Feet

[Pretty Miss Emma]

Hamish still has somewhat easty westy feet. And he sits a little low on his pasterns (I think that is the right way to describe it - he's a bit flat footed!). Anyway I was told that using Vitamin C in his food could help towards correcting these things. Obviously along with a few other things including exercising on different surfaces etc.

Anyway I'm wondering if anyone has any expereince in this or if you have used Vitamin C in your dogs what product did you use and what was the dosage? Can you use a human Vitamin C?

[perfect partners]

I use calcium ascorbate as it's supposed to be gentler on the stomach and more readily absorbed and utilised by the body. I give my BC a teaspoon a day, mixed in his food. You can keep upping the dose every couple of days until it makes their poos runny, then drop back to the level the dog can tolerate.

[dragonwoman]

Hamish still has somewhat easty westy feet. And he sits a little low on his pasterns (I think that is the right way to describe it - he's a bit flat footed!). Anyway I was told that using Vitamin C in his food could help towards correcting these things. Obviously along with a few other things including exercising on different surfaces etc.

Anyway I'm wondering if anyone has any expereince in this or if you have used Vitamin C in your dogs what product did you use and what was the dosage? Can you use a human Vitamin C?

Why not start by asking his breeder?

[2boxer]

My pup was the same, her breeder said to use ester c from the pharmacy. I used it and her feet are now perfect. However I'm not 100% convinced it was the vit c that did it, or if it was just time or dietary change????? All the vets I have spoken to dont believe that it will help the feet in any way. The ester c supplement does have calcium in it, so long term use could affect the way that the dogs body produces calcium. The breeder also reccomended giving chicken neck/wings twice daily! I figured it was worth a try! good luck!

[Dobecrazy]

I used ester c on my dobermann who was a bit flat footed, at 3 years old she has the most AMAZING feet. I also used ester c on my other dobe who was east west - didn't help she was east west until literally a month ago when her chest dropped a bit (gained more muscle).. In my experience a dog who is east - west at 6 or so months will always be a little east - west (depending on size of breed). I don't like messing around with supplements anymore but it couldn't hurt to add some orange juice and pulp or kiwi fruit to his dinner a few times a week. I have heard that they urinate out the excess vitamin c so you cannot overdose so to speak but I have also heard if you supplement it they stop absorbing it from natural sources (of course I have no idea which is true).

Walking a dog on sand or little rocks (pebbles) is great for tightening feet. (from experience).

Hope this helps in some way, sorry too much coffee!

[Wabbit]

Yes, I have used Vit C to help with down on pasterns/splayed feet in puppies. Over the years I've heard about it from several people with decades of experience in dogs, and in my limited experience think it helped - perfect feet and pasterns now. Greenpet make a Vit C powder that is odourless, tasteless and can be sprinkled on food, and is the non-calcium salt of ascorbic acid (ie sodium ascorbate, not calcium ascorbate). For me this is important when you have a puppy growing at a rapid rate, as I don't want to supplement with any form of calcium (even tiny). There are directions on the pack, but I seem to recall 1/4 - 1/2 a teaspoon for a 5 - 7 kg pup?

I don't think Vit C can fix the issue alone though. I'm not sure about older dogs, but for fast growing puppies, make sure its not spending most of its time on concrete/tiles/floorboards - get it out on grass and sand where the feet have to flex and actually function. I also make a clamshell with sand available, and encourage lots of digging. Saw a dramatic improvement in 2-3 weeks.

Good luck!

Edited October 2, 2013 by Wabbit

[poppop]

Yes yes and yes - definitely give it a go. I had the same issue with a pup. The Ester C is brilliant, made by Wagner. Get it online or in a chemist.

I gave 1 tablet (500mg a tablet I think) on her breakfast,and one on her dinner each night. I kept her on it for life, using the same dose - she was 30kg as an adult. It's a great all-round supplement and any excess will just be weed out.

I found it fantastic for the east-west issue. I would credit two things with changing the east-west nature of her feet as a pup: the Ester C twice daily, and changing from 100% high protein large breed puppy food to 50% high protein pup food mixed with 50% lower protein adult food.

[Dobecrazy]

I wouldn't go changing the diet to a lower protein food...