Why Vitamin C For Life?

Vitamin C is one of the best known and safest antioxidants. It has different chemical variants: ascorbic acid being the one we humans take the most often; sodium ascorbate and calcium ascorbate being buffered forms taken by anyone with a sensitive stomach, and also which are given to dogs who do not handle acidic substances as well as we do.

Vitamin C has several important functions. Firstly it is a powerful antioxidant, possessing extra atoms in its outer molecular structure that it gives up to repair damage caused by free radicals. It helps kickstart our immune systems, thus helping our body to protect itself against disease. It works synergistically with the other vitamins in our systems, that when provided together, are much more powerful and efficient than any one taken alone. It is well known that taking Vitamin C helps prevent colds, and can even shorten the duration of the illness.

This wonderful substance is essential to the connective tissues of our body: cartilage, ligaments and tendons that hold joints firmly in place; the gums that teeth are imbedded in; arteries, veins, capillaries that nourish every cell in our bodies; skin that protects us from dehydration and infection. Connective tissues are the cement that hold us together. Vitamin C is necessary for the building of these connective tissues.

Vitamin C has important anti-inflammatory properties. It helps both people and their dogs by reducing the inflammation and the pain of arthritis. Ironically Aspirin consumption causes it to be depleted from the body. The very substance that would help the swollen, painful joints is destroyed by the Aspirin. Obviously senior dogs (and their owners) would get considerable relief from the daily consumption of Vitamin C.

The symptoms of scurvy, or lack of Vitamin C (the prefix A before the word ascorbic acid meaning without scurvy), touch all the connective tissues of our bodies. The complexion becomes sallow and skin problems develop, the breath is bad, the gums bleed and teeth fall out, there are nose bleeds and hemorrhages, loose aching joints that become immobile, and brittle bones that break with the slightest movement.

Throughout history armies involved in long sieges eating only dry rations, and sailors on long voyages suffered heavy loss of life due to scurvy. As many as 50% of the men died. When Captain Cook circumnavigated the world in 1772 to 1775, he made it a point of getting fresh fruit and vegetables whenever they touched land. On that voyage only one man was lost out of 118. An astounding improvement in survival.

Modern dogs eating dry kibble are getting similar rations to those olden-day sailors and soldiers, and they present with most of the same symptoms. Vitamin C, the cement of their connective tissues is absent or very minimal, and their bodies are slowly falling apart. Typically owners would see the immune system problems, the cancers, the allergies, the ear infections, the tooth and gum problems, the joint problems, the hip dysphasia, the heart disease.

Contrary to common thought, dogs produce only minimal amounts of Vitamin C in their bodies. We humans produce none. Stress of any kind (sickness, teething, vaccinations, operations, ear cropping, training, high exercise, separation from litter mates, boarding) uses up what little there may be. Vitamin C being a water-soluble substance is not stored in the body. It is not possible to save up for the future. This essential, life giving vitamin must be ingested daily. (The very important Vitamin B's are also water soluble and must be continually replaced.)

So you ask why don't Vets prescribe Vitamin C to the dogs they see? Often the Vet may see a dog with vague symptoms that could be caused by many things. They proceed with a hit and miss "try this and that" technique as they try to solve the puzzle. Most have been taught that the dog makes enough Vitamin C of his own. Thus he may not be considering its deficiency. (Vets are not nutritionists.) When Vitamin C minimal deficiency standards were established, the laboratory dogs used in those experiments lived very routine lives with minimal stresses. Tests were not carried out long enough to see the long-term effects of deficiency either. Also to quote Dr. Belfield, 'But medical schools- both the human and veterinary kind- are totally geared to disease. There are no courses in "wellness" to teach doctors how to make apparently healthy beings into optimally healthy beings.'

Another factor is the influence of the big drug companies. They are multi-billion dollars conglomerates that pump money into research, medical schools, and representatives who visit clinics (your doctor's and your Vet's) with big suitcases filled with freebees for the doctors. The goal is to patent new drugs and sell them for profit. Vitamin C is very, very old. Its chemical properties are common knowledge and no patent can be applied, therefore no money is to be made. Rather it's the cortisone, the heartworm combos, the antibiotics and the vaccines that bring in the money. Tremendous pressure is put on your Vet with all the publicity campaigns. Then the paying dog owner comes in to the Vet expecting to be given these things.

There is a societal phenomena at play. We belong to a consumer society, where many people believe in the magic pill. They believe the myths and the advertising that one food can meet all the dog's nutritional requirements. They want to be able to have the convenience of putting the dish down with the dry pebbles in it and their dog will live forever. Then if it gets sick, the Vet will give them a pill to fix the dog. So when such customers go to the Vet, they do not want to be told that they have to change their ways. They'd rather give the dog cortisone for his skin allergies and try multiple brands of dry dog food in their vane search for the perfect food, than give their dog fresh, raw food and Vitamin C and have a healthy, happy dog. Few people have any knowledge of the very long list (pages) of side effects caused by cortisone therapy, among which is the weakening of the immune system. Cancer may be the long-term price paid by the dog for the master wanting that illusive magic pill. [See the bible of drugs called the CPS or Compendium of Pharmaceutical Specialties.]

For wonderful, fascinating reading on vitamins and minerals please refer to:

The Benefits of Vitamins and Minerals for Your Dog's Life Cycles - How to Have A Healthier Dog By Wendell O. Belfield, D.V.M. And Martin Zucker With a Foreword by Dr. Linus Pauling
 

Assessing Body Condition

Roly-Poly puppies may be irresistibly cute, but by 12 weeks, "rangy" better describes the look you're after.

When you look down from above at your puppy, you should see a waist in front of his hips. When you look at him from the side, you should see a definite tuck-up just in front of the hind legs.

For a hands-on test, place your thumbs alongside your pup's backbone, with your fingers down his sides. Move your hands from the front legs to the back legs with a little pressure. You should be able to feel the ins and outs of going over and between the ribs. If you cannot feel the ribs, your puppy needs to eat less.