Missing Link Plus food additive

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I know I have read about food additives here but can't seem to find those discussions so..... My vet recommended that we use missing link plus for our dogs to help with arthritis, dull coat, dry skin etc. Has anyone used this product? Does it help?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Nancy, we do have a "supplement" section her in the food group, but I'm not sure it covers your specific questions. Here's the link:

http://www.doodlekisses.com/forum/topics/nupro-and-other-natural?gr...

I am not familiar with "Missing Link", and do not know what specific ingredients it contains that the vet thinks would benefit your dogs. For coat & skin issues, your best bet is EFA's (essential fatty acids...basically Omega 3 and Omega 6) in the form of oil capsules or oil added to the food. Many people use a fish oil supplement, in either liquid or capsule form, which has been discussed here in a couple of places. (Be careful if you use the liquids or sprays, they stink to high heaven!)
Jackdoodle's dermatologist at first recommended I try the fish oil capsules for his problems. (And you know there is not another doodle here on DK with as many skin problems as Jack!) It caused his stools to become very loose, but he was on a pretty high amount. The specialist then recommended that I try evening primrose oil capsules instead, and that did the trick! Even with his allergies, his coat is very shiny, as you can see in many of his photographs, and the primrose oil does not affect his digestive system at all. They are available practically anywhere they sell vitamins & supplements...drugstore, grocery store, health food store, they are not terribly expensive, and they don't smell. You can take them yourself, they are especially good for women. I highly recommend them!
For the arthritis, if the vet is recommending the "missing link" for glucosamine & chondroitin, several of us here have found a great solution to that...Dogswell brand "Happy Hips" jerky treats. These are strips or pieces of jerky which comes in really good flavors (Jack gets the duck and chicken...they actually smell like roasted fowl when you open the package...delicious!). Lynne & I have both contacted the company, because they are made in China, and we have been assured that they contain only cage-free fowl with no hormones, etc., and every piece is inspected here in the U.S before packaging. They are fairly expensive (4.98 a bag where I shop) but you can order larger bags on-line, too, and dogs love them!
I like the idea that I don't have to shove another pill down JD's throat, or add something to his food that he might not eat, with his finicky ways.
I hope this info helps.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Thank you. I know this stuff has been discussed but just couldn't find those discussions. We had to see a substitute vet - who seems good, but still she isn't our regular guy so......This stuff is a powder and a 1 lb. bag costs $27. It is a powder that you are supposed to take a week to work up to correct dose for dog's weight. It is manufactured by Designing Health, Inc. in Valencia, Ca. It has per tsp.: 450 mg of Omega 6; 1,000 mg of Omega 3; 500 mg of Glucosemine. No chondroitin listed. There are other things in it too but those are the ones you mentioned - 1 tsp. per 25 pounds of dog.
We tried the fish oil before - not good in the digestive department (what goes in just slides right out!).
:( I forgot all my doodlekisses training and didn't go on-line to see what I could learn about the manufacturer - I will do that right now. I will also see if my corner pet store carries the Dogswell Happy Hips jerky treats. For the primrose oil - how much is the correct dose for weight? Ned is 27 lbs., Gordie is 54 and Simon is 62.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Jackdoodle weighs 80# and he can have up to three 500 mg capsules per day; Sometimes he only gets one, sometimes two, three only if he's really, really itchy. It is pretty hard to get too much, I think. (The human dosage amount on the bottle is 3-6 per day).
My own thinking is that it's easier to give Jack treats that he loves than to try to get him to take a pill, or to mix stuff into his food. I am wondering how you give the Missing Link powder if the dog is eating kibble. But it doesn't sound as if there's anything wrong with it, other than I believe glucosamine is more effective with the chondroitin than alone.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

You just sprinkle the powder on the food. I often add a little water when I feed them and my guys will lick the bowl so, for me, it won't be too hard. I think I will get the primrose oil next time and the jerky treats. I'll see how this powder works this time though. It does have some dried beef in it so that is why they probably would eat it when sprinkled on their kibble.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

That must be the 15 oz bag? They don't carry that size at my store. I pay 5.98 for a 5 oz bag at Pet Supplies Plus (4.98 when they are on sale, I try to stock up then). Jack loves the duck and the chicken, and will occasionally eat the beef liver...he won't touch the fruit & veggie ones.