Is Vitamin C Harmful to Pets? 27-07-15

Is Vitamin C Harmful to Pets?

Many people are told that pets do not need extra vitamin C or that it is harmful to pets.


So what is the deal with Vitamin C???


Vitamin C is the body's primary water-soluble antioxidant, which makes it an important weapon in the immune system's arsenal against bacteria and viruses. It also helps protect unsaturated fatty acids, and the fat- soluble vitamins A and E from being oxidized, therefore protecting their potency. Since your pet can't manufacture it, vitamin C must be obtained through diet and supplementation.


A protective vitamin essential to over-all body health, vitamin C is especially important for neutralizing free radicals. It also:


- Helps in the production of collagen, and maintaining healthy skin

- Promotes the healing of wounds, scar tissue, fractures

- Strengthens blood vessels

- Helps the body utilize iron and folic acid

- Supports the thymus gland

- Enhances T-cell production, increasing resistance to viral and bacterial infections, and some allergies


BUT..In a few select diseases, you SHOULDN'T use Vitamin C Most of the time, and for most pets, it is a GREAT supplement.


The one SPECIFIC case you shouldn't use it is for Calcium Oxalate Stones in dogs and cats.


These are an UNUSUAL type of crystal, which form in acidic urine. If your pet is to ever have oxalate stones, then you want to employ other methods of healing.


But I feel that it is important that you are ALL clear about this condition, and EXACTLY what you should do if it happens.


Here are my TOP SOLUTIONS:


DIET


Prevention centers on creating a urinary environment with minimal calcium and minimal oxalate as well as creating a urine pH that is not conducive to calcium oxalate formation.


What to eat..


High Quality but Low Protein diet, as High Protein produces elevated levels of oxalates.


There are specifically formulated veterinary diets..IN this case ONLY I advise using that diet.


What to Avoid..


OXALATES


Vegetables ~ beets, eggplant, leeks, sweet potatoes, okra, pepper

Greens ~ green beans or peppers, beets, celery, collards, eggplant, parsley, spinach, Swiss chard, chives, endive, kale, leeks, okra, rutagbega, summer squash, sweet potatoes, tomatoes Legumes ~ beans, soy products including tofu

Grains ~ wheat germ

Nuts ~ all

Seeds ~ sesame and tahini

Fruit ~ berries, currants, concord grapes, figs, rhubarb, lemon, lime, plums, tangerines.


WATER


Water intake is the most important factor in preventing kidney stones. The additional fluid flushes the bladder, and doesn't allow these stones to form.


POTASSIUM CITRATE


By taking potassium citrate orally, citrate levels increase in the urine. Calcium binds to citrate instead of to oxalate which is a desirable event since calcium citrate tends to stay dissolved whereas calcium oxalate tends to precipitate out as mineral deposit. Potassium citrate also helps create an alkaline urine (in which calcium oxalate stones have difficulty forming). Potassium citrate supplements are typically given twice a day.