Fish Oil?

"Vitamins can protect your pet from the inside out, Dr. Evans adds. Vitamin E and B-complex vitamins will strengthen the tissues and make dogs and cats more resistant to cold. She recommends giving cats and dogs under 15 pounds 100 international units (IU) of vitamin E a day, and half a capsule or tablet of B-complex 50 vitamins. Pets 15 to 50 pounds can have between 200 and 300 IU of vitamin E, along with a B-complex 50 vitamin. Dogs over 50 pounds can take 300 to 400 IU of vitamin E and a B-complex 100 vitamin."
[linkhttp://www.care2.com/channels/solutions/pets/339]http://www.care2.com/channels/solutions/pets/339[/link]

"Vitamin E at high doses ( four to ten times the normal canine daily intake) has been shown to be effective in the treatment of a disease called primary acanthosis nigricans in dachshunds, with reductions in inflammation, crusting, and itchiness. No toxic effects were reported. In fact, high levels of vitamin E are considered to be non-toxic to animals, although an excess intake may increase the requirements for vitamins A and D"
[linkhttp://www.my-dog.info/dogs_and_food/vitamin_e.asp]http://www.my-dog.info/dogs_and_food/vitamin_e.asp[/link]

(Not that you should go crazy but should certainly not be afraid to give it daily especially in normal amounts as you are..some dogs like Bailey get higher dosages because we are treating skin issues but I am no more than doubling the dosage.)

LOL, ok yes, I agree with you.  I was saying the same thing as you, just differently, I have just noticed.  Most dogs get about 200IU per day, smaller and larger being more or less... heres a chart I found, which breaks it down and I saw 25lb 100... I wasnt thinking sorry.  Anyway.. its a great supplement[]

Daily Intake
• 0 to 25 pounds - 100 IU
• 25 to 50 pounds - 200 IU
• 50 to 75 pounds - 400 IU
• 75 to 100 pounds - 600 IU
[linkhttp://www.leerburg.com/53.htm]http://www.leerburg.com/53.htm[/link]

Hmm, Bailey is more than doubled I see....  Those looking to treat skin issues should double the dosage for a while.  Whew... I need to go to bed lol.
Sorry for all that, I seem to be making things complicated at the moment.[]

I used to give the grizzly salmon oil, but it gave my pup the trots, lol.  I now give him a DermCap every morning (it's fish oil, vitamin E and a few other seed oils mixed in) and he seems to be doing well with that.  Luckily he's only 9 lbs so it doesn't take much [] DermCaps are the only dog fish-oil supplement I found that made a "dosage" for dogs 10lbs or less.

although an excess intake may increase the requirements for vitamins A and D"

Would cod liver oil do the trick re; vitamins A and D?

I just can not bring myself to give my dogs straight vitA in tablet form,i am terrified of overdosing them if i did it this way.I wont even use any muti's that have A in them for my dogs.CLO is as far as i have gone when it comes to A and D.

Edited: One of the reasons i am so pedantic when it comes to VitA is because my dogs get Liver 3 -4 times per week.Albeit it is cooked to death in the oven on very low temp for 3 hours,hopefully most of the vitamins will have cooked out?? I add it to their meals for flavour when i add supps as it masks the taste of their supplements,maybe a couple tbs each.

Vitamin As toxicity level is 2500IU per pound of body weight and must be given on a daily bases for months before becoming toxic in that dose.  For example, Bailey weighs 30 pounds so I would have to giver her 82,500IU per day for months before it was of dangerous levels. 
 
Vitamin A is liver oil in a gel cap... same thing your giving except they provide the exact amount for you which may be harder to tell just giving the oil yourself.
 
"Realistically, oversupplementation or toxicity is virtually impossible unless mega-doses are given for long periods of time (months to years)."
"The amount of Vitamin A needed in the first two years of life is sufficient to warrant supplementation in the diet. Later in life, once full growth is attained, the need for it is still important, but reduced.
From a practical standpoint, Vitamin A supplementation is necessary especially to the growing puppy. Infants are born with no liver storage of this vitamin. The [linkhttp://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?articleid=846]colostrum[/link] (first milk) is rich in Vitamin A and provides an important first source. Name brand commercial pet foods are vitamin fortified and many excellent vitamin supplementations are available in tablets, granular, and liquid form."
[linkhttp://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=2&cat=1662&articleid=710]http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=2&cat=1662&articleid=710[/link]
 
Hope that site helps, theres a chart there for the vitamins also.[]

Thanks Loads Amy,really appreciate it [sm=wink2.gif]

Okay, I'm feeling pretty stupid here so hopefully you can help me figure this out, Amy. Samwise, our Golden puppy, weighs about 35lbs right now and Ruby weighs about 32lbs.  My MIL gave me a HUGE bottle of 1000mg Fish Oil softgels (she can't take them, they're too big and she didn't want to throw them away).  The breakdown says: Natural Fish Oil Concentrate (Anchovy, Mackarel, Sardine) 1000mg.EPA 180mg.DHA 120mg. I stink at math and after reading this thread I'm thoroughly confused.  Is this the appropriate type of fish oil and if so, how much do I give them? HELP?[] Christi

For them both I would give 1 or 2 a day, your choice.  Whatever you feel comfortable with.  They each need 200IU of vitamin E a day along with that.
 
Bailey is 30 pounds she gets 1000mg fish oil 2x day and 200IU of vitamin E 2x day.  She is a demodex dog and although not showing any signs this is the dose I giver her.
 
Do any of them have itchiness or allergies?  If so, use the E 2x a day and the oil 2x a day... if the skin and coat already looks great do them once.  Using them twice is not bad by any means, just depends on what your dogs need.

I would give one 2x/day with vitamin E.

Samwise has some dry skin, Ruby's is fine, both have beautiful coats already.  I think I'll give Samwise 2 per day, Ruby 1 per day after I pick up the Vit. E from the drugstore.   Thank you very much for clarifying this for me.  Me 'n the pups appreciate it. 

 Ok, why the Vit e?  Does it help them process the fish oil?

 Has anyone found vitamin e that does NOT have soy in the pill..?