Vitamins - YorkieTalk.com Forums

GAOMariposa · 03-04-2011, 08:35 PM

Hello everyone. I have yet another question.

I had blood work done for my baby a few days ago and the vet found that her calcium was low. I currently have her on Life's Abundance, which I noticed has only 1% calcium. Her vet suggested a multivitamin to supplement her diet. So my question is the following: is there a certain vitamin brand that is better? I'm not sure if switching her food would be an option. We tried 6 other foods a few months ago when I switched her from Chicken Soup because of the ethoxyquin. Life's Abundance was the only one that she eats well. So thank you in advance for your help.

Maximo · 03-04-2011, 08:49 PM

Rather than a multivitamin, which shouldn't be necessary with the kibble, how about just a calcium supplement? Would adding plain yogurt help maybe?

Other than nutrition, did the vet give any reasons for low calcium? There are many factors that affect the body's ability to absorb calcium. Since you are in California, I assume your pup gets adequate sunlight.

GAOMariposa · 03-04-2011, 08:55 PM

Thank you for the prompt reply.

Her vet wants a urine sample tomorrow to see if there's anything else going on. She does have urate crystals in her urine so she's on a food that has low protein. She does get plenty of sun.

It's hard to keep her out of the sun actually. It has just recently been getting warmer so she is able to lay in the sun for a while. She does wear sweaters, etc. especially since it's still chilly outside. I used to give her yogurt but she started refusing it. I'm going to drop off the urine sample tomorrow and talk it over with her vet. Thank you for the advice.

Maximo · 03-04-2011, 09:00 PM

Hope all goes well with the urine testing.

These little ones are sun lovers, aren't they?

LDMomma · 03-04-2011, 09:09 PM

We get ours from Dr. Smith and Foster. We use the Lifestage Select Small dog formula.

lexi43 · 03-05-2011, 10:37 AM

I use Nu Vet multi vitamins. It was reccomended by my vet. I give it to all our dogs once a day.

Yorkiedaze · 03-05-2011, 11:18 AM

I've been making dog vitamins for many years. I use the recipe from Dr. Pitcairn's book, complete guide to NATURAL HEALTH FOR DOGS & CATS. May be a bit expensive to get all of the ingredients at one time, but it lasts a long time and you don't use each one at the same rate. The yeast in this recipe also helps keep fleas off. Here is the recipe if you want to make your own. It's all human grade ingredients. I buy in the Vitamin store or on line, depending on where I get it at the lowest price.

HEALTHY POWDER

2 cups nutritional or brewer's yeast
1cup lecithin granules
1/4 cup kelp powder
4 tablespoons Group 1 bone meal powder
1,000 milligrams vitamin C (ground) or 1/4 teaspoon sodium ascorbate (optional)

Yorkiedaze · 03-05-2011, 11:21 AM

Forgot to mention how much to sprinkle over their food.
Mix all ingredients together in a 1 quart container and refrigerate.
Add 1 to 2 teaspoons per day for cats or small dogs; 2 to 3 teaspoons per day for medium-size dogs; 1 to 2 tablespoons per day for large dogs.

I use 1 teaspoon in the morning and 1 teaspoon in the evening over their meals.

GAOMariposa · 03-07-2011, 10:33 AM

Thank you everyone for the helpful suggestions. The vet called with the results of the urine test and she's 100% healthy. Apart from the calcium being a little low, she is fine. I was scared when the vet called a while ago. He said to repeat the blood work in 6 months just to make sure everything is still okay. Thank you again for the suggestions!

Maximo · 03-07-2011, 10:53 AM

Glad to hear the good news.

_Chrissy_ · 03-07-2011, 11:38 AM

Thanks for the Lifestage Select Small recommendation.
I saw that on Dr. F & S and wanted to try it.

03-04-2011, 08:35 PM	#1
GAOMariposa YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: California Posts: 581	Vitamins Hello everyone. I have yet another question. I had blood work done for my baby a few days ago and the vet found that her calcium was low. I currently have her on Life's Abundance, which I noticed has only 1% calcium. Her vet suggested a multivitamin to supplement her diet. So my question is the following: is there a certain vitamin brand that is better? I'm not sure if switching her food would be an option. We tried 6 other foods a few months ago when I switched her from Chicken Soup because of the ethoxyquin. Life's Abundance was the only one that she eats well. So thank you in advance for your help. __________________ Mommy to Itzel Mirai and new mommy to Olivia Ilse. http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2041766&id=28002407&l=fe7f758320

03-04-2011, 08:49 PM	#2
Maximo ♥ Maximo and Teddy Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 25,047	Rather than a multivitamin, which shouldn't be necessary with the kibble, how about just a calcium supplement? Would adding plain yogurt help maybe? Other than nutrition, did the vet give any reasons for low calcium? There are many factors that affect the body's ability to absorb calcium. Since you are in California, I assume your pup gets adequate sunlight. __________________ Kristin, Max and Teddy

03-04-2011, 08:55 PM	#3
GAOMariposa YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: California Posts: 581	Thank you for the prompt reply. Her vet wants a urine sample tomorrow to see if there's anything else going on. She does have urate crystals in her urine so she's on a food that has low protein. She does get plenty of sun. It's hard to keep her out of the sun actually. It has just recently been getting warmer so she is able to lay in the sun for a while. She does wear sweaters, etc. especially since it's still chilly outside. I used to give her yogurt but she started refusing it. I'm going to drop off the urine sample tomorrow and talk it over with her vet. Thank you for the advice. __________________ Mommy to Itzel Mirai and new mommy to Olivia Ilse. http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2041766&id=28002407&l=fe7f758320

03-04-2011, 09:00 PM	#4
Maximo ♥ Maximo and Teddy Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 25,047	Hope all goes well with the urine testing. These little ones are sun lovers, aren't they? __________________ Kristin, Max and Teddy

03-05-2011, 11:18 AM	#7
Yorkiedaze My hairy-legged girls Donating Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: lompoc, ca. Posts: 12,228	I've been making dog vitamins for many years. I use the recipe from Dr. Pitcairn's book, complete guide to NATURAL HEALTH FOR DOGS & CATS. May be a bit expensive to get all of the ingredients at one time, but it lasts a long time and you don't use each one at the same rate. The yeast in this recipe also helps keep fleas off. Here is the recipe if you want to make your own. It's all human grade ingredients. I buy in the Vitamin store or on line, depending on where I get it at the lowest price. HEALTHY POWDER 2 cups nutritional or brewer's yeast 1cup lecithin granules 1/4 cup kelp powder 4 tablespoons Group 1 bone meal powder 1,000 milligrams vitamin C (ground) or 1/4 teaspoon sodium ascorbate (optional) __________________ AZRAEL RAZAEL JILLI ANN

03-04-2011, 09:09 PM	#5
LDMomma YT Addict Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: FL Posts: 410	We get ours from Dr. Smith and Foster. We use the Lifestage Select Small dog formula.

03-05-2011, 10:37 AM	#6
lexi43 YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Deer Park New York Posts: 1,586	I use Nu Vet multi vitamins. It was reccomended by my vet. I give it to all our dogs once a day.

03-05-2011, 11:21 AM	#8
Yorkiedaze My hairy-legged girls Donating Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: lompoc, ca. Posts: 12,228	Forgot to mention how much to sprinkle over their food. Mix all ingredients together in a 1 quart container and refrigerate. Add 1 to 2 teaspoons per day for cats or small dogs; 2 to 3 teaspoons per day for medium-size dogs; 1 to 2 tablespoons per day for large dogs. I use 1 teaspoon in the morning and 1 teaspoon in the evening over their meals. __________________ AZRAEL RAZAEL JILLI ANN

03-07-2011, 10:33 AM	#9
GAOMariposa YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: California Posts: 581	Thank you everyone for the helpful suggestions. The vet called with the results of the urine test and she's 100% healthy. Apart from the calcium being a little low, she is fine. I was scared when the vet called a while ago. He said to repeat the blood work in 6 months just to make sure everything is still okay. Thank you again for the suggestions! __________________ Mommy to Itzel Mirai and new mommy to Olivia Ilse. http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2041766&id=28002407&l=fe7f758320

03-07-2011, 10:53 AM	#10
Maximo ♥ Maximo and Teddy Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 25,047	Glad to hear the good news. __________________ Kristin, Max and Teddy

03-07-2011, 11:38 AM	#11
_Chrissy_ Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,561	Thanks for the Lifestage Select Small recommendation. I saw that on Dr. F & S and wanted to try it. __________________ Max (the Morkie) & Mickey (the Yorkie)