"Monroe" wrote in message
...
I'm considering other alternatives to Metacam (no, beyond considering,
I'm wanting to use other alternatives) for an Addisonian dog.
Reviewing info to date, I'm somewhat bewildered. I have (I hope)
identified the preference for salmon/cold water fish oil blends, with
almost equal support for flax seed oil.
...........depends on the dog - some react to flax oil. Besides flax oil
also has omega 9s and omega 6s. What you're after mostly are the omega 3s.
Are the sites you're reading geared to dogs or humans?

One of the shops I visisted mentioned potential "reflux"
issues depending upon the physical makeup of the dosage (enteric
coated vs soft gel vs liquid).
........sounds like a human issue.

exactly what type/brand they are using and what dosages.

......I use NOW brand 1000 mg per softgel. My dogs are all around 55-60
pounds. Two get 2, and 1 gets 3 per day. She should really get 5 but I
always forget at the evening meal. Top dose is 1000 mg per 10 lbs body
weight. Give Vit E with it so these oils don't get oxidixed in the body.

I've checked out a few and
one in particular, a cold water fish/flax/borage oil capsule seems
good.
..........I do use Flax oil occasionally, but get Barleans in the
refrigerated case in the health food store. I don't like combos for dogs.
They may be reacting to one or more of the ingredients and you'll never
figure out which one it is.
........I'd also add some MSM once you get the fish oil going. There's lots
of other herbs or nutraceuticals you can use also for joint problems, like
glucosamine.

I had been giving Spike Vit D with Ca to combat ortho problems.
Working fairly well for quite some time; two vets have indicated that
the blood work seem about right for all.
..........Honestly I don't know how they'd know that. There is no Ca test
that will tell you if the dog is getting too much Ca or not - the balance is
metabolically regulated and blood calcium does not reflect nutritional
intake. Unless they did a test specifically for Vit D I don't believe
they'd know if the current dose was good or bad either as the symptoms are
the same for too much or too little. If your dog is eating regular food I'd
be careful with the Vit D. It can be overdosed.

But if I do indeed go to fish
oil, is there a point in continuing the separate Vit D dosage?

..........fish oil - that is salmon oil is body oil - is from the body of the
salmon, not the liver. It has no Vit D in it, unlike cod liver oil.

buglady
take out the dog before replying