Please note, this is our supplemetation program and is added here as reference only. WE ARE NOT VETERINARIANS, so if you have any questions, we recommend that you discuss them with yopur vet.
VITAMIN C
Vitamin C supplementation is highly recommended by Cedar Valley.
We advise supplementing all puppies with Vitamin C. By the time our pups are 10 weeks old they are taking 1500 mg daily of Vitamin C. We recommend keeping them on this dose until they are 16 weeks old, then increasing to 1750 mg. Then at 20 weeks, increase to 2000 mg.
We maintain all of our dogs here on 2000 mg daily.
Pregnant bitches get 4000 daily.
If you have a puppy or dog diagnosed with hip dysplasia, we recommend ordering Dr belfield book " How to have a healthy dog" and following his recommendations for high dose Vitamin C supplementation. (Information is included on how to order his book later on this page)
Vitamin C has shown promise in greatly reducing the incidence and/or severity of Canine Hip Dysplasia.
NOTE: If using Vitamin C make sure it is from SODIUM Ascorbate and not ascorbic acid. You may have to order this online.
Sodium ascorbate is not near as acidic as ascorbic acid.
Sodium Ascorbate can also be ordered online in powdered form and can be mixed in daily with the food.. We get our Vitamin C (NAN sodium ascorbate) from www.petfooddirect.com.
We recommend that you purchase SODIUM ascorbate and not calcium ascorbate.
Supplementation with calcium ascorbate can result in your puppy having too much calcium in his diet, which can cause bone and joint problems.
We strongly RECOMMEND that you continue using Vitamin C supplementation for the life of your dog.
We use the Mega C Plus granules from Ortho Molecular for all our dogs under 2.
It is our number one choice and our number one recommendation for Vitamin C supplementation in dogs under 2.
Mega C Plus is $53.60 for a 1 Kilo jar
This will last for quite a while as the recommended dosages are small.
Mega C Plus is available from OrthoMolecular Specialties at 1-877-692-0236 www.belfield.com.
We STRONGLY recommend that you read the book “How to have a healthy dog” by veterinarian Wendell O Belfield DVM. It is available for approx $12 from OrthoMolecular Specialties at 1-877-692-0236 www.belfield.com.
While some vets will tell you there is no proof that this regimen works we have known MANY breeders who have significantly decreased the incidence and/or severity of Canine Hip Dysplasia within their lines using this schedule of supplementation.
It is an inexpensive treatment that cannot hurt the dog. Excess amounts of Vitamin C that the body cant use are not stored in the liver or other organs and are secreted through normal urination. This means that toxic buildup or overdose is not a worry.
Glucosamine and Chondroitin
We also recommend that you start your pup on a daily regimen of Glucosamine and Chondroitin from the time you bring her home.
Glucosamine and Chondroitin have been proven to provide outstanding joint protection and support. In addition the Chondroitin helps the body heal after muscle tears or cartilage damage.
We feel this is an EXTREMELY important supplement for your dog.
We recommend the following dosages based on weight:
Up to 25 pounds (Approx 9-10 weeks old)
500 Mg Glucosamine and 400 mg Chondroitin
26-50 pounds (Approx 10-16 weeks)
1000 Mg Glucosamine and 800 mg Chondroitin
51-75 pounds (Approx 16 weeks- 6 months old)
1500 Mg Glucosamine and 1200 mg Chondroitin
76-100 pounds (Approx 6 months-1 year old …males may be over 100 lbs after 6 -8 months of age, some females may be over 100 lbs before 1 year…check weight for accurate dosage)
2000 Mg Glucosamine and 1600 mg Chondroitin
Over 100 pounds
2500 Mg Glucosamine and 2000 mg Chondroitin
Glucosamine and Chondroitin can either be bought at GNC , WalMart and many other stores.
We get ours at GNC. It runs approx $42 for 120 tabs of the
1000 mg Glucosamine/800 mg Chondroitin combo. This is enough to last for a while. At the dosage for 76-100 pounds this bottle will last for 2 months. At the highest dosage (over 100 pounds) it will last approx 1 ½ months. Feel free to check at Wal-Mart or different online sites. You may be able to find it substantially cheaper.
We have recently been told that Sams Clubs and Costco carry it for less than GNC.
Just make sure to compare the strength of each to make sure you are getting the best deal for your money.
Dogs that are already suffering from hip or joint pain also do well by adding MSM to their supplements. We recommend 500-1000 mg of MSM daily, depending on the severity of the condition.
You can also get Joint Care Powder or Capsules from Drs Foster and Smith at
800-826-7206 or www.drsfosterandsmith.com.
Glycoflex is good, as is Synovicare
Your vet will probably also carry a joint supplement containing these ingredients also.
THE HEALTHY OILS
We use flax seed oil, meal or powder and wheat germ oil daily.
Wheat germ oil is available in most large grocery or health food stores.
It can be bought for considerably less online at several different sources. Just make sure it is ONLY wheat germ oil and not wheat/soy or wheat germ oil with Vitamin A added.
Give 2 teaspoons daily for 100 pounds.
Flax seed meal should be given at the dose of ½ tablespoon daily for the pups and 1 tablespoon daily for dogs over 50 pounds.
If using flax seed oil you would give ½ teas daily for the puppies and 1 teas daily for the dogs and puppies over 50 pounds..
Flax seed oil spoils quickly, so in my opinion the flax seed meal is easier to use.
These supplements help TREMENDOUSLY with skin and coat health and condition.
You can also make the Healthy Powder on the following page and feed 1 TBLS daily
If feeding the healthy powder, do not feed a separate flax seed supplement. The healthy powder described below is a wonderful addition to the diet and is what we use as a daily feeding supplement for our dogs. It is ESPECIALLY useful in dogs with itching or skin allergy probelms
HEALTHY POWDER
Prepare this in advance and keep it in a plastic container in the refrigerator. Give one tablespoon sprinkled over the food every day.
Mix in a large plastic container equal parts of the following:
Alfalfa leaf or powder
Kelp granules or powder
Lecithin granules
Garlic Powder (½ the amount of the others)
Flax Seed Meal (or buy the Flax Seeds and put them thru a coffee grinder)
Or ground Hemp Seeds
Or any other of the essential fatty acids recommended in this book.
Mix all the ingredients well together. Scoop one tablespoon and sprinkle over the food on a daily basis.
If using the HEALTHY POWDER, DO NOT also give a seperate flax seed supplement
FISH
A couple times a week we add a can of tuna, salmon or mackerel to each of the dogs daily food ration. This fish contains lots of nutrients, as well as an abundance of Omega oils for skin and coat health.
