Results of the multivitamin survey

15 Sep 2013

The results are in... here's what you had to say in regards to the use, prescription, or recommendations for multivitamins in dogs:

Survey results regarding Multi-vitamins

20 responses

Location of respondents:

12 USA

5 Canada

1 each Switzerland, Germany, & Italy

5 / 20 Use Multivitamins with their own pets

7 / 20 Prescribe or recommend Multivitamins to clients

Responses:

1. I would prescribe specific vitamin supplements for specific conditions such as B12 for gastrointestinal or mineral like iron with anemia if I thought it was iron deficient but not as a general rule to healthy animals 
2. Multivitamins for pets are mostly feel good marketing tricks.  There is not a whole lot of nutrition and most of them are full of fillers.  I make sure everyone is giving their pet fish oil and feeding a balanced diet. Again I think most pet multivitamins are gimmicks.
3. Quality is important! Standard Process products are the best I have found.
4. I feel that if owners are feeding a high quality balanced diet, their pets don't need a multivitamin in a healthy pet.  If there are specific medical issues, that I may consider prescribing them.
5. In general, I feel that healthy pets on good quality diets, should have a balance of nutrients. I do occasionally use Vitamin E for aging, skin, liver, etc. In general for debilitated pets, I use balanced canned/dry commercial diets and rarely use Nutrical, etc.  
6. I was taught that it's better to get the vitamins from the food rather than supplementing, and good quality food shouldn't need supplementing.
7. We like Standard Process supplements which are based on whole food supplementation.
8. Each individual is unique, I only suggest a multivitamin if I feel the dog would reap benefits from it....not all dogs need them....stressed, ill, very young or older animals can benefit from the addition to their food.
9. A well balanced diet should be sufficient to meet the needs of the pet.
10. I do advocate them sometimes after severe problems with nutrition intake.

So I think we are still with 'the jury is out' on this matter.  However, one thing that seems to be stated in both the articles I read and the comments above, was that healthy dogs may not need them… however dogs with 'issues' (medical problem, stress, illness, younger or older) could be the ones that might benefit!

Thanks to everyone who participated in the survey and shared your thoughts and knowledge with the rest of us!

Cheers!

Laurie

Laurie@FourLeg.com