QUESTION: Our two dogs eat an organic dry dog food. We supplement their diet with fish oil, vitamin E, vitamin C, glucosamine and a daily vitamin-mineral pill. Have we gone overboard? Is there a better combination product out there for our Lab-mix (age 3) and German shepherd (age 4)?ANSWER: Wow! It sounds as though you're doing a fantastic job. In my book "8 Weeks to a Healthy Dog," I devote one week each to discussing diet and supplements. The diet sounds like a good one.Be aware that many well-known pet food companies are now jumping on the natural bandwagon and making what they call natural diets.Be sure to read the label, avoiding byproducts and chemicals whenever possible; many of these well-known companies might advertise a new diet as natural, but it may not be what you and I consider natural. (Readers who want to know what to look for on a pet food label can e-mail me, and I'll e-mail back a handout on the topic.)Regarding supplements, it's hard to overdo it, but sometimes it's easy to duplicate ingredients. You mentioned vitamins C and E as part of the supplements. My guess is your vitamin supplement already contains these vitamins, and additional C and E are not needed.Adding these extra vitamins can actually throw the delicate balance of vitamins and minerals out of balance, which is why I prefer that owners not simply start adding individual vitamins and minerals to their pets' diets.I would recommend a good quality fish oil liquid or capsule (I like Ultra EFA) for starters. Fish oil reduces inflammation in the body and has numerous health benefits.A balanced vitamin-mineral supplement that also contains digestive enzymes and immune-boosting ingredients (colostrums, ginseng, coenzyme 10, etc.) is important.I like Vim & Vigor (I'm a spokesman for the product), Canine Plus or NutriPro.Glucosamine or other joint supplements are great for larger dogs to try to prevent arthritis. My favorite products include Glyco-Flex, MegaFlex, NutriFlex and Cholodin Flex.As your pets age, preventing cognitive disorder becomes important as well. I suggest that all pets 7 years of age and older take Cholodin or Cholodin Flex to help in this regard.I've seen many positive results when owners feed their pets the proper diet and supplements. Yes, it does cost a bit more to do this, but the savings come when your pet has fewer illnesses that require veterinary care. Keep up the great job!

Dr. Shawn P. Messonnier, author of the "8 Weeks to a Healthy Dog" and "The Natural Health Bible for Dogs & Cats" is a veterinarian and pet care advocate. Write him at 2145 W. Park Blvd., Plano, TX 75075, or e-mail naturalvet@juno.com