Supplement recommendations for my girls, please?

[jesuschick]

Okay, 2 of my girls are now 1 and little bit will be 1 in January.
So, I was wondering what else I should be offering them particularly in the way of supplements. Glucosamine, fish oil, vitamins, coconut oil, more?

It all seems overwhelming to me so I feed them Ziwipeak and in the evening they get a scoop (the small breed scoop) of Nupro mixed in. I add warm water to their ZP at every meal. I felt good enough about that but I think that surely I should be doing more now that they are leaving puppydom.

My big girls are each 3.6 lbs. (1.64 kgs.) and Eden is 3.1 lbs. (1.41 kgs.).

So, at the risk of totally overwhelming me what supplements or things should I now be feeding/offering them that would be appropriate for their age and weights?

Thank you!!

[Missy]

I give Lion Nupro Silver w/glucosamine daily. I don't think it hurts to help out his joints a little, even if he doesn't have problems. They both get fish oil 3X a week. I just buy the human Salmon oil from Wal-Mart. They come in 1000 mg capsules and they each get one squirted over their food.

I think I might try regular Nupro for Penny soon, I just need to go buy some.

[brodysmom]

Karen, the only thing I'd recommend is a salmon or fish oil. (Or krill if you prefer). You could probably split one human liquicapsule between all 3 of them (just a drop of so each) daily. Or give them a whole capsule squirted on their food several times a week. That would just be optional really. I give Brody a fish oil capsule or a krill oil capsule about 3 times a week. I think that Ziwi coupled with Nupro is about as perfect a diet you could get without going to all raw. I don't think they are missing out on vitamins, etc.

If you have any joint/knee problems you could start a glucosamine supplement. Brody has great knees but I do give him a glycoflex III every day. (1/2 a chewable). I don't think it really prevents anything, it just keeps the status quo, so to speak.

[Sarah]

Yes I would add salmon oil too, they are still growing as will be filling out so keep an eye on what you are feeding them. Lotus is 17 months and I'm sure she's not done yet as she still looks skinny so they still may need more food.

Coconut oil is good too and if you fancy adding a sheen to their coats slick it on before a bath!'

[jesuschick]

Thank you!
Fish oil is an easy thing to add. Doctor put my husband on it due to family history of heart attack and stroke. Since I am usually the one who buys it, I'll catch another buy one get one free sale and the extra one can be for the girls.

I wonder about switching them from the regular Nupro (gold) to the silver one for joints. I should look at the ingredients and maybe even get both an alternate.

Hope and Ruby have not changed their weights since 8-9 months. I am eager to see if they are done now since they are over 1 or if they will get another growth spurt. The little one is skin and bones. I feed her more ZP than the big girls hoping to fatten her up a bit!

Thanks again I feel better knowing that I am not too far off track!

[Kristi]

I think the only difference with the Nupro Silver is that it has the added joint stuff, and in the chi dosage it's a pretty low amount...that's why I decided to give it a try rather than the regular Nupro since I have 3 with joint issues (Laurel, Oakley, Bryco). Thankfully on joint supplements and their diet, you don't see ANY physical signs of issues...so I do think it helps.

I figure I will do their glucosamine in the AM (they get about 250 mg in the AM) and the Nupro Silver at night which I think is a bit less than 75 mg of glucosamine + a small dose of Ester-C and MSM at night.

The thing with joint supplements is they need to be constantly reintroduced to the system - dogs can't store extra they just pee it out...and its hard to be sure how much each dog really needs, but unless you WAY overdose it's a very safe thing to give. It would pretty much be IMPOSSIBLE to overdose from the Nupro Silver point of view. Thus, giving it 2x a day is really what keeps it in their system. I'll let you know what I think of it when I get it...

All the other supplements I use are human grade, I buy my glucosamine in capsules from Wal*greens, and my fish oil/Ester-C from Wal*Mart. I also buy my Vitamin E from Wal*mart...that's a new add-in for us per Tracy's recommendation.

The only other thing I give with any regularity is Royal Jelly to the 'show kids' to help with a healthy soft coat, and to minimize shedding.

All the joint supplements are probably unnecessary in my dogs with healthy knees/joints but I figure it certainly can't hurt.

The thing with most of these supplements that come in powdered form is they are much much easier to mix in with a pre-made frozen raw, like S & C, than they are to mix into a food like Ziwi. So you'll have to figure out what works to make your guys eat up what you decide to give.

[brodysmom]

I do have a tub of the Nupro silver and I alternate it with the regular Nupro or the Missing Link. Whatever I have. This tub is going to last forever. 1/4 of a scoop isn't very much!! And only one dog!!

Just a caution on the glucosamine supplements. If you see tummy problems (nausea) or loose stools, it's probably due to the glucosamine. It can cause that. So I usually add it just a little at a time until therapeutic dose is reached.

[jesuschick]

For now I will stick with Nupro nightly and will introduce Fish Oil. I cannot risk tummy issue so I will go slow with adding stuff.

I got more Fish Oil (bless DH, he thought that I was really taking care of him by getting more so soon!) at Walgreens. Again, buy one get one free.
They are 1000 mg so I better go back and read how much you all said to give. I want to dose properly.
Thanks again!