So much research has been done on the benefits of Vitamin C, and dogs on a regimen of this vitamin are much less likely to develop hip dysplasia, spinal myelopathy, ruptured disks, viral diseases and even skin problems. Cats will benefit too, as it can help prevent urinary tract infections and kidney disease. Wendell O. Belfield, DVM. Author of How to Have a Healthier Dog, had over fifteen years of clinical experience, and after working with over two thousand animals, saw that dogs definitely benefit from extra Vitamin C in their diet. There’s so much to say about the powers of Vitamin C and its antioxidant properties. There is no doubt that it helps support bones, teeth, ligaments and joints. I have seen animals who walked with limps, or could not get up the stairs rebound beautifully with mega-doses of this vitamin, and if your cats are prone to urinary tract problems, this amazing vitamin is sometimes a total lifesaver! I must admit that my own pets don’t care much for the sour properties though, so I have to artfully camouflage ascorbic acid in their favorite treats or mix it in with their stew.
I prefer a powder or a liquid supplement because I question the dubious ingredients in a tablet, (which may contain binders and fillers) and don’t even have to be listed on the label! When supplementing Vitamin C, consider splitting the daily recommendation into three or four doses per day. I recommend splitting a meal or a snack into two portions and serving them at different times to accommodate giving your pet Vitamin C mixed into its food several times a day. By supplying more frequent doses, you ensure that your pet’s body is provided with Vitamin C for longer periods of time, enabling it to use as much as it possibly can. The doses below are for general maintenance. It’s fine to double these dosages during times of stress or for overcoming specific ailments. Pet’s Weight Amount of Vitamin C 2 – 10 pounds up to 625 mg per day 11 to 25 pounds up to 1,250 mg per day
26 to 50 pounds up to 2,500 mg per day 51 to 100 pounds up to 3,750 mg per day Over 100 pounds up to 5,000 mg per day Dosage Tip: Always start with a small amount of Vitamin C and slowly increase the dose every few days until you work your way up to the ideal amount. Adding too much Vitamin C all at once, before the body is used to it, may cause loose stools or an upset stomach. Not all vitamins are created equal. Remember to always use a product that is human-grade and, as with any supplement; if the product is high quality, you should expect to notice some marked improvements in your own pet’s health. Keep in mind that Vitamin C alone is not a panacea. You will certainly need other vitamins to keep your pets in peak condition, and that vitamins should be carefully chosen for your individual pet’s needs.Intravenous (IV) Vitamin C Therapy involves the administration of Vitamin C directly into the bloodstream.
This delivery system is very powerful because it allows the plasma concentration of Vitamin C to reach levels high enough to kill cancer cells. Oral administration of Liposomal Vitamin C is capable of being able to achieve high enough plasma levels of Vitamin C to kill cancer cells along with IV Vitamin C. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has recently published data demonstrating the anti-cancer effects of Vitamin C… view here >. How Does IV Vitamin C Work? Vitamin C at high blood concentrations does not work as an anti-oxidant but instead acts as a pro-oxidant. When given intravenously, Vitamin C in the blood has been shown to generate the production of hydrogen peroxide that directly kills cancer cells in the early stages of cancer. Normal cells have the ability to neutralize the effects of hydrogen peroxide via catalase whereas cancer cells do not. This mechanism of action is similar to some conventional chemotherapies, but without the toxic side-effects.
“Shrek” is a 12 year old West Highland Terrier with Prostate Cancer. He receieved IV Vitamin C treatments along with Mistletoe injections. His life has been drastically prolonged, and his quality of life has improved greatly. For additional information see these articles: IV Therapy Vitamin C At The Center: Current intravenous Vitamin C protocols suggest maximum benefit may be obtained from one to two IV infusions per week for 4-6 weeks. After reassessment, continued treatment is typically one infusion per month or on an as needed basis depending on the case. Infusion time can range from 1-3 hours in duration depending on the dose. Intravenous access is achieved by placing a small venous catheter into a vein in the animal’s front or rear leg. A small dose of Vitamin C is given initially to begin therapy and the Vitamin C dose is increased in subsequent infusions. Each animal is evaluated as an individual. In general, the dose and dosing interval of IV Vitamin C will vary depending on the type and severity of cancer present, the animals condition, other therapies given and whether the animal will be treated with chemotherapy and radiation therapy at the same time as Vitamin C therapy.
Is IV Vitamin C Therapy Safe? There are no significant adverse effects associated with high doses of intravenous vitamin C when properly administered, whether given as a sole therapy or in combination with chemotherapy or radiation. Some animals can feel nauseous and may vomit during treatment which is a common side effect of an infusion going to fast, our technicians will monitor the patient until an appropriate rate is achieved. Increased water intake is also very common, no need to be alarmed if your pet wants to drink more water after treatment. In human medicine, IV Vitamin C is administered at several different private and public medical centers. Looking for more information on IV Vitamin C? Download IVC sheet 1 > Download IVC sheet 2 > Download IVC sheet 3 > Download IVC sheet 4 > Download IVC sheet 5 > Download IVC sheet 6 > Mistletoe is a semi-parasitic shrub that was originally introduced for the treatment of cancer in humans in the 1920’s by Rudolf Steiner, the founder of anthroposophical medicine.
Iscador and Helixor are injectable extracts of mistletoe specially formulated to treat cancer. Clinically, mistletoe has been found to work equally well for the treatment of cancer in domesticated dogs and cats. In addition to direct anti-cancer effects, mistletoe can help decrease the side-effects of chemotherapy and radiation, enhance immune function to help fight cancer, relieve pain associated with tumors, prolong survival times and promote a high quality of life. Mistletoe is commonly used with conventional cancer therapies to prevent and decrease the adverse effects of conventional cancer therapies. Mistletoe can be safely combined with chemotherapy and radiotherapy, before, during and after treatment. It can also be given before and after surgery to decrease development of metastatic disease and to boost immune function post-operatively. Mistletoe can also be used as a primary cancer therapy when conventional cancer therapy is not possible due to adverse side-effects, weakness of the patient and when conventional treatment has proven ineffective.
Mistletoe is often combined with acupuncture and other alternative therapies (herbal medicine, nutritional therapies) for the treatment of cancer in these cases. Looking for more information on Mistletoe Cancer Therapy? Download IVC Sheet 1 > Download IVC Sheet 2 > Download IVC Sheet 3 > Download IVC Sheet 4 > Many Chinese herbs have been determined to be effective as potent biological response modifiers. Biological response modifiers (also known as immunotherapy), enhance the activity of the immune system to increase the body’s natural defense mechanisms against cancer. Chinese herbs can work synergistically with chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments to prevent recurrence of malignancies, stop metastasis, prolong remission and survival times and decrease the adverse effects (anorexia, vomiting, diarrhea, anemia, low white blood cell counts) of many anti-cancer drugs. Chinese herbs can be used alone to treat cancer as a primary therapy in cases where chemotherapy or radiation therapy would be too toxic to the animal due to age and condition.
Chinese herbs are safe with little to no incidence of side-effects when prescribed by a qualified herbalist. They can be also be used in combination with mistletoe injectable therapy and IV Vitamin C therapy to improve clinical results. Want more information on Chinese Herbs for Cancer? Acupuncture treatments are generally given as an adjunct to support western cancer treatments. Acupuncture can reduce the side-effects of chemo and radiation, such as anorexia, vomiting, diarrhea, and to control pain. Acupuncture is often combined with herbal medicine to rebuild the body from the damage done by chemotherapy and radiation, to prevent metastasis and improve overall quality of life. Cancer patients have special nutritional needs due to the severe nature of their disease and its global effects on the body. Some foods actually contribute to the development of cancer while other foods reduce it. In general, it is important to decrease the amount of grain carbohydrates in dogs and cats with cancer and to give high quality protein and the right kind of fats.
A diet made with a variety of fresh, whole unprocessed and unpreserved ingredients provide optimal nutrition for dogs and cats, the same as for human beings. A balanced diet is achieved by giving a variety of foods instead of feeding the same things day after day. Based on clinical experience, this approach to nutrition has been found to be the best for the treatment of cancer in animals, similar to that in humans. Each animal is looked at as an individual and the recommendations made are based on Chinese food energetics, species, initial condition and disease. It is important to note that the science of veterinary nutrition is still being developed and no one knows the optimal nutritional requirements for healthy pets at this point in time. Most of the research being done on pet nutrition is being conducted by the pet food industry. The research conducted by pet food companies (that sell the food they are researching and reporting on) can’t be relied upon for unbiased information regarding the health promoting quality of their pet food.