Part 2 of my talk at CPE Nationals 2012 NY

1. Supplements for the
Performance Dog
Laurie S. Coger, DVM, CVCP

2. What Supplements are
Needed?

3. Key Supplements
 Vitamin-mineral
 Salmon Oil
 Probiotics
 Joint Support
 Digestive Enzymes

4. Vitamin Mineral
Supplementation
 Most soils are deficient in key minerals and other
nutrients
 Crops grown on them, and animals fed those crops,
are also deficient
 Supplementation assures that we are meeting all of
our dogs’ needs

5. Choosing a Vitamin-
Mineral Supplement
 Read labels carefully
 Some “combo” products contain other ingredients –
herbs, flax, dried liver, whey, kelp, etc.
 Some products contain undesirable ingredients
 Origin of ingredients is important

6. Wheat germ, kaolin, corn
syrup, pork liver
meal, dicalcium
phosphate, sucrose, lactose, s
afflower oil, gelatin, corn
starch, stearic
acid, niacinamide, hydrolyze
d vegetable protein, iron
oxide and
peptone, magnesium
stearate, dl-alpha tocopherol
acetate, vitamin A
acetate, zinc
oxide, riboflavin, thiamine
mononitrate, pyridoxine
hydrochloride, cyanocobala
min, manganese
sulfate, copper acetate
monohydrate, vitamin
D3, cobalt sulfate.

7. Dried Organic
Coconut, Parmesan Cheese, Algal
Oil (source of omega-3
DHA),CholineChloride, Yucca
schidigera, Sodium Ascorbate
(source of Vitamin C), Zinc
Proteinate, Iron
Proteinate, Vitamin E
Supplement, Salt, Calcium
Carbonate, Dicalcium
Phosphate, D-Calcium
Pantothenate, Cinnamon
Extract, Origan Extract, Cayenne
Extract, Copper
Proteinate, Riboflavin, Niacin, M
anganese Proteinate, Yeast
Culture, Vitamin B-12
Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin A
Supplement, Folic
Acid, Pyridoxine HCl, Thiamine
Mononitrate, Vitamin D-3
Supplement, Beta
Carotene, Sodium
Selenite, EthylenediamineDihydri
odide and mixed tocopherols.

8. Salmon Oil
Source of omega-3 fatty acids
Anti-inflammatory, proven to help arthritic dogs
 Support skin health and maintenance
 Lessen effects of skin allergies and atopy
 Support neurologic tissues – brain, eyes, nerves
 Support immune system health

9. Studies Show Omega-3 FA
Benefits
 Studies published in JAVMA show omega-3 fatty acids
provide pain relief and improve mobility in dogs with
osteoarthritis. They also indicate that proper use of a
food containing a sufficient amount of omega-3 fatty
acids may result in a lower dosage of medication
required to manage joint pain and improve mobility in a
dog with osteoarthritis.
 These studies demonstrate that feeding a food containing
omega-3 fatty acids to a dog with osteoarthritis
significantly improves mobility and quality of life. All
three studies showed significant mobility improvement
as assessed by either pet owners, veterinarians, or both.

10. Omega 3 Fatty Acids
 In humans, low levels of omega-3 fatty acids are
linked to depression, ADD, Alzheimer’s, kidney
disease, cardiovascular disease, and schizophrenia
 Humans can absorb omega-3 fatty acids from fish
oils, borage oil, and flax seed oil
 Dogs absorb best from fish (animal) origin oils

11. Salmon or Fish Oil?
 Salmon Oil  Fish Oil
 Typically liquid  Typically capsule form
 Some capsules  Made from a mixture of
 Wild caught salmon mackerel, anchovy, and
sardine
 Ideally cold pressed
 Unknown consistency
 Richest source of DHA,
batch to batch
EPA (omega-3 fatty
acids)  May vary greatly in
quantity of DHA and
EPA per capsule

12. Probiotics
Probiotics are live microorganisms which when fed
in adequate amounts confer a health benefit to the
dog.
Common probiotic bacteria are lactobacillus and
acidophilus

13. Probiotics Help
 Boost the immune  Improve digestion
system
 Remove toxins
 Control yeast
 Help manufacture
overgrowth
B vitamins
 Aid in iron
absorption

14. Yogurt is not an
adequate
probiotic
source!

15. A Variety of Probiotics Are
Available
 Total Biotics from NWC Naturals
 Vetri-Mega Probiotic from
VetriScience

16. Joint Support

17. Key Ingredients
 Glucosamine
 Chondroitin
 MSM
 Unsaponifiables
 CMO
 And more

18. Glucosamine
 Dose: 10 – 20 mg per pound  Found in high
concentrations in cartilage,
especially trachea
 An amino sugar

19. Chondroitin
 Complex carbohydrate found in healthy cartilage that helps
retain water
 Research does not suggest a specific dose – formulated in
combination with glucosamine

20. MSM
 Dose: 10 – 30 mg per pound  Helps to reduce pressure in
cells
 Useful for inflammatory
conditions

21. Avocado Unsaponifiables
 In vitro studies show it can  From avocados and
improve structural soybeans
components of joint
cartilage  Trademarked – a highly
manufactured product
 No in vivo studies
referenced in
manufacturer’s product
information

22. CMO
CetylMyristoleate
 Supports joint lubrication  A medium chain fatty acid,
of the joint found in mice, male
beavers, and whales
 Immune system modulator
 Supports the production of
anti –inflammatory
prostaglandins

23.  Vitamins E and C
 Milk proteins
Other Key
 Manganese
Ingredients
 Boswellia
 Yucca
 Antioxidants

24. Omega 3 FA
Salmon Oil
 Dose: 1000 mg for  Omega 3 fatty
40 pound dog acids EPA and
DHA have the
 Salmon oil
most definitive
preferred source
benefits in regard
to inflammation
and joints

25. My Preferred
Products

26. Digestive Enzymes
 Found in “live”  Not present in
i.e. raw food kibble or dry
foods
 Aid in digestive
processes  Not present in
canned foods

27. Digestive Enzymes
 Enzymes are substances that function as organic
catalysts, in other words, they either start chemical
reactions or make them run faster
 Modern food processing techniques and all types of
cooking destroy nearly 100% of the enzymes
naturally occurring in food.
 All raw food naturally contains the proper types
and proportions of enzymes necessary to assist in
the process of decomposition.

28. When to Use Enzymes
 Times of stress or transition
 Illness, when receiving medications
 Dogs eating dog food should always receive
enzymes!
 Even healthy dogs may improve their absorption
and utilization of nutrients through the use of
digestive enzymes

29. Now Available on
Amazon!

30. Questions?