Can Vitamin C Help Hip Dysplasia?
Hip dysplasia is a devastating joint disease that targets some dogs and makes walking and getting around difficult. While dog breeders are aware of this condition and are trying to breed the healthiest dogs only to reduce the incidence of hip dysplasia, many dogs still develop the disease. A controversial, but relatively harmless, method of treating hip dysplasia includes treatment with Vitamin C supplements. This nutrient may be given at various stages of the disorder or even to the mother dog while pregnant to prevent hip dysplasia in her offspring.
Instructions
1. Give an adult dog that weighs 50 lbs., approximately 250 mg of Vitamin C per day and increase or decrease that dosage if the dog weighs more or less than 50 lbs.
2. Spread the dosage out during the day. Vitamin C does not stay in the body and dosing your dog once a day with a high amount of the nutrient will result in expensive urine but it will not provide round-the-clock protection for hip dysplasia.
3. Switch to a mild form of Vitamin C supplements if your dog gets diarrhea. Vitamin C, especially in high doses, can upset your dog's stomach and loosen his stools. Try Ester C, a mild vitamin formulation that is less likely to result in diarrhea.
4. Dose pregnant dogs with Vitamin C supplements to possibly prevent hip dysplasia in their offspring. This is controversial, but some dog specialists swear by it when dosing breeds that are prone to developing the debilitating joint condition. Keep dosing the mother dog as long as she is nursing.
5. Include Vitamin C supplements in your new puppy's diet. Based once again on the puppy's weight, in breeds prone to hip dysplasia, consider administering Vitamin C supplements to the puppy as soon as it begins to eat solid food to provide on-going protection and promote strong bone growth.
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