I have been feeding Vinnie Simply Nourish Chicken & Brown Rice since I weaned him of the breeders food. I started with the puppy formula and switched him to the adult formula at 4 1/2 months. He does very well on it and he has a good looking coat with minimal shedding.

My questions are as follows:

1. Because this is not a large breed food ( they don't make one) should I give him a joint supplement and if yes, what do you suggest.

2. Should I give him fish oil or any other supplements for his coat and general health.

I want to make sure I give him the best chance to grow up healthy and protect his joints. Any suggestions would be appreciated. I'm not looking to replace his food. I just want to supplement if necessary.

Please be specific on the products you recommend because I know very little about this topic.

Thanks!

Here is the nutritional info on his food:

Ingredients:

Chicken, Chicken Meal, Brown Rice, Oatmeal, Brown Rice Flour, Tomato Pomace, Canola Oil (preserved with mixed tocopherols), Natural Flavor, Flaxseed, Dried Chicory Root, Dried Carrots, Dried Spinach, Dried Sweet Potato, Dried Pumpkin, Dried Blueberries, Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, L-ascorbyl-polyphosphate, Niacin, Vitamin A Supplement, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin, Vitamin D Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Thiamine Mononitrate, Folic Acid, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement), Minerals (Zinc Sulfate, Ferric Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite), Choline Chloride

Guaranteed Analysis:
Crude Protein Not less than 24.0%
Crude Fat Not less than 13.0%
Crude Fiber mg/kg Not more than 5.0%
Moisture Not less than 10%
Calcium Not less than 1.2%
Phosphorus Not less than .90%
Potassium Not less than 0.60%
Zinc Not less than 175 mg
Selenium Not less than .30 mg/kg
Vitamin A Not less than 20,000 mg/kg
Vitamin E Not less than 200 mg/kg
Omega-6 Fatty Acids* Not less than 3.0%
Omega-3 Fatty Acids* Not less than 0.70%
Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C)*Not less than 200 IU/KG
Beta carotene*Not less than 5.0
Lycopene* Not less than 1.0 mg/kg
Feeding Instructions:






Sent from my iPhone using Petguide.com Free App

__________________
Jodi

I'm on the fence about this as well. I hear different things when it comes to supplements, and I have a sample of GreenDog Naturals Healthy Motion tablet, but I've been told by quite a few people that I should wait til the 1yr mark. I'm definitely all for protecting his health, but only at the right time.

__________________

I give Molly Cosequin DS (for joints) and fish oil (Kirkland brand) but I am thinking about switching to wild salmon oil. We started this early, around 5 months. Her vet has no problem with it. It can't hurt, it would only help. Plus, it is inexpensive. Regardless of what food you feed, I think joint supplements are always a good idea. The glucosamine and chondroitin in dog food is not enough.


Sent from my iPhone using Petguide.com Free App

__________________

Is the Fish oil or Wild Salmon oil formulated for dogs or is it the same as humans would use? I'm also curious to here more thoughts on fish vs salmon and at what age to start this.


Sent from my iPhone using Petguide.com Free App

__________________
Jodi

I feed regular Wellness, not Large breed and switch over at four months. Mine get dasuquin w/msm at 8 weeks of age on. The fish oil I feed is capsules, so she has to be a minimum of 30 lbs. I have used the oil in oil form and it is just too messy and smelly to me....

__________________
Janice and The Celebration Gang -
"Samantha, George, Tiki, Emily, Mick and Basil" Gone but not forgotten, Sally(Windjammer's Ima Country Girl CDX CGC), Laney(Mandell Marlenes Celebration UD RA CGC), and Cookie(Starseeker's Kissmas Cookie CDX RE CGC).

Petsmart does carry a LBA Simply Nourish Chicken and Brown Rice formula now. They just recently added the LBA formula.

Simply Nourish™ Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Adult Large-Breed Dog Food - Dog - Sale - PetSmart

Mine don't eat Simply Nourish, but they do not get supplements until 7 years, and then I give them Sasha's Blend.

My vet mentioned that many natural foods add blueberries and that this could cause an overdose of vitamin A. Ever since he mentioned this I have looked for foods NOT adding blueberries.

Good question! I was wondering about this yesterday at Costco... In the vitamin section


Sent from my iPhone using Petguide.com Free App

The fish oil is for humans.


Sent from my iPhone using Petguide.com Free App

__________________

Beamer gets Lactoquil (a probiotic) a few times a week, and then a daily Synovi G4 chew (glucosamine, condrotin and MSM) chew and a daily capsule of fish oil. Both our labs get the Synovi and fish oil. I just started with the lactoquil this week.

__________________