FCE) in Dogs
  • Floating Kneecaps, or Luxating Patellas
  • Helping Your Dog Stay Healthy And Pain Free
  • Hip Dysplasia in Dogs >
    • Choices In Hip Dysplasia Treatments
    • Subluxation In Your Dogs Hips
    • What Is Femoral Head Osteotomy (FHO)
    • Prolotherapy In Animals
  • How Canine Arthritis And Diet Are Connected
  • How to Give Your Dog Glucosamine Injections
  • How To Fix Slick Flooring
  • How To Install A Doggie Door And Buying The Correct Size >
  • How to Massage Your Dog
  • Hydrotherapy For Dogs
  • Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy For Pets
  • Hypertrophic Osteodystrophy
  • Immune-Mediated Polyarthritis (IMPA)
  • Intervertebral Disc Disease
  • Kratom Use by Pet Parents
  • Laser Therapy for Dogs
  • Learning How To Feel and Read Your Dogs Spine
  • LTCI & DOGS
  • Lumbosacral Spondylosis In Dogs
  • Magnetic Therapy
  • Muscle Sprains and Strains In Dogs
  • MYELOMALACIA IN DOGS
  • Moist Heat And Cold Therapy For Canines
  • NSAIDs-The Risks Involved
  • Osteoarthritis In Dogs
  • Panosteitis In Young Dogs
  • Pet Arthritis
  • Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy For Pets
  • Prevention and Preservative Free
  • Prolotherapy In Animals
  • Rheumatoid Arthritis in Dogs
  • Sacroiliac Luxation
  • Sciatica in Dogs
  • Semitendinosus and Gracilis Myopathy
  • Setting Up A Pool For Therapy For Your Dog
  • Stem Cell Therapy In Pets
  • Steps To Take To Get Your Dog Moving
  • Tesla BioHealer™ for Pets 2.0
  • Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) For Canines
  • Transitioning To A Raw Diet >
  • Ultrasound Therapy
  • Vet Checks With Injuries And Arthritis
  • What Vets Dont Know Or Wont Tell You
  • Weather And Joint Issues
  • What To Do When Your Dog has Had Surgery Or Is Lame
  • Wheelchairs, Splints And Braces
  • Wobblers Syndrome
  • Testimonials
  • About Us
    • Privacy Policy
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Canine Arthritis And Joint







​Benefits of Vitamin C For Your Dog

By Whole Dog Journal

For humans, a source of vitamin C (magnesium ascorbate) in the diet is literally necessary for survival. Early sailors deprived of fresh foods for extended lengths of time often suffered from “scurvy,” a nasty affliction characterized by bleeding gums, loss of teeth, a weakened condition, and sometimes death. It wasn’t until the late eighteenth century that Captain James Cook, the first European to visit the Hawaiian Islands, taught the British Admiralty how to prevent scurvy by adding fresh fruit or lime juice to its sailors’ daily ration of rum (thus earning them the nickname of “Limeys” that endures to this day).

In the early 1900s, ascorbic acid was isolated and identified as the nutrient that prevented scurvy. Humans, it was discovered, are among the few animals that cannot manufacture vitamin C in their own bodies, and must obtain it from an outside source (fresh fruits, vegetables, or vitamin C pills) on a regular basis in order to avoid illness.

Dogs, however, can produce vitamin C in their bodies, and because of this ability, nutritionists have long considered it unnecessary to add C to a dog’s diet. Until recently, few dog food makers added vitamin C to their products – or if they do, it was for the preservative action of the vitamin, rather than its nutritive value.

**Vitamin C advocates say that young dogs who regularly receive C supplements develop far fewer cases of hip dysplasia and arthritis.
Vitamin C benefits the sick and the stressed
This may be appropriate when dealing with healthy unstressed animals, but recent clinical observations indicate that when dogs are sick or stressed, they can rapidly deplete their bodies’ output of vitamin C. A 1942 study noted that dogs with skin diseases usually have very low amounts of vitamin C in their blood.

Other researchers have found the blood levels of vitamin C to be low – and even non-existent – in dogs with fevers and dogs who have exercised to their limits (sled dogs after a race, for example, or hunting dogs in the middle of hunting season).

Stress is the best-known cause of vitamin C depletion in dogs. Physical stress comes in many forms: gestation, lactation, growth, hard work (dogs used for herding, hunting, tracking, etc.), vaccinations, injuries, tail-docking or ear cropping, or illness. Emotional stress, whether caused by relocation, weaning, or demanding training, can also deplete this reserve. In fact, researchers can measure the level of stress a dog experiences by measuring the degree of depletion of the vitamin in the dog’s blood.

Conversely, many studies have found that dogs (as well as humans) that are supplemented with vitamin C show greater resistance to disease, and a better ability to recover from injuries or illness.
What C does for dogs
Wendell O. Belfield, DVM, is perhaps the world’s best-known and most ardent advocate of vitamin C supplementation for dogs. In his book, “How to Have a Healthier Dog,” Belfield describes how he first came to experiment with (and appreciate) the power of vitamin C in his veterinary practice.

Following a particularly heartbreaking episode, where he was unable to save the life of a beloved family dog that had distemper, he began researching viral diseases. In the course of his studies, he came across an article about a doctor who used massive doses of vitamin C to successfully treat viral diseases such as polio and hepatitis in the 1940s. Belfield began wondering whether C could be used to combat canine viral diseases.

One day in 1965, another client came to Belfield’s office with a dog that was suffering from distemper. Belfield decided to try an injection of vitamin C on the dog, and it responded dramatically, surviving what he had been taught in veterinary school was a fatal disease for which there is no successful treatments.

Following this success, Belfield began experimenting with vitamin C treatments for all kinds of conditions in dogs. His trials and studies have convinced him of the tremendous power that the vitamin holds for dogs.

According to the “Encylcopedia of Nutritional Supplements,” by Michael T. Murray (1996, Prima Publishing), vitamin C improves immune function by enhancing white blood cell function and activity. It also increases the blood levels of interferon (the body’s natural antiviral and anticancer compound) and antibodies (proteins that bind to and destroy foreign material such as bacteria, viruses, and toxins).

Vitamin C is commercially available by itself or combined with other nutrients in a number of forms.
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Suggested uses
Time and further studies are bearing out Belfield’s findings. Today, vitamin C is routinely prescribed by holistic veterinarians for a number of illnesses, including cancer, kennel cough and other respiratory infections, abscesses, and other bacterial infections. Due to its important role in maintaining the health of collagen, it appears to be especially helpful for slowing – and some say, reversing – degenerative joint disease, hip dysplasia, and spinal disorders.

The use of vitamin C as a preventative and immune booster are also celebrated. Some veterinarians suggest giving C to dogs before and after vaccination, to dogs that have been exposed to contagious diseases, to pregnant and lactating dogs, and for healthy teeth and gums.

According to Belfield, young dogs and old dogs can benefit the most from routine vitamin C supplements. Due to the extensive stresses faced by puppies and young dogs, such as numerous vaccinations, surgical procedures on dewclaws, tails, and ears, and the demands of rapid growth, he suggests that all young dogs receive C.

As they get old, dogs become less proficient at producing their own supply of vitamin C, and more in need of antioxidants. Administering vitamin C to even very old and feeble dogs, says Belfield, can reinvigorate and strengthen them.
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Dosage
The average dog normally produces about 18 milligrams of vitamin C per pound of body weight per day. Therefore, for a dog that is free of clinically significant symptoms but is experiencing unusual stress, supplementation with about that much C per day appears be a conservative maintenance dosage. (About 500 milligrams for a 28-lb. dog daily.) To increase absorption, veterinarians recommend splitting the total daily dosage into several feedings during the day.

However, many holistic veterinarians routinely suggest maintenance doses that are three to four times that amount. They explain that modern, domestic dogs need more vitamin C than the theoretical “natural” dog, since their bodies must deal with so many challenges: stress, pollution, chemicals and pesticides, and poor diets, to name a few.

Too much vitamin C, especially if given in one dose, will cause diarrhea in dogs. What amount is too much varies from dog to dog, so, when administering the maximum amount of C for a therapeutic (not just maintenance) dose, many veterinarians will suggest that you increase the dose in 100-500 milligram-per-day increments until the dog develops diarrhea, then reduce his daily dose to the previous day’s dose. (This is often referred to as dosing to “bowel tolerance.”)

Individuals dogs may be more or less tolerant of vitamin C supplements, and their tolerance may change with environmental conditions. For instance, a dog that is experiencing great stress may tolerate 4,000 milligrams without diarrhea, but develop the condition as the stress is removed. The owner’s awareness of the quality of the dog’s stool is critical to appropriate dosing.

The type of illness being treated should also be considered when determining the dose. Some guidelines published by holistic veterinarians include:

Richard Pitcairn, DVM, “Dr. Pitcairn’s Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats.” Pitcairn suggests giving 100-500 milligrams (based on the dog’s size) of vitamin C daily to dogs that are exposed to unusually high amounts of pollutants.

Cheryl Schwartz, DVM, “Four Paws, Five Directions: A Guide to Chinese Medicine for Cats and dogs.” Schwartz suggests giving vitamin C to dogs with a variety of illnesses, including upper respiratory conditions (small dogs, 125 to 500 mg. twice daily; medium dogs, 250-1,500 mg. twice daily; large dogs, 500-1,500 mg. twice daily), arthritis (to bowel tolerance), infected ears (small dogs, 250-500 mg. twice daily; large dogs, 500-1,000 mg. twice daily), and skin allergies (small dogs, 125 mg. twice daily; medium and large dogs, up to 750 mg. twice daily).

It’s important to remember that a healthy, happy dog with a quality diet and little stress probably has no need of supplementation with vitamin C. However, if stress, illness, or age causes a dog’s need for vitamin C to outstrip his ability to produce it, supplementing him with C is a sensible choice.

Conversation rate for milligrams: http://www.gourmetsleuth.com/cooking-conversions/gram-conversions-general.aspx


WARNING: Avoid anything with Benzene, Benzoate, or Benzoic Acid; especially when combined with
Ascorbic Acid, Citric Acid, and Vitamin C ingredients
. It becomes a toxic carcinogen. 

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**Canine Arthritis And Joint is intended for informational, educational and entertainment purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Do not attempt to self-diagnose or treat any health condition. You should always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any diet, exercise or supplementation program, before taking any medication, or if you have or suspect your pet might have a health problem. The opinions expressed by Canine Arthritis And Joint are not to be replaced for medical care. This website and the information contained herein have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The information and opinions on Canine Arthritis And Joint are not intended and cannot be used to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This applies to people and pets!
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