Source for Ester-C

[Miabella]

Could people share their sources for ester-c? I am interested in putting Ilsa on this in addition to her other supplements (GlycoFlex II, fish oil), but there seems to be a wide variation in prices. What's a good product at a reasonable price?

[lblax]

ive found that vitamins all have to pass the same quality and government standards so i would just buy by dosage and price since you are just going after a single ingrediant supplemant. ester -c is ester-c regardless what name brand it is...

[groupieindenial]

Thats the million dollar question. Actually, the only non-biased resource available is consumerlab.com's issue of over 300 products tested. It's $17 for a copy, and $0.75 for each additional copy (great to give to friends!) Otherwise you are going by reputation. Rule of thumb is not to buy pharmacy brand names. I saw a govt report a while ago, and all those recognized brands found in your local pharmacy failed miserably, all under 5%. Go mid-range, and you can find reasonably priced supplements at a local naturalistic pharmacy. I would too stay away from the chain supplement type places, and go to a place that has either an N.D. on site, or registered holistic nutritionist.

I recently picked up a bottle of SISU Ester-C with bioflavanoids - 600mg caps for i think it was $25 CDN (I think there were 200 capsules? or so). I personally like Usana and Nutrilite products for myself. There are many that rate well out there, you just have to weigh out the cost per caps, mg per cap etc...

Start off low with ester C, like 500-600mg/day, and increase up to 1500-2000mg after a few weeks.

Here's a good read on the bioavailability of different forms of Vit-c.
http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/infocente...intcforms.html

[Patty1231]

Vitacost (internet website) has a really good price on them. They are capsule form. I just open the capsule and put it on their food, mix it in. Rocco is on 1,000 mg daily just because and Perle is 2,000 mg. daily as part of her cancer diet.

[BostonRott]

I buy powdered Ester C (2000mg/tsp) from the Vitamin Shoppe (they're avail online, and around here, they have stores also). It's about $25 for a 1lb "pot" of it, and it lasts me quite a bit for all 4 dogs.

Banja is on 45 mg/kg BID (1 kg = 2.2lbs), due to her TPLO (this will be for life). Vikka, Xcel and Bort get 1000mg/day.

I give it twice daily, as they are fed twice daily. If you want to get better "coverage," more frequent dosing will be more likely to keep the levels consistant, as excess EsterC is simply peed away.

[Miabella]

Thanks for the info everyone! Is it true that some dogs can get diarrhea from it?

[2rotties2luv]

Yes. My vet recommends a maximum dosage of 25 mg per pound per day. That means that the maximum dosage for a 100 lb dog would be 2500 mg per day. But Jazz (110 lbs) can only tolerate 500 mg per day, while Maddy (65 lbs) can tolerate 1000 mg per day. If I give them more, they get diarrhea.

For what it's worth, I take it too for osteoarthritis, and I can only tolerate 1000 mg per day!!!

[moondog]

Originally Posted by Miabella

Is it true that some dogs can get diarrhea from it?

I'm here to tell ya....

Yes, each dog has a threshold of tolerance that is unique. The best way to find that threshold is to start out low and gradually build the dose until you see signs of loose stool, then back up to the next previous dose.

I started Luna on the teeniest, most microscopic pinch imaginable and worked her up to a whopping smidgen when all was said and done..

[StmprKB]

I usually buy my ester C in tablet form from the same source as BostonRott, Vitamin Shoppe. But I crush it with a mortor/pestle. No biggie. Right now with my Rottie with Cancer, he is on so many supplements that are crushed, that I end up with a pureed raw meat/yogurt "surprise" in his meals!

In addition, WE, the humans take from the same big bottle of Ester C tabs...

Kim

[BostonRott]

Yes, they can get diarrhea, there's a fancy term for it.....GI tolerance or something. I start new dogs at 250mg per day, see if they tolerate it for 2 days, and then quickly go to 500mg per day. If that's ok after a few days, then they go right up to 1000mg/day. So far, no problems with anyone here.

Kim, great to see you on here!!!

[Tank's Grandma]

I'm giving Ester-C tablets....should I be crushing them? I know dissolving is a problem with some of the glucosamine/chondroitin tablets, guess dumb me never thought about the ester-C.

[StmprKB]

I was told to crush them, because of the digestion being faster in dogs, and they could literally be pooping out whole pills and you not knowing it!

Your dog will certainly get quicker benefit out of crushing it.

Kim

[LynnS]

I bought a powder from Whole Foods (prob not the cheapest way to go)

Funny - I started Bella on 2000 mgs right away and no problems with stools...not typical for her but I am not complaining...

[Miabella]

Great, thanks again everyone. I'm going to stop by the GNC on my way home and grab some for her.

[beledi]

Originally Posted by Miabella

Could people share their sources for ester-c? I am interested in putting Ilsa on this in addition to her other supplements (GlycoFlex II, fish oil), but there seems to be a wide variation in prices. What's a good product at a reasonable price?

Our vet clinic, where I work, Banfield, in Petsmart, sells it. I do not remember the price.

Beledi/Erda's mom