By: adminPosted on

Dr. Mark is a veterinarian. He has been working with dogs for more than 40
years.

Antioxidants are substances that may reduce the cellular damage done by free
radicals in our bodies. A lot of us are concerned about aging changes in our
dogs and there is a lot of good research showing that antioxidants can slow
down degenerative changes to a dog’s DNA. Antioxidants have been recommended
for allergies, skin diseases, eye diseases, respiratory and cardiac diseases.

There is a lot of ignorance about this subject for humans and dealing with the
situation is even worse. You can make a difference by giving your dog
antioxidants. Which ones should you be giving?

Does your dog need natural antioxidants?

Does your dog need natural antioxidants?

cc-by flickr.com madaise26757961

Antioxidant Sources for Your Dog

  • Açai
  • Acerola
  • Almonds
  • Blueberries
  • Carrots
  • Coconut oil
  • Grape seed extract
  • Palm oil
  • Selenium
  • Sweet potatoes

Açai

Açai

cc-by www.flickr.com jorgebrazil 5728926654

Açai

****Açai is a type of fruit found on a palm tree originally from the Amazon
region. The berry has generated a lot of interest for several reasons and one
of them is its antioxidant properties. The açai fruit contains beta-carotene,
vitamin C, and vitamin E. The berries are supposed to slow oxidation in the
body and in that way prevent damage to cells.

Açai does contain some theobromine. I searched in several languages but cannot
find any sources with the exact amount. Are the potential benefits greater
than the potential risks? I guess that depends on what and how you are using
the fruit. If you have the product available, and your dog is at risk of
cancer and arthritis, there are holistic veterinarians who believe in it and
are using it in therapy. There have never been any reported cases of
poisoning, and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center does not consider açai
to be a threat in poisoning your dog.

Acerola: a great source of vitamin C

Acerola: a great source of vitamin C

cc-by www.flickr.com kaiyanwong 6004263525

Acerola and Other Sources of Vitamin C

Dogs produce vitamin C so some veterinarians say that they do not need
supplements. Others point out the benefits of megadoses if it is used
properly. Vitamin C in effective doses will make the skin healthier,
strengthen blood vessels, and make the immune system stronger.

If you want to give your dog plenty of vitamin C and are also trying to
maintain your dog on natural supplements, he can be given pulp or fresh
acerola, also known as acerola cherries. Acerola is even higher in vitamin C
than citrus fruits like orange. It can also be purchased in powder form for
those who have no access to fresh fruit.

There is not much information about the positive effects of vitamin C
supplements in dogs but plenty of information about the bad effects. Vitamin C
does tend to lower the urine pH and will dissolve struvite stones. It will not
dissolve calcium oxalate stones so it is important to have a urinalysis done
periodically to make sure there is not going to be a problem.

If your dog needs the benefits of vitamin C (for example in his skin and
immune system) this is one of the antioxidants you should be using.

Vitamin E capsules

Vitamin E capsules

cc-by www.flickr.com gstaviusitus 3354706383

Other Helpful Antioxidant Sources

  1. Palm oil and carrots both provide a lot of vitamin A. Vitamin A is used by the body in keeping the skin healthy, protecting mucus membranes, helping eyesight, and making the immune system strong. If your dog eats a small piece of liver once a week, has sweet potato or carrot snacks, or even eats an egg a few times a week, he will not become deficient in this vitamin. Besides night blindness, rough skin, and weakness, a deficiency of vitamin A can make your dog more susceptible to infections.
  2. Almonds and sunflower seed oil are great sources of vitamin E. Vitamin E is a fat-soluble antioxidant. Besides slowing cellular aging it is helpful in heart disease, cancer, and allergies. I recommend natural sources because there is still a lot we do not know about this subject and processed products might be missing out on some things, but if your dog does not like the vegetable sources of vitamin E you can always give her the capsules or put a teaspoon of sunflower oil on her food.
  3. Astaxanthin is an antioxidant found in shrimp, crabs, and red trout. It is even more potent than the older vitamins that we are familiar with and crosses the blood-brain barrier so can have even more effect on senile dogs.
  4. Beef, eggs, and chicken all contain the antioxidant selenium. It is the only mineral on this list. It may be the best antioxidant to slow down aging changes since it keeps the tissue more elastic. It may be helpful in cancer cases or dogs that are being treated with chronic steroid doses but it is toxic if given incorrectly so should only be used if your dog is under medical care for a separate condition.
  5. Milk thistle contains an antioxidant that seems to limit free radical damage in the liver. It protects liver cell membranes, makes the bile flow freer, and seems to even protect the liver from any new damage.
  6. Grape seed extract is found in some of the antioxidants for humans. It is supposed to be highly bioavailable and especially useful in cancer and heart disease. Many readers will be aware of the danger of feeding grapes to their dogs but the most current research indicates the toxin is in the flesh of the raisin. The seed is safe and there have been no reported problems. There are so many available antioxidants that personally I would not choose to use this product. If your dog is suffering from cancer and this is one of the alternatives, however, it would be worth trying.

There are other antioxidants useful in dogs that we are not even aware of at
this time.

Scroll to Continue

Read More From Pethelpful

why-does-my-cat-sit-on-my-stuff

Why Does My Cat Sit on My Stuff?

vomiting-cat-no-vet

Tips for Home Care for Your Vomiting Cat When You Cannot Visit the Vet

the-top-10-fastest-dog-breeds

The Top 10 Fastest Dog Breeds

Fruit from the palm tree before it has been made into dende oil, a rich source of several antioxidants.

Fruit from the palm tree before it has been made into dende oil, a rich source
of several antioxidants.

cc-by www.flickr.com fotosdoacre 4601538623

I give my dogs açai each week on her dog food so that I can see the results
myself. The problem with this type of experiment is that the results are only
anecdotal. My dog is already in great shape and has a glossy and healthy coat.
She is of mixed breed heritage and both of her parents are healthy so I do not
expect her to have any genetic diseases. I live in an isolated area so she is
exposed to few environmental toxins. Even if she lives to 15 or 20, what does
that prove? I can claim it is because of the antioxidants, another person will
claim it is because of the lack of environmental poisons, and another person
will claim that it is because I give her raw food several times a week.

Antioxidants are available in a lot of foods available fresh in the US and
Europe. If you do not have access to the sources I have described, then
blueberries are one of the best. Most whole foods with deep red, purple or
blue colors are high in antioxidants, and some research indicates that the
antioxidant levels in wild blueberries are even higher than açai. These
antioxidants may not be as bioavailable, though, and a lot of research is
being done in that area.

In one article I found the researchers were trying to investigate a link
between fiber levels and the availability of antioxidants. It is still not
clear which of these foods is really better, especially for your dog. All I
can recommend at this time is that you give antioxidants. I cannot prove all
of the benefits, but the available research backs me up. They will help your
dog.

References and Links

This article is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge. It
is not meant to substitute for diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, prescription,
or formal and individualized advice from a veterinary medical professional.
Animals exhibiting signs and symptoms of distress should be seen by a
veterinarian immediately.

Comments

Dr Mark (author) from The Atlantic Rain Forest, Brazil on March 22, 2014:

That is a definite possibility, Marilyn, but she definitely has clinical signs
of a problem.

I feed my dogs raw, and would not subject them to vitamins and antioxidants
destroyed by heat, so in my mind cooking, even a homemade diet, is not a good
solution.

Marilyn on March 22, 2014:

The dog with the crusty nose in the photo is probably just in need of a real
food diet (not commercial dog food). Not knowing better, I fed my first dog
commercial dog food and she had chronic problems with a dry and cracked nose.
Later in her life I switched to home made cooked dog food, and raised all of
my other dogs on real food. None of them ever had problems with their noses or
skin.

Dr Mark (author) from The Atlantic Rain Forest, Brazil on July 26, 2012:

It is that orange liquid product in the Ebay ad up above. I buy it locally (I
even have one of the palms in my yard but I just give the fruit to my
chickens) but in the local markets it is for sale in liquid form for humans.
Neighbors always comment about how glossy my dogs coat is and I think (but
cannot prove) that it is from the extra Vitamin E that she gets in her diet.
If you don’t want to get it from Ebay I am sure many exotic food stores in AL
will carry it also. Hope it helps!

wetnosedogs from Alabama on July 26, 2012:

I’d like to hear more about the palm oil you give your dog, please. How much
do you give and where do you get it? Sounds like something that would benefit
my dogs.

Dr Mark (author) from The Atlantic Rain Forest, Brazil on July 26, 2012:

I really wish I had better info to put out there since it might help a lot of
people. Thanks for the comment.

Bob Bamberg on July 26, 2012:

Thumbs up, useful, interesting. There is a lot of conflicting info out there
and this hub is a useful, one-stop resource for dazed pet owners who just want
to keep their dogs healthy.

Categories: pet Tags: