Over time I have been asked several questions about the potential benefit of vitamin supplements for man's best friend, the canine. While American Health Sciences is focused on human health and wellness, due to popular demand I am happy to answer this question about treatment for the four-legged members of our family:
My dog, Max, a ten-year-old lab, is really having a hard time getting around these days. I heard that glucosamine and chondroitin make a big difference… What can you tell me about vitamins for dogs? – S.W, Hinsdale, IL
Dear S.W. – What you heard about glucosamine and chondroitin was correct. They do help provide symptomatic relief from arthritis pains for humans and dogs. Glucosamine hydrochloride works best for animals. In general, nutritional supplements are very beneficial to animals. Most of the diet fed to our pets comes from processed food. This provides an inexpensive way to give the animal the protein, fats and carbohydrates they need. Vitamins and mineral supplementation are not a serious concern for food manufacturers. This is primarily because animals, unlike humans can make many of their own vitamins. Vitamin C is a good example. However, the delivery process is not very efficient. Most animals are not adequately able to produce the adequate amount of the key vitamins and minerals they need.
In both the long and short term, a multivitamin for your dog is a much more beneficial way to spend your money the next time you think about buying your beloved Max a new toy. – John
Can I combine my HRT therapy with alternative options or should I go cold turkey? – J.B. Oakton, VA
Dear J.B � It sounds like you are planning to stop your HRT and try an alternative therapy. Here are some things you should know. First, if you are taking HRT and plan to continue to take HRT, then there is no reason to add an alternative therapy. The alternative therapies are much weaker than the HRT and are not likely to justify the additional cost. If you plan to stop HRT, then you can start using an alternative therapy along with the HRT during your last month of HRT. This will make the transition from HRT to an alternative therapy easier. When women stop HRT cold turkey, they will usually begin to experience a return of menopausal symptoms before the alternative treatment options begin to work. It takes these women about 4 weeks of alternative therapies to again be symptom free. Alternative therapies, like 60 mg. of isoflavones or the herb black cohosh, or a combination of both, provide relief for about 70-80% of women. Sadly, the rest of these women will probably need to return to HRT to become symptom free. - John
There is no way I can take all the soy required to make a difference in my hot flashes. Is there another answer? � C.T., Santa Monica, CA
Dear C.T. � Many people have read that eating soy does not reduce menopausal symptoms. You have stated the reason why. Soy contains isoflavones, which do reduce menopausal symptoms, but you must eat large amounts of soy to get the necessary amounts of the isoflavones needed. The answer is a supplement that has extracted the isoflavones from soy and the other plants containing isoflavones. Researchers have determined that it takes 60 mg of isoflavones per day to reduce menopausal symptoms. They also advise not to take more than 100 mg a day. - John
Will going through menopause help me lose weight or will I actually gain more? � A.B., Framingham, MA
Dear A.B. � Most women experience weight gain after menopause. Every year over the age of forty our Basal Metabolic Rate slows down. This means that if we continue to follow our current eating and exercise pattern we will gain weight each year. What is important for women to know is that the weight gained after menopause occurs particularly around the abdomen. This type of weight distribution is similar to the male and puts women into a higher risk of cardiovascular disease just like men. - John
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