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Vitamin and
herb suggestions for medium size dogs:
Vitamin E
-Description: A fat soluble vitamin which can be found in wheat germ oil and other sources such as asparagus, avocados, berries, green leafy vegetables, and tomatoes.
-Properties: Acts as an antioxidant and protects against damage to cell membranes. A diet high in vitamin E can have a protective effect in many diseases including heart disease, cancer, strokes, viral infections.
-Actions: It is a potent antioxidant and reduces fat oxidation and increases the production of HDL cholesterol. At higher doses, it reduces cyclooxygenase and lipooxygenase activities which decreases production of prostaglandins and leukotreines. Thus, it acts as a potent anti-inflammatory drug.
-Cautions: It will reduce platelet function and prolong the bleeding time slightly in healthy individuals. There is no known side-effects to vitamin E at levels less than 4000-6000 IU per day (except in cats, where levels greater than 100 IU/day can create hepatolipidosis).
-Dose: Vitamin E is well tolerated even at high doses.
Vitamin C
-Description: A water soluble vitamin that can be found in citrus fruit, broccoli, peppers, and other vegetables. Vitamin C can be synthesized by most animal species except primates, guinea-pigs, fruit bats and some fish. These animals require it in their diet.
-Action: Vitamin C is important in the manufacture of collagen. It is needed to convert the amino acid proline to hydroxyproline which makes up part of the collagen structure. Collagen is an important component of connective tissue, tendons, cartilage.
-Properties: Acts as an antioxidant and important in collagen metabolism and immune function. Vitamin C works with vitamin E and helps regenerate vitamin E, potentiating its antioxidant effect.
-Uses: It has been used to boost immunity, enhance wound repair, reduce risk of cataracts.
-Cautions: As a water soluble vitamin, any exess vitamin C is lost readily in the urine. Daily supplementation may be warrented in animals under stress or disease, especially in those animals that do not make vitamin C within their bodies. It is important that flavanoids be administered at the same time as supplemental ascorbic acid.
-Side Effects: Excessive doses of vitamin C can cause can cause flatulence and diarrhea in some animals.
Selenium
Give 1.8 µg per pound body weight daily.
-Caution: Never give more than 200 µg daily
Description: A water soluble vitamin that can be found in citrus fruit, broccoli, peppers, and other vegetables. Vitamin C can be synthesized by most animal species except primates, guinea-pigs, fruit bats and some fish. These animals require it in their diet.
-Action: Vitamin C is important in the manufacture of collagen. It is needed to convert the amino acid proline to hydroxyproline which makes up part of the collagen structure. Collagen is an important component of connective tissue, tendons, cartilage.
-Properties: Acts as an antioxidant and important in collagen metabolism and immune function. Vitamin C works with vitamin E and helps regenerate vitamin E, potentiating its antioxidant effect.
-Uses: It has been used to boost immunity, enhance wound repair, reduce risk of cataracts.
-Cautions: As a water soluble vitamin, any exess vitamin C is lost readily in the urine. Daily supplementation may be warrented in animals under stress or disease, especially in those animals that do not make vitamin C within their bodies. It is important that flavanoids be administered at the same time as supplemental ascorbic acid.
-Side Effects: Excessive doses of vitamin C can cause can cause flatulence and diarrhea in some animals.
Beta Carotene
Give 227 IU per pound body weight daily.
-Description: A water soluble vitamin that can be found in citrus fruit, broccoli, peppers, and other vegetables. Vitamin C can be synthesized by most animal species except primates, guinea-pigs, fruit bats and some fish. These animals require it in their diet.
-Action: Vitamin C is important in the manufacture of collagen. It is needed to convert the amino acid proline to hydroxyproline which makes up part of the collagen structure. Collagen is an important component of connective tissue, tendons, cartilage.
-Properties: Acts as an antioxidant and important in collagen metabolism and immune function. Vitamin C works with vitamin E and helps regenerate vitamin E, potentiating its antioxidant effect.
-Uses: It has been used to boost immunity, enhance wound repair, reduce risk of cataracts.
-Cautions: As a water soluble vitamin, any exess vitamin C is lost readily in the urine. Daily supplementation may be warrented in animals under stress or disease, especially in those animals that do not make vitamin C within their bodies. It is important that flavanoids be administered at the same time as supplemental ascorbic acid.
-Side Effects: Excessive doses of vitamin C can cause can cause flatulence and diarrhea in some animals.
Vitamin B
Give one B50 complex vitamin (high potency) twice daily.
-Description: A group of water soluble vitamins which includes Thiamine, Riboflavin, Niacin, Panthothenic Acid, Pyridoxine, Folic Acid, Biotin and Cobalamin. B complex is a balanced form of vitamin B supplementation.
-Action: B vitamins are cofactors for a number of important biological processes including energy production and carbohydrate metabolism. They are important in maintaining a positive environment for neural regenerative efforts.
-Cautions: B vitamins are water soluble so that any excess is merely eliminated in the urine.
-Deficiency: Thiamin is destroyed by the enzyme thiaminase present in uncooked fish. Thiamin deficiencies can occur in cats fed an all-fish diet rather than a balanced diet. Vitamin B12 is mostly found in animal foods, thus vegetarians may wish to supplement their diet with B12.
Gammalinolenic acid
Give borage oil or evening primrose oil: 500 mg twice daily.
-Description:
Linoleic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid, is changed into gamma-linolenic acid and then into dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid (DGLA). DGLA is a precursor to the 1 series prostaglandins. The prostaglandins generated from DGLA and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) are antiinflammatory.
Black currant, borage and evening primrose oils contain gamma-linolenic acid(GLA).
-Actions:
Gamma-linolenic fatty acid acts as a precursor to antiinflammatory products. GLA is an effective anti-inflammatory agent with none of the side effects of anti-inflammatory drugs. It also promotes healthy growth of skin, hair, and nails. It may be good for skin conditions, arthritis, and autoimmune disorders.
-Administration:
It takes six to eight weeks to see changes after adding GLA to the diet. Small to medium dogs should receive 500 mg of a GLA source daily, either as evening primrose oil, as black currant oil or as borage oil. Large dogs should receive 500 mg of a GLA source twice a day.
-Comments:
Cats cannot convert GLA from linoleic acid because of the absence of delta-5-desaturase activity. They require dietary sources of this essential fatty acid.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Give 1000 mg fish oil daily or give 1 tablespoon ground flax seed daily.
-Description:
Linolenic acid is an 18 carbon long polyunsaturated fatty acid with three double bonds. This is an omega-3 oil because it has a double bond at the third carbon.
Linolenic is an essential fatty acid that is converted to eicosapentaenoid acid (EPA). EPA is found in cold-water fish (salmon, mackerel, herring), some vegetable oils (flaxseed, canola).
-Metabolism:
The balance of omega-6 to omega-3 oils is important in prostaglandin metabolism. Linoleic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid, is changed into gamma-linolenic acid and then into dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid (DHGLA). DHGLA can be converted into arachadonic acid by the enzyme delta-5 desaturase. This enzyme, however, prefers to act on the omega-3 oils. Arachidonic acid is converted into inflammatory compounds (2 series prostaglandins and inflammatory leukotrienes). The final endproducts of linolenic acid metabolism forms less inflammatory products (3 series prostaglandins). Thus by providing linolenic acid in the diet, it is possible to increase the body EPA and reduce inflammation.
-Actions:
Omega-3 fatty acids like EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) are the constituents of fish oils that act as anti-inflammatory agents. These may be useful in an autoimmune disorders or arthritis. Omega-3 fatty acids replace the 2-series fatty acids over time. Thus, cellular stimulation produces 3-series prostaglandins and thromboxanes rather than producing the 2-series thromboxanes which cause inflammation and reduce blood flow.
-Cautions:
These materials will reduce platelet function for a brief period in dogs, but it seems that dogs compensate for this within about 8 weeks.
-Administration:
Available forms: These substances available in health-food stores as products ranging from salmon oil to capsules of concentrated EPA. Eating some cooked salmon or sardines may have benefits over capsular forms of the fish oils. Can also use ground flax seeds, flax oil, or hemp oil as a dietary supplement rather than fish oils.
Recommend giving dogs 1000 mg of fish oil capsules, 1 tablespoon ground flax seeds or 2 sardines every day.
Grape seed extract
Give 0.5 to 0.9 mg standardized extract per pound body wight daily.
(12 to 45 mg daily)
-Description: The plant is a 30 cm high climbing vine with heavily-branched roots, a woody trunk, orbicular leaves, and globular fruit with pear-shaped seeds. It is indigenous to southern Europe and western Asia; however, it is now cultivated in temperate regions around the world. The medicinal parts of the plant include the leaves, fruit, and juice.
-Composition: The grape seed oil contains compounds including essential fatty acids and tocopherols (vitamin E). The grape seed extract contains procyanidins.
-Actions: Acts as a free-radical scavenger. Exerts a dose-dependent antilipoperoxidant activity. Acts as a non-competitive inhibitor of proteolytic enzymes including collagenase, elastase, and hyaluronidase. Provides beneficial effects on the symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency and on ophthalmologic conditions (the resistance to glare, ocular stress, and retinal functionality).
-Uses: Grape seed extract has been used by some people in treatment of various circulatory disorders including varicose veins, hypoxia associated with atherosclerosis, inflammation, and myocardial or cerebral infarction. The grape seed oil has also been used as a source of supplemental essential fatty acids and tocopherols in the diet.
-Contraindications: The tocopherol content of grape seed may increase the effects of warfarin and increase the risk of bleeding when both grape seed extraxt and warfarin are used at the same time.
-Administration: For dogs, give 0.5 to 0.9 mg of standardized extract per pound body weight by mouth daily. Grape seed extract is available as tablets or capsules.
Green Tea extract
Give 1/2 human dose on the label.
-Description: The plant was cultivated in China. It is now grown as a tea plant in India, China, Sri Lanka, Japan, Indonesia, Kenya, Turkey, Pakistan, Malawi, and Argentina.
-Composition: Contains purine alkaloids (caffine, theophylline), triterpene saponins, catechins, caffeic acid derivatives, anorganic ions (fluoride, potassium, aluminum ions), volatile oil.
-Properties: The caffine acts as a Central Nervous System stimulant. Tannins act as an antidiarrheal.
-Uses: Stomach disorders. Vomiting. Diarrhea.
-Contraindications: Those with weakened cardiovascular systems, renal disease, thyroid hyperfunction, or anxiety and those pregnant or nursing should be careful of use.
-Side Effects: No health hazards known with proper administration. Hyperacidity, gastric irritation, reduced appetite, obstipation, or diarrhea can result from intense tea consumption (Addition of milk may help avoid these effects).
-Cautions: Overdosage can lead to restlessness, tremor, elevated reflex excitability, vomiting, abdominal spasm. Fatal poisoning not possible with tea beverages.
-Administration: Drink as a tea.
Siberian Ginseng
Give 1/2 human dose on the label.
-Description:
A 1 to 3 meter high shrub covered in pale, thorny bristles. The medicinal parts are the pulverized root rind, the pulverized root and an alcoholic fluid extract of the rhizome and roots. The plant grows in Siberia, northern China, Korea and Japan. It is a relative of true ginseng, but has entirely different properties.
-Composition:
Contains polysaccharides, triterpene saponins, steroid glycosides, hydroxycoumarins, phenylacrylic acid derivatives, lignans.
-Properties:
Enhanced stress endurance. Increased lymphocyte count. Siberian ginseng has "adaptogenic" properties and reduces physiologic responses to stress.
-Actions:
Siberian ginseng has "adaptogenic" properties and reduces physiologic responses to stress. It increases physical performance and endurance and improves immune function.
-Uses:
A tonic for invigoration and fortification in times of fatigue or during convalescence. Tendency for infection.
-Contraindications:
Do not use in the presence of high blood pressure.
-Side Effects:
None known with proper administration.
-Administration:
Powdered or cut root for teas and aqueous-alcoholic extracts are available for internal use. For dogs, give 1 capsule twice a day.
American Ginseng
Give 1/2 human dose on the label.
-Description: Originally produced in the United States and Canada but also cultivated in China.
Two species of ginseng are available: Oriental ginseng (Panax ginseng) and American ginseng (Panax quinquefolium). Both are full of compounds (ginsenosides) that work on the pituitary-adrenal axis, increasing resistance to stress and affecting metabolism, skin and muscle tone, and hormonal balance. Oriental ginseng is more of a stimulant and can raise blood pressure in some people, so I recommend using only the American species for dogs. Ginseng probably has little to offer young dogs, but may provide an increase in vitality to older one.
-Actions:
Chinese Medicine: Strong action in replenishing Yin and producing fluids. It is weaker than ginseng for tonifing Qi.
-Folk Uses:
Used in Chinese medicine for low-grade chronic fever due to the Yin wasted by Heat in febrile diseases. It also is used to treat chronic cough, exertional asthma, and heaves (tonify the Lung).
-Contraindications:
In Chinese medicine this should not be used in the presence of a Cold Dampness pattern or be used with Veratrum nigrum.
-Administration:
Use 1 capsule of American ginseng once or twice a day in male dogs over 6 years of age.
Miatake Mushroom
Give 1/2 human dose on the label.
-Actions:
Maitake mushroom extract activates NK Killer cells which attack tumor cells and prevent destruction of T-Helper cells. It presents unique macromolecules to the intestinal tract where it alters immune regulation by the intestinal antigen processing systems.
-Properties:
Stimulation of the immune system.
-Cautions:
There is no known toxicity from the mushroom extracts.
-Administration:
Use ¼ the adult human dose for small dogs. Use ½ the human dose for medium dogs. Use the human dose on the label for large dogs.