Free Vitamin C For Animals in Need
September 19th, 2010
Vitamin C is a water soluble vitamin, also known as ascorbic acid. The vast majority of animals and plants are able to synthesize their own vitamin C. Among the animals that have lost the ability to synthesize vitamin C are: humans, primitive primates, small rodents including guinea pigs and capybaras, as well as flying mammals like bats.
In 1753 Captain Lind of the British Navy showed that the disease scurvy, which was common in sailors, could be cured by giving them lemons, limes and oranges. Ascorbic acid is readily absorbed from the intestine and stored in the liver, adrenals, pituitary and corpus luteum. Foods that contain Vitamin C include, but are not limited to: fresh fruits, mainly citrus, like lemons, limes, oranges, tomato, pineapple and papaya. It is also found in fresh vegetables like cabbage, cauliflower, spinach, lettuce and beans. Amla is one of the richest sources of Vitamin C, either fresh or dried.
Vitamin C is an antioxidant that helps the metabolic process in the body, which includes: tissue growth and repair, adrenal gland function, healthy gums and wound repair.
It is NOT manufactured by our bodies so it must be obtained by diet or supplements. Most Vitamin C is lost through urine.
Smoking and alcohol decrease Vitamin C in the body. Canning and prolonged cooking destroys most of the Vitamin C in foods. Certain medications as well as depression will decrease Vitamin C.
The animals that are similar to humans when it comes to inability to synthesize Vitamin C, are also prone to scurvy and other health issues if they don’t get it in their diet.
Many veterinarian’s say that cats, dogs and horses benefit from having Vitamin C. There is also controversy as to whether dogs and cats should have Vitamin C. Some say it can cause issues like kidney stones. Please talk with your veterinarian before giving your animal any supplements. It has been shown to help with stress in animals.
The makers of the vitamin supplement, Emergen C, have generously offered to donate hundreds of thousands of packages to animals. The packages are at their expiration date, so they are asking that they go to animals. If you have a shelter, or organization, with animals that need Vitamin C, please let me know. I can get the Vitamins to you.
There might also be other Vitamin C packets available that can be distributed to missionaries and people who need these Vitamins.
Please contact me if you have interest in knowing more and getting some of these Vitamins.
I know several organizations that can use this. Please contact me and we’ll get the ball rolling. thanks for the offer.
We can use some for our horses/burros. I do not think our rescued dogs would like fruit flavors. Thanks! Journey’s End Ranch Animal Sanctuary.
My dogs love it. I have Emergen C in my indoor water and plain water in the outdoor automatic bowl. If they didn’t like the C they wouldn’t ‘drink and drink and drink, on and on in one sitting’.
Someone is going to say that the water bowls should be side by side… OK, maybe, somebody else test that for us all.
The Monkeys at Jungle Friends Primate Sanctuary were receipents. I’ve volunteered there for 10 years, so I tried it on the dogs.
Paige
We could use some for the cats and kittens in our foster program. We have over 50 at any one time, Not all need extra Vitamin c but you never know. We also have members who care for colony cats that may need the vitamins.
Please let us know
Jill
Hi Paige,
What wonderful things you do for all the furbabies! Thank you.
Sarah (above): I’ve been a huge advocate for Linus Pauling and his work for many years. Not only have I seen animals saved by vitamin c, but many, many people, myself included.
Paige, I could use a small amount of the vitamin C for my little guys (rattiies, Stewart and the rest). I have some friends as well who have an exotic rescue. They would like some also.
Thank you,
Areecia
Robert F. Cathcart II, M.D. writes on “Why Don’t Massive Doses of Ascorbate Produce Kidney Stones?”
“Years ago when Linus Pauling wrote his book “Vitamin C and the Common Cold”, the critics immediately labeled the taking of large doses of vitamin C dangerous because it would produce calcium oxalate kidney stones. This practice of telling people that vitamin C caused kidney stones continues today by the critics of vitamin C despite the lack of clinical evidence of kidney stones in people taking vitamin C.
“It was hypothesized that since a significant percentage of ascorbate was metabolized into and excreted as oxalic acid that this oxalic acid should combine with calcium in the urine and deposit as calcium oxalate kidney stones. It is true that those of us who take large doses of ascorbate have elevated oxalic acid in our urine but no kidney stones. With the millions of people in the world taking vitamin C, if vitamin C caused kidney stones there would have been a massive epidemic of kidney stones noticed by this time. There has been none.
We would certainly use some of the vitamin c! We care for 35 guinea pigs! as well as many others who can use it- we always dose the rats with c when they come in- it boosts their immune system and helps with many conditions immediately! Thank you!!
Critter Camp Exotic Pet Sanctuary