Vitamin C is needed for healthy teeth and gums.

Vitamins are not only lost in the manufacturing process of dog food, but begin to deteriorate as soon you open up the dog food bag and expose the food to light and air. Particularly sensitive are vitamins B and C.

While it is true that they produce their own, it is not enough to maintain good health, especially in our polluted environment.

Your dog need sufficient vitamin C to break down the animal protein in his diet, strengthen his immune system, speed wound healing, help the function of his musculoskeletal system, and whether he gets wormed, is given drugs of any kind or put under any kind of stress.

A lack of vitamin C in the diet commonly result in urinary track infections, cystitis and limping in the front or rear legs.  A fairy common misconception is that dogs don’t need extra vitamin C because they produce their own.

Since not enough of either vitamin B complex or C is contained in any processed dog food to meet our criteria for raising a puppy, you have to add both of these to his diet.

The same hold true with vitamin B complex. A fragile, water-soluble vitamin, B is needed for energy, breaking down protein and promoting biochemical reactions in the body which work with enzymes to change the carbohydrates into glucose.

VITAMIN C-DIFFERENT KINDS

CALIUM ASCORBATE

The ascorbic forms are thought to be the most gentle (buffered) and cause the fewest side effects, such as diarrhea or indigestion. Calcium ascorbic is necessary for the breakdown of protein and seems to be accepted and utilized well by most dogs. A water-soluble vitamin, it is flushed through the body in a matter of hours, and cannot be stored. It must be fed to your dog with each meal and is easily absorbed anywhere in the intestinal track. Many health practitioners are of the opinion that recent studies have shown that it helps in stress reduction. Calcium ascorbic is a pH-neutral, slightly bitter powder.

 ASCORBIC ACID

Ascorbic Acid a naturally occurring vitamin C, it is tart tasting , and most commonly used in human vitamin C pills. When given in high dosage, it is not efficiently absorbed by dogs and can cause diarrhea. Most find powdered forms of ascorbic acid to be unpalatable due to its tartness.

ESTER-C

Being a time release product, the question has come up a to its effectiveness for dogs, who, when fed properly, process their food in 8 hours. Is the Ester-C actually utilized or passed straight through the intestinal tract? Like the pure forms of calcium and sodium ascorbic, Ester-C is non  acidic with a neutral ph, and does not cause gastrointestinal upset One way to find out if your dog needs this expensive form of vitamin C is to kinesiology .

SODIUM ASCORBIC

. Being a time release product, the question has come up a to its effectiveness for dogs, who, when fed properly, process their food in 8 hours. Is the Ester-C actually utilized or passed straight through the intestinal tract? Sodium ascorbic is another readily available and easily absorbed source of vitamin C, Ph-neutral powder, with a slightly saline taste. Shown to stay in the system twice as long as ascorbic acid, this form of vitamin C can be used in low doses in your dog’s diet, especially if Addison’s disease is suspected.