Multivitamins

[mgt818]

Hello,
I was just wondering does anyone here supplement with vitamins?  If so, can anyone give any recommendations?  My vet recommended vi-sorbits but after looking at the ingredients I am shocked at some of the ingredients.  The ingredients are as follows:
vi-sorbits®

Ingredients: Wheat Germ, Calcium Phosphate, Pork Liver Powder, Corn Syrup, Sorbitol, Linoleic
Acid, Ferrous Fumarate, Gelatin, Poultry Fat, Magnesium Sulfate, Niacinamide, Cyanocobalamin,
Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin E Supplement, Vitamin A Palmitate, Vitamin D Supplement, Cupric
Acetate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Folic Acid, Ethoxyquin

besides, I don't trust the wheat germ either.... or the pork liver for that matter.

any suggestions?

[mgt818]

I did find this one, I am wondering if maybe someone can tell me their oppinion about it

this is the link:

http://www.onlynaturalpet.com/products/Animal-Essentials-Multi-Vitamin-Herbal-Supplement/148038.aspx

I really appreciate any feedback!!
Thanks

[alek0]

Not too happy about that one (for cats at least) because of garlic and alfalfa. However, I am still searchng for a good multivitamin supplement since supplementation would be a must if I want to increase portion of home-prepared in my cats' diet. There are so many which are full of garbage. For taurine at least I hope to find something acceptable among bodybuilder supplements for humans.

[Cindy Nevarez]

Well, for one thing, the garlic and alfalfa are on toxicology lists for cats.

They should do a separate one for cats without those things and with the addition of taurine.

[mgt818]

Are garlic and alfalfa bad for dogs?  I wasn't aware they are bad for cats..

[Cindy Nevarez]

I use garlic for my dogs when they are ill...to boost immunity, or to help them get over infection.

Also, I am feeding them Honest Kitchen mix, which has as its main deep green vegetable alfalfa in it (first veggie ingredient on the list). They have been eating it for about a month now, and are doing very well on  it.

[FranciscoLABS]

Try this company:

http://www.liquidhealthinc.com/PetProducts.php

I was turned on to them by their human products.  I only use the K-9 Glucosamine and am happy with the results.

[CCnDuke]

Be careful of supplements...
The "company" that produces the fish feed that was identified as "contaminated" also makes pet supplements...Bio-Oregon I believe is the "company" name.

Be Safe Not Sorry

[mel_t]

I use Platinum Performance. www.platinumperformance.com

Dr. Elizabeth Hodgkins has been using this as the only supplement to Oma's Pride raw for many generations of her Ocicats with great results. She speaks very highly of it.

[Cindy Nevarez]

Do you know where the Platinum manufacturing facility is located?

Also, do you know where the ingredients used are grown, or where they come from?

[mgt818]

I am not very familiar with the nutritional requirments for cats (I only have dogs), but what about this formula?

Only Natural Vitamins[url/]

[alek0]

Personally, I don't particularly like it for following reasons:

1. Beef liver +vit. A supplements. Might end up to be a bit too much combined with regular food with high meat/fish content. Though number for vit. A seems rather low considering the ingredients. Also, what is the point of supplementing phosphorus? Plenty of phosphorus in meat. Not good for cats with kidney problems.

2. Cellulose and silicon dioxide are not exactly necessary ingredients.

3. Vegetable stearate ? Not exactly sure what is that.

4. Chromium picolinate. Personally I would prefer to avoid it since there is some controversy about it. Some studies (on rats though) demonstrate that it is mutagenic and causes oxidative damage of DNA and lipids.

[Cindy Nevarez]

Alek,
Veg Stearate is Stearic Acid, which is widely used in cosmetics as well as foods. It's a white waxy, natural fatty acid that occurs naturally in animal fats and oils.

Its use is to soften, and  it is a possible sensitizer in allergic people.

This is out of A Consumer's Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients.

[mel_t]

Do you know where the Platinum manufacturing facility is located?

Also, do you know where the ingredients used are grown, or where they come from?

sorry, I just saw this now... I was not getting notifications. 

I just checked their site:

Platinum Facilities

Since Platinum Performance's inception in 1997, our company has remained committed to producing and delivering premium quality, high-integrity nutritional supplements. Our proprietary manufacturing and packaging process enables us to achieve a level of unparalleled product integrity and freshness. We are leaders in the development and use of technology that protects the extremely fragile omega-3 essential fatty acids that comprise the foundation of our food supplements. These critical nutrients are never exposed to heat or light during production. Additionally, cutting edge nutrition technologies allow us to analyze every batch of product we produce.
In addition to being made fresh daily in small batches, Platinum Performance food supplements are free of chemical preservatives, artificial ingredients, trans fatty acids, fractionated fats, refined sweeteners and nutrient-depleted fillers. Our single nutrients and formulas are also free of preservatives and other filler additives.

I think I'll email them your questions though to get a specific answer.

[Cindy Nevarez]

BTW, the vegetable version occurs naturally in cascarilla bark.