Suplements - NOT!

In the last month or two, I've been contacted by several different companies who sell "supplements" for pets by using breeders to push them on their websites. Most of these companies could care less if I use them on MY dogs, they just want to give me "an easy way to supplement MY income" by putting a link to them on my site. (One company, however, actually provided me with a month's supply of their product for one dog... either a month wasn't enough time to make a difference, or there was no difference to be made!) I know several breeders who push these items and "better health" websites and wish them well. BUT a healthy dog on a decent diet doesn't require... or benefit... from unneeded vitamins and minerals. I actually feel it would be dishonest to suggest them to people who visit me on the web.

On the other hand, for large breed dogs... those who are going to mature over 50 pounds... I do feel a little extra vitamin C every day can help in the hip department. Many (many) years ago there was a vet in California who did a number of studies with German Shepherd Dogs and vitamin C. This vet suggested hip dysplasia, to some extent, was similar to scurvy in humans and was caused by the same thing... a need for more C in the diet. C is easy to use and is not harmful to the dog even if it is already getting enough of it. And it's cheap. So why not?

Visitors
My daughter and 13 year old granddaughter are visiting this weekend from Indiana. Haven't seen them since March 08 (yep, 2008!) And they brought their 2 year old Schnauzer with them. I'm not a big fan of the breed, but Princess is a delight! She's well mannered, affectionate and rather cute in an Ewok kind of way.