Vitamin C - safe? Effective?

[Wendi and Petie]

Hi everyone ...

This crazy weather has brought lots of colds to the fuzzikids (and to me). They get Lysine, but I've had a couple of recommendations for Vitamin C and echinacea. Petie (OTJ) can get really sick pretty easily, so I'm trying prevent that. Thoughts or suggestions?

Thanks!

 

[janelle and Nomad]

Hi I only had time to do a quick search and saw info. on both sides. However, most of the sites advocating vitamin C for cats and dogs are also the sites that sell supplements. Unlike us, cats and dogs can manufacture their own vitamin C. People and other animals need to get it from diet or supplements. Unless your cat has a deficiency in Vitamin C, I wouldn't think supplementing is necessary.

I have concerns about these web sites that propose that megavitamins can cure everything from autism to cancer. They are now targeting cats and dogs too. Some vitamins and minerals can be toxic in large amounts.

Hopefully some other readers will also weigh in. All I can say is from what I have read so far I would not start giving vitamin C to my cats.

 

[Jen & Squeak]

Vitamin C and echinacea are targeted towards humans and we shouldn't be giving human vitamins to pets. Now, vitamin c is water soluble so it likely wouldnt do any harm. I've no clue whether echinacea is safe for pets but since its been recently ruled ineffective for humans, and you've no idea whether its toxic or not, I'd give it a miss.

 

[Wendi and Petie]

Thanks, you guys. I was getting the same information online as well. I don't trust these vets who just promote all these supplements that could be harmful. It's scary.

So far, we seem to do well if we use "Little Noses" on all three of my kittehs when it's really dry or if there is sneezing. Keeping eyes clean with saline and a cotton ball helps a lot, too.