PON von Regensdorf, Switzerland

Should I give my PON vitamin C ?

Online research has indicated that Vitamin C for dogs is a relatively new treatment for many degenerative joint disorders.Generally, dogs with joint problems need more Vitamin C than what their bodies produce naturally. Prior to supplementing your PON's diet with Vitamin C, it is beneficial to understand what it is and the ways it can help your PON's health issues.

Vitamin C is a nutrient which is found in many fruits and vegetables. Humans need to supplement their Vitamin C, but dogs’ bodies make enough of it on their own to meet their needs. Because dogs can produce it without supplementation, most dog foods and treats do not contain significant amounts of Vitamin C.

If your PON needs Vitamin C supplements, you can offer Vitamin C supplements for dogs. These supplements are usually formulated as treats that are easy to give to your PON. Most of these treats are made with natural ingredients that are grain-free and contain no preservatives or artificial flavors.

If you feed your PON a home-cooked or raw diet, there are several foods rich in Vitamin C that most dogs enjoy. These foods are safe, so you can give them to your PON without worrying that you are endangering your PON's health.

If you offer your PON apples, leave the skin on to keep it's fiber. Do not allow your PON to eat the core, because apple seeds contain cyanide. If you need some help convincing your PON to eat apples, try dipping them in peanut butter. The peanut butter provides healthy protein, vitamins and other nutrients.
Generally dogs enjoy sliced, dehydrated sweet potatoes. There are many sweet potato treats on the market which are convenient. Sweet potatoes can also be baked and integrated into your PON's diet.
Green beans can be added to your PON's daily diet.Many dogs will also eat frozen green beans directly from the freezer. The vitamins and nutrients found in green beans are often leached out during the canning process, therefore using fresh or frozen beans is best.

The benefits of vitamin C

Vitamin C’s benefits on the human immune system are widely known and documented. It has a similar effect in dogs. However, Vitamin C benefits dogs in several other ways.Vitamin C is also an antioxidant, which means that it absorbs free radicals and prevents them from damaging tissues. Free radicals are implicated in a number of chronic conditions, which include cancer and arthritis. Keeping free radicals away from your PON's system may help prevent these conditions.

Vitamin C is an anti-inflammatory that helps reduce and prevent inflammation and swelling. This is a vital part of pain relief, since most pain from acute injuries and chronic muscle, bone and joint pain results from inflammation.

In addition to helping relieve pain, Vitamin C stimulates collagen.Collagen forms the connective tissue cushion between joints. This cushion is the tissue that is eroded in dogs who have arthritis and other degenerative joint disorders.Collagen must be healed in order for your PON to regain mobility and to experience long-term pain relief.By stimulating the growth of collagen, Vitamin C helps joint tissue to heal and grow, restoring the cushion between joints. This is very important for dogs who have arthritis, hip dysplasia and other conditions that damage the cartilage between the joints.

If your PON doesn't have joint or other health issues, there may be no need to supplement with Vitamin C. Most owners consider supplementing Vitamin C in their PON's diet to alleviate symptoms from chronic conditions. Adding Vitamin C as a preventative may be more helpful than waiting until symptoms occur. Generally,

dogs who are predisposed to conditions such as arthritis, hip dysplasia, patellar subluxation and other degenerative bone and joint conditions can benefit from Vitamin C. Consult your vet when considering vitamin C for your PON.