The Missing Link - food supplement

• 05-08-2008 7:19 PM

  Tidy Pawz Joined on 04-21-2008 Soon to be Newfoundland Posts 22 Points 20

  The Missing Link - food supplement Reply Contact Took the whole crew to the vets the other day for annual check-ups and shots and was told about a supplement called "The Missing Link" made by Designing Health Inc. Our Vet seems to be very favorable about it and apparently they even make a human formula  that she is going to try. There are formula's for dogs, cats, horses and bird's and the profile looks amazing, so if anyone out there has a family member (canine or human) on it please let me know how it's working.

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• 05-09-2008 12:16 PM

  In reply to Tidy Pawz

  CoCo Chanel Joined on 11-04-2006 South Jersey Posts 403 Points 85	Re: The Missing Link - food supplement Reply Contact I bought a bag and used it religiously until the bag was almost gone... I didnt notice any change at all....Ive had much MUCH better results with just simply slamon oil and Vit E. I've heard others with great results though...  Good luck!
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• 05-11-2008 4:36 PM

  In reply to Tidy Pawz

  shamrockmommy Joined on 09-10-2007 Innerspace Posts 656 Points 0

  Re: The Missing Link - food supplement Reply Contact Well, I feed sojo's dog food premix and add my own meat/veggies.  I also use the missing link.  The only thing I really noticed is that it firmed up their stools a bit, not all that much different from yogurt's effects.  I also feed canned salmon, so their skin/coat is already quite nice. Maybe for a dog on kibble there would be a bigger difference?  though I do notice for my minpin, his stool will be mushy if I don't give him the missing link or yogurt.   Shamrockmommy Furmom to Gobie the minpin terror, Lexi and Darby the bichon girls

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• 05-18-2008 6:31 PM

  In reply to Tidy Pawz

  24Pawsnclaws Joined on 09-17-2007 Posts 125 Points 0

  Re: The Missing Link - food supplement Reply Contact  I've been using Missing Link for about 3 yrs now. I only use it to supplement when I'm feeding home-cooked to ensure that they get some of the nutritional support they need like fiber and fatty acids, etc.  I'm not sure if I've ever really seen any  "results" from using it but I feel more confident using it with home-cooked. There's another VERY good supplement that is similar but BETTER and that's UDO'S  Pet Essentials for Dogs used along with UDO'S  3-6-9 oil blend. I believe you can get it at a really good price here : http://www.vitacost.com/productResults.aspx?Ntk=products&x=30&ss=1&y=12&Ntt=UDO's I use the cat formula for my cats. The oil is fantastic and contains Evening Primrose, Borage, Flax and other super oils.  This is the cheapest place I've found it and they almost always have great savings if you buy products in combination. Out in town the prices for this stuff are close to 33-50% more.

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• 05-19-2008 12:28 PM

  In reply to 24Pawsnclaws

  brookcove Joined on 09-10-2007 Semora, North Carolina, USA Posts 4,366 Points 335

  Re: The Missing Link - food supplement Reply Contact Ive had much MUCH better results with just simply slamon oil and Vit E. I have had the same experience.  I've used ML, the Solid Gold version, and Wellness' product.  Of the three, I thought there was a slight difference on the Wellness (whose name escapes me) - but I've had much better results simply using supplements customized for my dog's needs.  For instance, Ben needs more omega-3s, while Cord needs linoleic acid, and Zhi's skin and coat do beautifully on coconut oil.  My working dogs get a supplement tailored to boost antioxidant levels, while my older livestock guardian Maremma Sheepdogs (kind of like Great Pyrenees) get a joint supplement. Becca Shouse: Irena Farm, Semora, NC Cord, Ted, Gus, Zhi, Maggie, Lynn, Lu, Min and Tully Waiting: Bubo & Ben "We didn't have a phone, and we couldn't call you!" Helen, AIDS orphan. Don't let them die of ignorance - WorldHelp.net "I-Dog Biggest Loser" Official Cheerleader/Mascot Start 09/15/08: 186.4 lbs Current 185.5 lbs

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• 05-19-2008 1:05 PM

  In reply to brookcove

  Jewlieee Joined on 03-23-2007 MI Posts 5,727 Points 4,170	Re: The Missing Link - food supplement Reply Contact I used it on Dakota (arthritis) and I really noticed a big difference. I was surprised at the difference actually. I'm a believer in the "Plus" version of it.
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• 05-20-2008 8:16 AM

  In reply to Jewlieee

  mudpuppy Joined on 09-10-2007 Posts 5,492 Points 100	Re: The Missing Link - food supplement Reply Contact the ingredients aren't very impressive. Many dogs can't utilize the omega-3's in flaxseed; why would you want to feed huge dollops of sugar (molasses) to dogs?; alfalfa, rice bran? dogs are carnivores and probably can't even digest these; lots of dogs are allergic to yeast; it has a few freeze-dried meat meals in small quantities.
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• 05-20-2008 9:34 AM

  In reply to mudpuppy

  Cook.MN Joined on 12-27-2007 Posts 22 Points 0	Re: The Missing Link - food supplement Reply Contact I tried Missing Link Plus for awhile but wasn't too impressed either.  I have then switched to Fit Dog Flex-Tra as I knew my dog would get some use out of a supplement that targets joints.  She's a 9 year old lab that in the summer will spend 7 hours in the water and gets a bit sore in the evening and next morning.
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• 05-20-2008 5:15 PM

  In reply to Cook.MN

  Sarah_Pyper Joined on 09-01-2007 Indiana Posts 117 Points 0	Re: The Missing Link - food supplement Reply Contact I have been using it for a few months and we love it
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• 05-21-2008 9:46 AM

  In reply to Tidy Pawz

  kpwlee Joined on 06-17-2006 North Carolina Posts 4,016 Points 380	Re: The Missing Link - food supplement Reply Contact  I have a friend that swears by it for her lab Bugsy was horribly allergic to it - instant hives  "I think Karen should get a BC next time because she deserves a more mellow laid back dog! Or a Maremma because she needs a more clingy, biddable, easily trained dog." Brookcove 2008
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• 05-28-2008 1:32 PM

  In reply to kpwlee

  Pit_Pointer_Aussie Joined on 04-13-2007 Upstate New York Posts 1,129 Points 125

  Re: The Missing Link - food supplement Reply Contact I am using it for Luna at the moment, so I will report back on how it works for Luna.(I bought for my Mom -- but Rosco decided to "taste test" it before I could mail it.) I swear by it for my parents Bouvier. After three blockage surgeries over the past few years, his weight was getting hard to manage and his coat was brittle and unhealthy. After putting him on ML his weight is staying the same on less food, and his coat looks better than it ever has. His vet even commented on how healthy he is now. I think any number of digestive/coat supplements could have helped him, but the ML seems to be a good fit, so my parents plan to stick with it.   It's just a better life with dogs.

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• 05-28-2008 11:23 PM

  In reply to Pit_Pointer_Aussie

  brookcove Joined on 09-10-2007 Semora, North Carolina, USA Posts 4,366 Points 335

  Re: The Missing Link - food supplement Reply Contact Pit_Pointer_Aussie: I am using it for Luna at the moment, so I will report back on how it works for Luna.(I bought for my Mom -- but Rosco decided to "taste test" it before I could mail it.) That gave me a good laugh this evening!  I can just see that.  Lynn's now tall enough that counter surfing is easy as pie.  the other day she ate an entire package of sheep colostrum while I was putting my lambing stuff out in storage.  Thankfully it's not as expensive as the stuff she takes, but still - $11 for a packet! I swear by it for my parents Bouvier. After three blockage surgeries over the past few years, Holy cow!  Is he a serial towel eater or something?  Or is this a health condition?  that's scary stuff.   Anything that will help to condition his gi will help.   GI trauma takes a lot of healing - it's as if you sprained your ankle, and had to run marathons on it after just a week of rest.  The GI takes forever to heal, but a dog's gotta eat!  Lynn is recovering from parvo and I'm giving her a brew of several supplements that includes colostrum (Symbiotics New Life Plus), and a high-potency probiotic.  ML contains probiotics, and sea veggies, which among other things, have DHA, an anti-inflammatory.  Slippery elm might be another good choice to add to his regime. This whole thing caught my eye because I've got a secret passion for Bouviers.  I'll never own one, but I greatly admire them.  Becca Shouse: Irena Farm, Semora, NC Cord, Ted, Gus, Zhi, Maggie, Lynn, Lu, Min and Tully Waiting: Bubo & Ben "We didn't have a phone, and we couldn't call you!" Helen, AIDS orphan. Don't let them die of ignorance - WorldHelp.net "I-Dog Biggest Loser" Official Cheerleader/Mascot Start 09/15/08: 186.4 lbs Current 185.5 lbs

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• 06-02-2008 12:14 PM

  In reply to brookcove

  Pit_Pointer_Aussie Joined on 04-13-2007 Upstate New York Posts 1,129 Points 125

  Re: The Missing Link - food supplement Reply Contact brookcove: Holy cow!  Is he a serial towel eater or something?  Or is this a health condition?  that's scary stuff.   ML contains probiotics, and sea veggies, which among other things, have DHA, an anti-inflammatory.  Slippery elm might be another good choice to add to his regime. This whole thing caught my eye because I've got a secret passion for Bouviers.  I'll never own one, but I greatly admire them.    He is totally a serial towel eater. Actually, he will eat anything, and they keep their house on lockdown, so he really has to work to find stuff to eat. I think it's pica and he needs more physical and mental stimulation. My Mom is going to start agility with him when my little sister heads off to college this fall, so that should help. The Bouvs are awesome dogs, but the coat care, good lord! Zukas (my parents' dog) actually stays in a puppy cut which makes life easy, but he drools and his beard is always a mess. My brother in law describes him as "the fat, drunk, college friend who passes out on your couch." LOL ML Update: Luna loves it, but no changes in coat to speak off. It's also really early to tell, so stay tuned!    It's just a better life with dogs.

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• 06-03-2008 11:44 PM

  In reply to Pit_Pointer_Aussie

  sandra_slayton Joined on 09-10-2007 Ingleside, Texas Posts 3,196 Points 0	Re: The Missing Link - food supplement Reply Contact I have never used it, but was a thread about it on one o my golden forums.  Her dog went crazy with itching and was chewing his fur out.  She never thought about it being this sup untils someone else suggest it.  Stopped using it fo him and he stopped itcing.  Have no idea what was in it that cuased the itches.
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• 06-04-2008 10:36 AM

  In reply to sandra_slayton

  Cook.MN Joined on 12-27-2007 Posts 22 Points 0

  Re: The Missing Link - food supplement Reply Contact  I hate to be a downer to everyone who is using it or is thinking about using it.  But they don't put anything in their product...just a lot of filler.  Check out their own website www.missinglinkproducts.com and read their information.  They don't tell you what is exactly in it and they use terms like "for an average size dog"...What's an average size dog to you? The best part is that for their plus formula they don't even list how much your dog is actually receiving of the ingredients you actually want out of a joint supplement. And it's not just Missing Link that does this, a lot of Supplement products do and frankly I don't know why people would spend a premium price to feed something to their dog when they don't even know what's in it. Some good supplements that I would suggest not only because they list what goes into them, but they list according to dog weight what each size dog is actually getting: ReMatrix, Fit Dog Flex-Tra, Canine Complete, Glyco Flex III. There's a good compression chart on the fit dog site if you're interested.

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