What Supplements, Vitamins, Whatever Do You:

[sheplovr]

I did not see a Dog Health, so chancing to place this here and can be moved at mods needs.

I am curious as to what you give your dogs or dog or puppy in vitamings, supplements and what good is it doing? Do you use flea-tick vials on your dog/dogs? Do you vet yearly for booster shots, why if so?

How often do you worm and what do you use that is effective if you know? What is the worse illness or injury you have had to deal with so far with your dog/dogs or puppy?

Thanks, just curious what everybody uses and why. Do you have an idea of the cost monthly for your dog? Including feed, training, supplements, vetting?

 

[bubbatd]

Haven't had to worm in years !!! I only give Ollie a daily Fish Oil capsule when I take mine . Feel that all else is covered in his feeding .

 

[Buddy'sParents]

There is a dog health section.. it's called... Dog Health Care.

Anywho:

All three of my dogs get salmon oil, eggs, vit e regularly.

Two dogs are fed kibble, one is fed raw with a herbal supplement.

I do not use topical flea treatments (but I do have them on hand in case of an emergency and will use them as one of my dogs has an allergy to fleas) nor heartworm preventatives, the jury is still out on this one.

I no longer vaccinate my dogs.

I do not deworm my dogs.

Buddy had parvo as a puppy, Bella had an eye removed.

As far as what my dogs cost monthly, we have a set amount budgeted, but it's never stays within that or below that.. something always comes up!

 

[Falconara]

Shots - yes - rabies (by law)

Worm - depends on whether or not any of the local dogs have worms...but either one or two times a year - with the powdery stuff the Vets give me.

Illness - my Mix, Jay, has Epilepsy...started with Grand Mal Seizures, but with KBr it has decreased to a Petit Mal every once and a while.

Supplements - Glucosamine, Calcium for pups (either tabs or egg shells), Vitamin C, and I frequently throw eggs and other fattening things on Ruby's meals because she has a high metabolism.

~Cate

 

[skKi]

I only give Pit fish oil as well, and that's just during summer when for some reason he gets dry skin.

He hasn't been wormed since his first worming as a puppy.. and I haven't had him vaccinated since he was 3 months or so. He gets titred and so far everything is looking good.

Luckily we've had no serious health problems yet. He got bit on the nose once and had a small puncture. Healed in about 3 days on its own though.

As far as costs.. I'd say about 50 bucks a month depending on if we take a trip to the vet or not. 100 dollars a month if we go to the vet. We're starting training soon, so that will definitely go up very soon..

 

[Suzzie]

I am curious as to what you give your dogs or dog or puppy in vitamings, supplements and what good is it doing?

Blossom and Murphy get a senior multi vitamin when i can remember - murphy because she's 17 years old and Blossom because she's not really into eating. It does seem to increase their activity levels. Roofus and Murphy get extra glucosamine/chondroitin because their new food doesn't have as much as their old one did by about 3/4! Roo only gets it during frisbee season, it helps him tremendously.

Do you use flea-tick vials on your dog/dogs?

not anymore

Do you vet yearly for booster shots, why if so?

well number one, they are required by the board of health to have a rabies shot, and if we need to go on vacation, they need all their shots to be boarded.

How often do you worm and what do you use that is effective if you know?

I don't. I think Roofus was wormed last year when he was having a bout of giardia.... but unless I specifically think of it, they don't get dewormed.

What is the worse illness or injury you have had to deal with so far with your dog/dogs or puppy?

Roofus had a bowel obstruction when he was 3 or 4 months old. That was pretty horrific. That's why I only give femur bones now, too.

Do you have an idea of the cost monthly for your dog? Including feed, training, supplements, vetting?

Oh lord, no... LOL not per dog anyway... If you figure all five of my dogs, at least one visit per dog per year, we'll say three per year for Roofus, we'll say 1 training class per month on average, and a new bag of food every 3 weeks or so.... Turns out to something like $225 per month for all five dogs. Oh, I forgot to include the shampoo bill! Oh well. Figure two bottles of shampoo a month, 4 bottles of ear cleaner a year... LOL

 

[Beanie]

Auggie gets a fish oil caplet once a day. I haven't really noticed it making a difference in his coat or skin - he didn't have a problem in the first place, though. But I can't see all of the benefits of it, since some of the benefits go on inside. =>

He has flea/tick stuff that I use in the warm months, but I don't put it on every 30 days... I stretch it out. I don't like to put it on more than I have to, but fleas and ticks can be bad here and you have very little warning when they get bad. He does get monthly heartworm pills years round.

He is required by law to have his rabies shot; right now he is on the three-year shot. For all other vaccines I plan to titer rather than blindly and continually give vaccinations - he is not boarded and he doesn't travel with me so we are all good on that. He does and will, however, go to the vet for an annual exam.

He hasn't been wormed since his puppy worming and I don't plan on ever doing it unless I have to.

Worst problem with Auggie: eating a poisonous mushroom. Eating the toxic amaryllis bulb comes close, but that was an immediate (and immediately resolved) issue; the mushroom could have been in his system for over a week before any symptoms developed, so that was the worst two weeks of my life... waiting to see if my little boy would suddenly die... ugh.


I dunno how much I spend monthly. It's really not a heck of a lot. I'll say $55-70, between training, dog food, treats, and the occasional toy. This doesn't count agility trial entry fees since those are pretty infrequent right now, though in the future it will go up... but at some point I'll also stop paying for training courses too. It'll all even out in the end I'm sure. =P


We actually had gone over a year without having to make a vet visit (besides his annual) until last week. *shakes fist at Auggie* I was so proud, too...

 

[Falconara]

Ack - I forgot to add fish oil...and Jay gets Taurine supplementation as well.

If theire gas is real bad they also get charcoal biscuits.

~Cate

 

[adojrts]

I did not see a Dog Health, so chancing to place this here and can be moved at mods needs.

I am curious as to what you give your dogs or dog or puppy in vitamings, supplements and what good is it doing? Do you use flea-tick vials on your dog/dogs? Do you vet yearly for booster shots, why if so?

How often do you worm and what do you use that is effective if you know? What is the worse illness or injury you have had to deal with so far with your dog/dogs or puppy?

Thanks, just curious what everybody uses and why. Do you have an idea of the cost monthly for your dog? Including feed, training, supplements, vetting?

No extra vits/mins.
No flea-tick vials
No annual vacc's
Yes to 3 yr Rabies
Salmon Oil
Glucosamine/chondroitin for dogs in heavy training or competing only, off season none.
Breath Ease for Petie for his humidity intolerance (possible very early stages of CHF, due to the poisoning).
Deworm once a year with Dewormer I get from the Vet (can't remember the name, give twice 30 days apart.)
Vecals done twice a year.
Worst illness was when 3 of my dogs were posioned, almost lost one of them.
One of my higher expenses is Chiropractic for my performance dogs.

Other than Bobbi's occassional Gastro problem, I don't have vet bills. When breeding/whelping that is a different story lol. Luckily all my dogs are very healthy.
Overall, its probably about $15.00 a month per dog, possibly less and closer to $10.00 for most months.
Most years I usually spend about $1000 to $1500+ on training (lessons/workshops/seminars), but most of that training is for me, considering that I am instructor.
I spend another couple of hundred each year on books/dvd's etc.

 

[AGonzalez]

I am curious as to what you give your dogs or dog or puppy in vitamings, supplements and what good is it doing? Do you use flea-tick vials on your dog/dogs? Do you vet yearly for booster shots, why if so?

Suppliments aren't really given at my house, other than occasional cottage cheese or something good and full of vitamins in their regular food. I do give garlic on a daily basis (in small quantity)
I don't use flea or tick vials, I wash them with flea/tick shampoo about every two weeks - never seen fleas on my dogs or ticks.
My dogs get yearly booster shots, adminstered at home (you can but the DHLPP shot at like Tractor Supply and it's about $6 for it) - they get their rabies from the vet and their check-ups.
I like to give the vaccinations yearly just as an extra precaution. We never know when we might have to move and it's just easier in case they need to be boarded, or if an emergency arises. Can't board dogs (and shouldn't) if they aren't vaccinated.

How often do you worm and what do you use that is effective if you know? What is the worse illness or injury you have had to deal with so far with your dog/dogs or puppy?

Worming, I have my vet do a worming at their yearly check up. Otherwise unless I am prone to think they are wormy (losing weight or worms in stool) I don't.
Worst illness was a 3 month 'bout of diarrhea with Smokey...ended up being caused by Giardia (multiple vet visits to confirm what a $33 fecal exam did)

Worst injury - Lily somehow managed to rip her ribcage open at around 7 PM one night (1 inch by 1 inch gash) cost me a whopping $25 at the vet that night to have the bozo stitched up.

Thanks, just curious what everybody uses and why. Do you have an idea of the cost monthly for your dog? Including feed, training, supplements, vetting?

Monthly costs vary for obvious reasons, but between their food (approx $60 a month) at the minimum, or vaccinations + it could range anywhere from $200 to the min of $60 a month - depending on whats gone on.

 

[~Dixie's_Mom~]

I don't use suppliments. I feed Nutro Natrual Choice, and though it's not the BEST, I feel it is a good food. We fed Innova for a while, but only one petstore here carries it, and we can't always get there, so we switched back to Nutro. My dogs recieve monthly flea/tick topical treatment (vials) and heartworm medication, and yearly rabies vaccinations. I'm not sure how much we spend on the dogs monthly... As far as medical emergencies and such...

Lucy: Had a seizure as a puppy, got kennel cough, lost a dewclaw in a fight with my other dog, occasionally has weird allergy flare-ups that we've yet to understand.

Dixie: Had kennel cough when we got her (gave it to Lucy).

Holly: Had terrible allergies as a puppy, got mange when we rescued a puppy with mange.

There are long stories for each of the medical things, but they would take forever to type up.

 

[Toller_08]

What you give your dogs or dog or puppy in vitamins, supplements and what good is it doing?

Fish oil and glucosomine, sometimes plain yogurt because they like it, and sometimes an entire egg too. The oil and the egg definitely seem to work for their coats (shiny, no dandruff, soft). I'm not sure if the glucosomine does anything, but Winston moves around really good for a poorly bred senior dog, so it seems to work.

Do you use flea-tick vials on your dog/dogs? Do you vet yearly for booster shots, why if so?

Nope. We've never used any flea/tick preventative here and the dogs are fine. As far as vaccines, Dance has only ever had one single Parvo vaccine as a 14wk old puppy and is titered. She won't be getting any more unless she really needs them as Tollers are sensitive to vaccines. The other dogs get their shots every 3+ years.

How often do you worm and what do you use that is effective if you know? What is the worst illness or injury you have had to deal with so far with your dog/dogs or puppy?

They usually get wormed at their yearly vet visit. As far as illnesses, the only one we've dealt with in our current dogs is Winston's cancer. And as far as injuries, nothing more than a sprained leg once and a couple of minor puncture wounds..

Do you have an idea of the cost monthly for your dog? Including feed, training, supplements, vetting

Dance costs me roughly $70 per month, give or take. We'll be starting more classes again soon, so that'll go up. I'd assume the other dogs cost my mom about the same, maybe a little more, but I don't pay for their stuff.

 

[BuckarooT35]

I did not see a Dog Health, so chancing to place this here and can be moved at mods needs.

I am curious as to what you give your dogs or dog or puppy in vitamings, supplements and what good is it doing?

I put Omega 3 in his breakfast and if he is lucky he will have another one for his dinner.

Do you use flea-tick vials on your dog/dogs? Do you vet yearly for booster shots, why if so?

Yes, I use Bio-Spot, a monthly vial for fleas-cticks even if he doesn't have them.

How often do you worm and what do you use that is effective if you know?

I think his injections took care of his worming...

What is the worse illness or injury you have had to deal with so far with your dog/dogs or puppy?

Diarrhea. I read up about it in the internet while he was having it and found out that Pepto-bismol works for him better than any other I had tried.

Thanks, just curious what everybody uses and why. Do you have an idea of the cost monthly for your dog? Including feed, training, supplements, vetting?

No...my dog is only 5 months old and he finished all his shots end of May. He only turned 5 months last Sunday. Training - school we spend $75 per 5 classes. My training of him? -- almost all day as I am his mom 24/7 so everytime he comes to me, it is training/reinforcing time. I have homemade agility equipments in my backyard for him which he still have to master. Food supplements includes treats is/are bought whenever I think about it while I am at the stupidmarket, if I run out, I make treats myself, ones that he and I could eat. People food hasn't affected him adversely yet...

 

[mrose_s]

Yes, they still get their shots, but we arn't as careful with getting them on time anymore, we just keep it up as they are generally boarded every year or 2.
I will look into this further after I move out and when I get my next pup.

They get Permoxin sprayed over them every weekend, it is a tick repellant, and considering some ticks are deadly here, its important.

Worming, Sentinel, every month, covers all worms.

Pentavite we usually give as puppy's. I don't know much about it though, it was my mums thing so I will oinvestigate further when I get my next pup.

Glucosimine is goven daily, Buster and Harry have HD and Sophie has arthritis, Mac is just full on so we figure it can't hurt.

They are fed a mix of raw, and a bit of kibble. WIth the odd egg and table scraps.

Buster's worst injury would have to be that fight he had 3 weeks ago, $800. Ripped ears, could barely walk, I thought I was going to loose him that day. Other than that he has been great about illness/injuries.

Sophie's worst injury I would be thinking when someon leaned over the fence and hit her over the head with a block of wood. We thought we might loose her that day aswell. Her worst illness is still coming I think, she has had 3 cancers removed from her face, one of those had already been removed once and now it looks like she has another one coming up under where her last relaly bad one was

Harry's HD is his worst "illness".

Mac's would be her gastritis or when she had to have 2 days at the vet, her stomach pumped etc because she ate Sophie's painkillers. (Sophie is 35kg and shoudl have had half a day, Mac is 11kg and ate about7)

 

[mom2dogs]

I am curious as to what you give your dogs or dog or puppy in vitamings, supplements and what good is it doing? I use Dogzyme Digestive Enhancer supplement and TUMS (staining). Next month I'll restart fish oil/vitamin E. She is fed kibble/canned but is always supplemented with raw eggs, yogurt, raw meat, etc.

Do you use flea-tick vials on your dog/dogs? Do you vet yearly for booster shots, why if so? Yes, she'll start going on flea/tick treatment because she hangs around a dog area every day. Last thing I need before nationals is for her to get fleas and tear at her coat (which she does if one even looks her way). She will not be getting anymore vaccines besides rabies.

How often do you worm and what do you use that is effective if you know? What is the worse illness or injury you have had to deal with so far with your dog/dogs or puppy? I don't worm unless needed. Worst thing was a very mild case of kennel cough, didn't need a vet.. ran it's course and was gone before it got worst.

Do you have an idea of the cost monthly for your dog? Including feed, training, supplements, vetting? $50ish for one dog.

 

[elegy]

I am curious as to what you give your dogs or dog or puppy in vitamins, supplements and what good is it doing? Do you use flea-tick vials on your dog/dogs? Do you vet yearly for booster shots, why if so?

Luce gets Dasuquin joint supplement and Mushroom gets Glycoflex, which he probably doesn't really need. I don't give any vitamins, because they eat good quality food and it's not necessary. I use Frontline Plus as needed for fleas/ticks, but don't use it if we're not having a problem. Both dogs get rabies and DHLPP every three years.

How often do you worm and what do you use that is effective if you know?

both dogs take Interceptor heartworm meds year round, which is effective against rounds, hooks, and whips as well.

What is the worse illness or injury you have had to deal with so far with your dog/dogs or puppy?

with my current dogs, Luce's cruciate ligament tear(s). Mushroom, knock wood, hasn't had anything dramatic yet. I'm sure he'll make up for it later in life.

 

[PWCorgi]

I am curious as to what you give your dogs or dog or puppy in vitamins, supplements and what good is it doing?

Izzy and Frodo both get pumpkin every night to work as a binding agent and keep their stools firm.
Izzy also gets some organic cranberry juice every night to fend off chronic UTIs.

Do you use flea-tick vials on your dog/dogs?

Yes, I use Frontline Plus every month. I would prefer not to use them, but I have not yet found something natural that works at all, and when my guys get fleas they will literally chew their fur off in a matter of days. Not pretty.

Do you vet yearly for booster shots, why if so?

Only rabies, because it's required by law here.

How often do you worm and what do you use that is effective if you know?

They were wormed while still with the breeder, but haven't since then.

What is the worse illness or injury you have had to deal with so far with your dog/dogs or puppy?

Uhm, we've been pretty lucky...
Frodo ate a pack of Brillo pads, but that was completely my fault.
With Izzy it's probably her UTIs, but I think we pretty much have that under control now. *knocks on wood*

 

[blackmaskrott]

My dogs are fed Wysong kibble (a natural/holistic food) (and RMB about 3-4 meals a week). But whether it is a kibble meal or a RMB meal, they get muscle meat, kefir, veggie puree' and supplements in every a.m. feeding and a whole egg or tripe occasionally. The p.m. feeding is either kibble or RMB, but not all the other stuff. I give the following supplements:

flax seed meal or flax seed oil
given for the Essential Fatty Acids

fish oil
also for the Essential Fatty Acids (EFA)

vit E
for the antioxidant properties and is essential for absorption of EFA

glucosamine/chondroitin (with MSM for the older dogs)
joint health, the MSM in an anti-inflamatory

vit C
immune system, joint health, and an essential if you are giving MSM as
this depletes the body of vit C

garlic
immune and circulatory systems also a wonderful parasite control

kelp
glandular (pituitary, adrenal, thyroid) health also a wonderful source of
iron and helps to make pigmentation richer

alfalfa
aids in the assimilation of proteins, calcium, and other nutrients,
contains digestive enzymes, trace minerals and vit A, C, E, K, B, and D


One thing to remember is that most dog food whether "crap" or "the good stuff", only contain trace amounts of the supplements listed on the bags. Usually not enough to be beneficial to your dog.

I will add here that IMO, no matter what you choose to feed your dog, as long as he/she is happy, healthy, and in optimum condition then what ever works for you is just that. It works for you.

My dogs are given their puppy shots and a booster sometime between 6 months and a year and then titres after that.

I do fecal analysis once or twice a year because we have had giardia in the creeks around our vacation property. The dogs are treated if necessary. Heartworm is not an issue here. I will do a Bio-spot flea treatment when necessary. I have one bitch very allergic to fleas.

The worst medical issue I've ever dealt with was loosing my heart dog to a very nasty cancer. Everything else pales in comparison. He is buried here at the house and now I have to figure out how to take him with me to our new property. I won't leave him behind.

Anyway, Great topic. Thanks for letting me contribute.

 

[Dani]

Bear gets glucosamine twice a day as a preventative against arthritis. So far it seems to be working: she's 8 years old and, while not necessarily spry, doing well.

For flea control, she gets a Program pill once a month.

No worming.