I asked Chat GPT to tell me what amount I can give Kali, who is an 85 pound german shepherd. I copied and pasted what they told me, towards the bottom of this page, if you care to see it. PLEASE remember that Chat GPT is not always 100% correct, and I'm not a veterinarian, so you should be sure to do your own research as well. supplement with B-vitamiins, since alpha lipoic acid can deplete B vitamins. I bought this one, because it was affordable (under $10) and seems to have good reviews. I also included the chat GPT results (dosing guidelines) towards the bottom of this page.
This is the brand I bought, based on the reviews + price.
You said:
ChatGPT said:
Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) has been used in veterinary medicine mostly as an antioxidant and for nerve support, but the safe dose for dogs is fairly narrow. Here’s what research and veterinary guidelines suggest:
Typical Veterinary Guidelines
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Low to moderate doses are considered safe:
Around 1–5 mg per kilogram of body weight per day (that’s about 0.5–2.3 mg per pound). -
Toxicity risk: Dogs are much more sensitive to ALA than humans. At high doses (20–30 mg/kg and above), cases of severe low blood sugar, seizures, and liver damage have been reported.
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Examples by weight:
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20-lb dog → ~10–45 mg daily
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50-lb dog → ~25–115 mg daily
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85-lb dog (like your German Shepherd) → ~40–200 mg daily
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Important Notes
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600 mg daily, which you mentioned before, is well above the typical safe range for an 85-lb dog (recommended is closer to 40–200 mg).
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Some integrative vets may use slightly higher therapeutic doses under very careful monitoring, but this should only be done with blood sugar and liver checks.
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Never give human-formulated combination products with xylitol or other sweeteners (toxic to dogs).
✅ Best next step: If you want to keep using ALA for Kali, I’d recommend discussing with a holistic or integrative vet to tailor the dose. They can help balance the potential antioxidant/nerve support benefits while avoiding toxicity risks.
Would you like me to put together a safe dosage chart by weight (like a quick-reference table) so you can see where your dog falls compared to what you’re currently giving?
ChatGPT said:
Here’s a quick-reference dosage chart for alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) in dogs, based on the safer veterinary range of 1–5 mg/kg (0.5–2.3 mg/lb) per day:
🐶 Alpha-Lipoic Acid Dosage Chart for Dogs
| Dog’s Weight | Safe Daily Range (approx.) |
|---|---|
| 10 lbs (4.5 kg) | 5 – 23 mg |
| 20 lbs (9 kg) | 9 – 45 mg |
| 40 lbs (18 kg) | 18 – 90 mg |
| 60 lbs (27 kg) | 27 – 135 mg |
| 85 lbs (38.5 kg) | 38 – 192 mg |
| 100 lbs (45 kg) | 45 – 225 mg |
⚠️ Important Notes
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Toxicity has been seen at ~20–30 mg/kg (10–14 mg/lb), which is much higher than the safe range.
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For your 85-lb Shepherd, the safe range is ~40–190 mg daily.
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A 600 mg dose daily is about 3× higher than the safe upper end and could risk low blood sugar, seizures, or liver stress if continued.
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If your dog is otherwise responding well, it would be safest to taper down into the recommended range and monitor.
👉 Would you like me to also suggest some practical capsule/tablet splitting strategies (for example, if you have 600 mg caps, how to adjust them to get into the safer range)? That way you wouldn’t have to buy new products right away.
Perfect — here’s how you can safely adjust 600 mg capsules of alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) so you can get your dog into the safe range (~40–190 mg daily for 85 lbs):
🧮 Splitting Strategies for 600 mg Capsules
1. Open and Divide the Powder
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Most ALA supplements are filled with powder inside a gelatin or veggie capsule.
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You can carefully open the capsule and split the powder into portions.
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For example:
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Split into 3 equal piles → ~200 mg each
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Split into 4 equal piles → ~150 mg each
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Give one pile daily, mix into a little food.
2. Dissolve in Water for Precision
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Open the 600 mg capsule into 6 ml of water (1 ml ≈ 100 mg).
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Stir well and keep refrigerated.
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Use an oral syringe to draw up the amount you want:
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1.5 ml → ~150 mg
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2 ml → ~200 mg
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3 ml → ~300 mg
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This lets you easily dose between 100–200 mg daily.
3. Rotate Dosing for Convenience
If splitting every day is tricky, you can alternate doses:
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Day 1 → 150 mg
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Day 2 → 200 mg
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Day 3 → 150 mg
That averages ~175 mg daily, right in the safe zone.
⚠️ Storage & Safety Notes
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Don’t premix large amounts in water for more than 2–3 days (ALA can degrade).
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Keep powder or solution in a dark, sealed container in the fridge.
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Always mix into food — ALA on an empty stomach may upset digestion.
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Watch for signs of hypoglycemia (weakness, trembling, excessive sleepiness).
Would you like me to also make a step-down taper schedule (from 600 mg → ~200 mg) so Kali’s body adjusts gradually instead of suddenly dropping the dose?
ChatGPT said:
Got it 👍 Here’s a safe taper plan you can use to bring Kali down gradually from 600 mg → ~150–200 mg daily, which is the recommended range for an 85-lb Shepherd:
🐾 Step-Down Taper Schedule (Alpha-Lipoic Acid)
Week 1 → ~400 mg/day
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Open one 600 mg capsule.
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Divide into 2 equal portions (~300 mg each).
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Give one full portion (300 mg) + a small extra (~100 mg).
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Or: dissolve capsule into 6 ml water, give 4 ml daily (~400 mg).
Week 2 → ~300 mg/day
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Give half of the capsule powder (~300 mg).
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Or: dissolve in water and give 3 ml.
Week 3 → ~200 mg/day
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Give about one-third of capsule (~200 mg).
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Or: dissolve in water and give 2 ml.
Week 4 and beyond → ~150–200 mg/day (maintenance)
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Stick to 200 mg daily, or alternate 150 mg / 200 mg to average ~175 mg.
⚠️ Monitoring During Taper
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Watch for signs of low blood sugar (weakness, shaking, unusual sleepiness).
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Look for positive changes: steadier energy, normal appetite, no digestive upset.
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If you notice anything off (especially wobbliness, confusion, or vomiting), stop and check with your vet right away.
ChatGPT said:
You’re right to think about B vitamins alongside alpha-lipoic acid (ALA). ALA can increase the need for certain B vitamins because it plays a role in mitochondrial energy metabolism and interacts with pathways involving B1, B2, B6, B12, and folate.
Here’s what’s generally recommended for dogs:
Why pair B vitamins with ALA?
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B1 (thiamine): ALA depends on thiamine as a cofactor. Low thiamine could limit ALA’s benefits.
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B-complex in general: Supports nerve health, appetite, and energy metabolism—often helpful in dogs with chronic illness.
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Safety: B vitamins are water-soluble, so excess is usually excreted (though mega-doses aren’t necessary).
Typical canine B-complex ranges (daily)
For a large dog (~85 lbs, like yours):
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B1 (thiamine): 10–25 mg
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B2 (riboflavin): 5–15 mg
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B3 (niacin): 10–25 mg
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B5 (pantothenic acid): 5–20 mg
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B6 (pyridoxine): 2–5 mg
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Folate: 0.2–1 mg
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B12 (cobalamin): 50–250 mcg
These amounts are in line with veterinary B-complex supplements that are marketed for medium to giant breed dogs.
Practical approach
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Instead of piecing together single B vitamins, most people use a canine B-complex supplement (or a plain human B-complex capsule/tablet, if dosed appropriately).
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For your dog’s size, 1 human B-complex daily is usually in range. If you want to be extra cautious, you can give half a capsule/tablet and adjust depending on her energy, appetite, or if your vet suggests a higher dose.
Dosing Guidance & Safety Considerations
Alpha-Lipoic Acid (ALA) Dosage Recap
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ALA is considered safe for dogs at 1–5 mg/kg/day, with typical benefits seen around 2.7–4.9 mg/kg/day. At much higher doses, toxicity can occur at and above ~100 mg/kg PMCThorne Vetvetmeds.org.
B-Complex Vitamins: Supplement or Prescription?
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Injectable B-complex (used under veterinary supervision) is dosed at:
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Water-soluble oral formulation (often used in liver disease formulas) contains per mL:
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Thiamine (B₁): 50 mg
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Riboflavin (B₂): 2–2.5 mg
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Niacinamide (B₃): 50–100 mg
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Pantothenic acid (B₅): 5–10 mg
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Pyridoxine (B₆): 2–5 mg
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B₁₂: variable Merck Veterinary Manual.
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Daily intake from regular food (per 1,000 kcal) for a 30-lb dog might be:
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B₁: 0.56 mg
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B₂: 1.3 mg
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B₃: 4 mg
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Folate: 68 µg
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Pantothenic acid: 4 mg
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Biotin: 7 µg
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B₆: 0.4 mg
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B₁₂: 9 µg Wag!.
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Oral overdose of B vitamins is rare—excess is usually excreted—but extremely high niacin or pyridoxine (B₆) can theoretically cause issues Wag!.