(We have another article on Vitamin C for dogs that provides additional, in-depth information on the topic. Click HERE for the latest information!)
In every store we see supplements and vitamins for humans. They are everywhere, from grocery stores to health supplement companies! There is a supplement or vitamin for everything imaginable that we, as humans, might need to treat. Sometimes, there are so many choices that it gets hard to decide what to take.
But what about supplements and vitamins for our senior pets? Should we give our pets vitamins? Are pet supplements necessary? Are there specific vitamins or supplements I should give my pet?
In this post, we’re going to explore Vitamin C and the benefits of Vitamin C for dogs. We’ll take a look at several reasons to consider adding a quality Vitamin C product to your senior pet’s diet. We will also explore the various forms of Vitamin C on the market and provide our recommendations for the best available. Finally, we will get into some of the questions that come up regarding Vitamin C for dogs!
Why Vitamin C?
Vitamin C is well known as an antioxidant and for its ability to support the immune system. There is a reason we take lots of Vitamin C when we start getting sick…because it works! Vitamin C can also help reduce inflammation and cognitive aging (the brain). Interestingly, the human body cannot produce Vitamin C but, with an appropriate diet, we get all the Vitamin C we need from other sources.
On the other hand, dogs produce Vitamin C on their own in their livers. Does that mean your senior dog should not take additional Vitamin C? They absolutely should, depending on their age and their health. As always, talk to your vet to discuss if additional Vitamin C should be added to your senior pet’s diet. Examples of reasons to add Vitamin C to your dog’s diet include during times of sickness, stress or when it is apparent that your senior pet has a skin disease.
There may also be preventative effects to your senior pet taking extra Vitamin C. Studies have shown that supplementing your senior dog with extra Vitamin C have a greater resistance to disease and may be able to recover more quickly from injuries or illness.
What Form of Vitamin C is Best?
You will notice that, when you start researching Vitamin C products for your senior pet, there are a lot of different kinds of Vitamin C used in pills and supplements. You will probably see names like Calcium Ascorbate, Ascorbic Acid, Ester C, Sodium Ascorbate and maybe even several other forms of Vitamin C listed. These are all different forms of Vitamin C…but don’t stress out! Let’s take a look at a few of these forms of Vitamin C so that, when you see them on a label, you will know exactly what you are looking at!
Calcium Ascorbate
Calcium Ascorbate is an extremely common version of Vitamin C and is known for being very gentle on your senior dog’s tummy. It also has the fewest side effects such as diarrhea and heartburn. It is easily absorbed in the intestines and it is believed to provide the best results in combating arthritic symptoms your senior fur baby might have. This form of Vitamin C is a very safe choice for your senior dog.
Ascorbic Acid
You might have seen this ingredient in the ingredients list of many of the food products you eat, particularly anything sour. Ascorbic Acid is very tart but is also the most common form of Vitamin C used in pills for human consumption. Larger doses of this form of Vitamin C can cause stomach issues and can also cause diarrhea, in both humans and dogs. Dogs tend not to like taking this form of Vitamin C in its raw form due to the sour, tart flavor it has. This is a good type of Vitamin C to use when in the form of something your senior dog can’t taste.
Ester C
Ester C is a patented form of Vitamin C that is intended to be a time-release kind of medicine. Combined with Calcium and metabolites, Ester C may absorb better into your senior dog’s system and may also stay in your senior dog’s system longer than any other form. Ester C is similar to Calcium Ascorbate in that it will not cause problems with your senior pet’s stomach and intestines. Though not as common and a bit more pricey, this is a good option for those looking for a “multivitamin” type of medicine for their dog.
Sodium Ascorbate
Sodium Ascorbate is similar to Calcium Ascorbate in that it is very easily absorbed into your senior pet’s system but is also less sour than Ascorbic Acid. This form of Vitamin C has been shown to stay in the body up to twice as long as some other forms of the vitamin. Sodium Ascorbate will not cause irritation to your senior pet’s intestinal tract and excess amounts of the vitamin are easily eliminated from your dog’s system. As with Calcium Ascorbate, this form of Vitamin C is a very safe and readily available form of Vitamin C you can feel good about giving to your senior dog!
Our Recommendations
Best Overall
For those looking for an all-in-one supplement that includes high-quality Vitamin C, look no further than Pet Parents 5-in-1 Multi-Vitamin. These soft chews are packed with nutrition and, if you have a smaller dog breed, you get a full three months of servings. The Vitamin C in this product, Ascorbic Acid, works well when mixed with other vitamins such as Vitamin E and Vitamin A. Together, they support balanced health and fitness and provide huge antioxidant benefits. Aside from the high-level Vitamin C included, this product targets your senior dog’s joint health, skin and coat, digestive system, and heart health. Best of all, Pet Parents carries a whole bunch of other supplements that are excellent for your senior pet!
Best Premium
Nutrition Strength Vitamin C for Dogs is our recommendation for the product with the least amount of extra ingredients. This product uses the Ascorbic Acid as the Vitamin C source and includes Zinc, Co-Q10 and Selenium. These ingredients work together to provide the best delivery of Vitamin C to your dog. With Vitamin C as the main ingredient, this product is also a great source of antioxidants. Antioxidants work to prevent damage to the insides of your dog. What you may not know is that Vitamin C is great for ensuring your senior dog has enough collagen in their system, and this product does a great job of that!
Best Under $20
Our best budget Vitamin C product recommendation is a powder but with an added benefit. Horbaach Sodium Ascorbate Powder is non-acidic and super gentle, meaning that it will not upset your senior pet’s tummy. This powder is also highly absorbed by your senior pet. Something pet owners don’t think about is allergic reactions to medicines and vitamins. This powder contains no gluten, wheat, yeast, milk, or soy, ensuring that only the most particular senior pet will have an allergic reaction. There are also no gross artificial preservatives or artificial sweeteners, making this product amazingly natural and very safe for your senior pet to take!
Best Under $40
Vitamins for Pets Bio-C is available in a either a two pack or a single bottle powder form and the best part about it is that is in powder form. This gives you the ability to give your senior pet the exact amount they need, in the best form for them. You can either put it in capsules or dust it over their food. Bulk powder vitamins tend to be much cheaper than prepared vitamins and also tend to last much longer. As with any bulk powder, start with ¼ the recommended dosage to assess your senior pet’s tolerance and taste for the product. Once you have established your dog’s tolerance and taste, you can gradually increase the dosage to the appropriate amount. This product is in the Sodium Ascorbate form of Vitamin C and, as mentioned earlier, has been to stay in your senior pet’s body for up to twice as long as other forms of Vitamin C.
Best of the Rest
Dogzymes Cran Tri C Urinary Tract Support is another powdered vitamin for your senior pet. However, this product contains THREE types of Vitamin C, Sodium Ascorbate, Ascorbic Acid and Cranberry Powder. All three of these forms of Vitamin C provide massive amounts of antioxidants and the combination is also great for supporting a healthy urinary tract. It is recommended that this product be combined with a high-quality probiotic and Dogzymes has this excellent product that is designed to specifically work with Tri C Urinary Tract Support. This is an excellent product for those looking for a Vitamin C supplement that does more than one thing!
XLNCE brings us a very high quality liquid vitamin that potentially lasts up to four whole months! Liquid vitamins are able to absorb into your senior pet’s system much quicker and more efficiently than regular pill vitamins. MightyBites packs a huge punch with 127 different vitamins and minerals, tastes great and can be either given to your senior pet as a liquid or added to your senior pet’s food to be eaten.
As we mentioned earlier, Ester-C is designed to be an extended release type of vitamin. In other words, it lasts a long time in your senior pet’s body. To help with time release, this product contains metabolites that can help with keeping Ester-C in your senior pet’s white blood cells. Additionally, a bioflavonoid complex helps with Vitamin C absorption into your senior pet’s body. Best of all Ester-C is considered to be one of the most gentle forms of Vitamin C for your senior pet’s tummy as there is no acid in the product.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you give your dog human Vitamin C?
In most cases, the answer is YES! However, the first thing you should do is check with your vet to make sure it is safe. Once your vet has approved, look for high-quality Vitamin C products such as the supplements in this blog post. Depending on the size of your senior pet, you may need to adjust the quantity of medicine you give them. My recommendation is to start with ¼ of the amount you see listed as the recommended dose. This will give you an opportunity to determine if there are any negative reactions. Also, it is advisable to look for Vitamin C options that are not pills. Dogs tend to not like pills and Vitamin C pills can be quite large. Look for powder or liquid forms that can easily be mixed in your senior pet’s food or water.
What type of Vitamin C can I give my dog?
First, look for a high-quality form of Vitamin C, preferably one that is in either a powder or a liquid and that is made somewhere you trust. Next, look for a form of Vitamin C that will be gentle on your senior pet’s stomach. Calcium Ascorbate or Sodium Ascorbate are both very safe options that won’t cause any issues with your senior pet’s stomach or intestinal tract. Both of these can be found in liquid and powder forms.
How much Vitamin C does a dog produce?
Dogs naturally produce enough Vitamin C to maintain a healthy balance internally. However, it is hard for them to overcome stress and sickness, which is why you should consider a Vitamin C supplement that provides additional Vitamin C to fend off the negative effects of stresses and sicknesses. You don’t want to go overboard in what you give your senior pet but supplementing daily with a little extra Vitamin C goes a long way to maintaining and even enhancing your senior pet’s health.
What does Vitamin C do for animals?
Vitamin C does several things that are beneficial to animals. It decreases inflammation in your animal’s system, something that can be caused by too much stress in your pet’s life. Vitamin also helps to combat free radicals in your senior pet’s body. Free radicals are dangerous to your pet as they damage cells in their bodies, potentially causing a large number of health problems, particularly has your pet ages. The addition of even just a little extra Vitamin C has been found to be very effective against free radicals. Finally, Vitamin C helps with the immune system, ensuring that your senior pet’s immune system is working at maximum efficiency.