Supplements - Nupro or Missing Link

[ckrott]

I was wondering if anyone could give me more information on Nupro and Missing Link supplements.

They have all come recommended by different people (Rott owners and our trainer). There have been some mention of supplements, but I was wondering if you all could give me an idea of which is better.

Thanks!

[spidey]

If you feed a high-quality balanced diet, you do not really need supplements (and if you do not feed a high-quality diet, the money you spend on supplements is probably better spent on a better diet). Many people use and recommend them as a matter of course, without really thinking about whether their pet actually needs them or not, and supplements are not benign, some nutrients can be harmful if overused. That said, I have used Missing Link for a cat who needed supplementation for a medical condition and had great success with it - I recommend it highly if needed, but many dogs will not eat the canine version.

[Judi W]

That is kind of my question as well. What to use would depend upon why you think you need a supplement and what you hope to accomplish by adding one.

[Patty1231]

Actually, I've found the supplements to cost as much, or nearly as much, as a 35-40# bag of premium dog food. I used to use Nuvet but stopped that nearly a year ago. Now I only supplement with Vit E, Ester C, and GCM. Supplements get really expensive with dogs the size of ours.

[chivas]

I use Nupro on my 30 lbs 16 yr old arthritic dog. I just started about 3 weeks ago and do see an improvement. I should mention that i use Nupro Joint. He goobles it up and it DOES smell good! LOL

[ckrott]

Before she joined us, she was on Pro Plan and the Nupro supplement (joint). We kept her on the Pro Plan and the Nupro to make the transition easier, but have since switched her to a premium dog food. (Ingredients: Lamb Meal, Whole Ground Brown Rice, Ground White Rice, Chicken Fat (preserved with Rosemary extract, Citric Acid and Vitamin E Tocopherols), Whole Ground Flaxseed, Menhaden Fish Meal, Brewers Yeast, Sun-Cured Alfalfa Meal, Skimmed Milk, Beet Pulp Shreds, Kelp Meal, Sodium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Mono-Dicalcium Phosphate, Whole Clove Garlic, Propionic Acid (Preservative), Yucca, Potassium Chloride, Vitamin C, Vitamin E (Alpha Tocopherol), Riboflavin Supplement (source of vitamin B2), Ferrous Sulfate, Rose Hips, Zinc Sulfate, Magnesium Amino Acid Chelate, Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin K, Natural Mixed Tocopherols, Rosemary Extract and Citric Acid, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Niacin, Vitamin A Acetate, Calcium Amino Acid Chelate, Calcium Iodate, Zinc Amino Acid Chelate, Copper Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Maganese Amino Acid Chelate, Copper Amino Acid Chelate, Iron Amino Acid Chelate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (source of vitamin B6), Vitamin D3 Supplement, Cobalt Carbonate, Folic Acid, Thiamine Mononitrate (source of vitamin B1), Biotin, Sodium Selenite (Selenium), Beta Carotene.)

I continue to mix in the Nupro with her new food, but then was told that Missing Link was really good for dogs.

She loves the Nupro mixed into her food. Her little nub goes into hyperdrive and when she sits for her food to be prepared, the little butt polishes the floor.

She has no issues with her health, but I want what's best for her.

My concerns:
- Nupro vs Missing Link, which is better?
- Is there such a thing as over supplementing and am I in some way doing more harm?

Thanks all for your input.

[spidey]

What are you supplementing for (i.e. what do you hope to prevent or improve by supplementing)? Joint problems? Coat/skin problems? Energy problems? It's hard to advise you on what to use, if anything, unless we know why you feel you want to supplement.

And yes, there is most definitely such a thing as over supplementing (a new study in England on people recently showed that not only do vitamin supplements NOT reduce your chances of getting certain kinds of cancers, vitamin supplements seem to actually INCREASE your chances of premature death - it's certainly something to consider).

[ckrott]

Originally Posted by spidey

What are you supplementing for (i.e. what do you hope to prevent or improve by supplementing)? Joint problems? Coat/skin problems? Energy problems? It's hard to advise you on what to use, if anything, unless we know why you feel you want to supplement.

Sorry I'm not specific. We're trying to prevent any joint problems and I've noticed that with the Nupro, she's doens't scratch as much and her coat is nice and shiny.

Originally Posted by spidey

And yes, there is most definitely such a thing as over supplementing (a new study in England on people recently showed that not only do vitamin supplements NOT reduce your chances of getting certain kinds of cancers, vitamin supplements seem to actually INCREASE your chances of premature death - it's certainly something to consider).

Thanks! This is what I wanted to know. I'll check with the Vet to see what we should do.

I've heard that rotties can have joint problems and wanted to prevent it from happening to her. I just don't want to hurt her with good intentions (if you know what I mean).

[Rott'n'lab Mom]

Originally Posted by ckrott

Sorry I'm not specific. We're trying to prevent any joint problems and I've noticed that with the Nupro, she's doens't scratch as much and her coat is nice and shiny.



Thanks! This is what I wanted to know. I'll check with the Vet to see what we should do.

I've heard that rotties can have joint problems and wanted to prevent it from happening to her. I just don't want to hurt her with good intentions (if you know what I mean).

Bella had her annual checkup with our regular vet earlier this week and we told him that we put her on Missing Link Plus on the advice of the sports vet who wanted her to have the Glucosamine to help prevent joint problems and help her stamina for agility. Our regular vet's view on supplements like Missing Link is that it contains alot of fat so it's not necessarily a good thing to give dogs who are overweight, but they're fine if you are able to already keep your dog lean.

You are on the right track by letting your own vet guide you on this :)

[Judi W]

Joint disease is not prevented by supplements, it genetic. The discomfort associated with joint disease can be mediated with proper supplements, however using a "kitchen sink" supplement is not necessary. Find a good joint supplement and use that at much less expense and without adding a bunch of unnecessary stuff.

To purchase the whole shelf of supplements when what you are looking for is a glucosamine/chrondroitin sulfate/MSM supplement is over-kill.