Why are vitamins so important for dogs? Without vitamins your dog will not stay healthy. That’s why you have to make sure that your dog gets enough vitamins when you feed him. You cannot see or taste these useful substances. In order to feed your four-legged friend correctly, you need to know which and how many vitamins for dogs are contained in the food.

What Are Vitamins?

Vitamins are substances that perform numerous important tasks in your dog’s body. Their functions are well researched. Most of them cannot be produced by the organism itself. They must enter the body through the food

Many vitamins for dogs are water-soluble. They are quickly utilized after eating. However, they can hardly be stored. This group includes, for example, vitamin C or the B vitamins. Vitamins A, D, E and K are fat-soluble. The organism can only utilize them if there is also fat in the food. The body can store fat-soluble vitamins. In the event of a deficiency, it falls back on this supply.

Vitamins For Dogs: Why They Are So Important

Each vitamin has its own area of responsibility. In part, they support each other in their effect. Although vitamins for dogs have a decisive influence on well-being and health, with few exceptions they cannot be produced by the body

For example, dogs produce folic acid in the intestine and vitamin C in the liver. Nevertheless, food is the most important source of vitamins overall. It is crucial for your dog’s vitamin supply that all vitamins are available in sufficient quantities after the digestive process

In order for the organism to be able to utilize the vitamins, it must dissolve them out of the food via digestion. This is easier for some vitamins than for others. In addition, the vitamins in some feeds combine with other substances. These compounds can make them more difficult to utilize.

Healthy Feeding: These Vitamins Your Dog Needs

Vitamins for dogs are as important a factor in feeding as the energy content of the food or the amount of protein. This list gives you an overview of the vitamins your dog needs and their most important tasks.

• Vitamin A (Retinol): vision, reproduction, skin, bones, mucous membranes.
• Vitamin D (cholecalciferol): bone metabolism.
• Vitamin E (tocopherol): cell protection, cell regeneration.
• Vitamin K (phylloquinone/menaquinone): blood clotting, bone formation, immune system.
• Vitamin B1 (thiamine): nervous system, carbohydrate and protein metabolism.
• Vitamin B2 (riboflavin): cell respiration, cell protection, immune defense, metabolism.
• Vitamin B3 (niacin): energy production, stabilization of the nervous system, heart health, skin regeneration.
• Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine): carbohydrate and fat metabolism, immune system, neurotransmitters, genetic material.
• Vitamin B12 (cobalamin): protein metabolism, formation of red blood cells.
• Vitamin C (ascorbic acid): detoxification, antioxidant protection, energy production, immune system.
• Vitamin H (biotin): skin regeneration, coat.
• Folic acid: cell formation, cell renewal, DNA metabolism.

Which Feed Is Best?

Homemade food can contain enough vitamins for dogs. However, you need a thorough knowledge of suitable foods and their nutrient content. Ready-made food takes a lot of work off your hands and feeds your pet very well. However, you should choose a quality food. These products are carefully formulated and balanced.

There are two main groups: Dry food and wet food. As a mixture you can buy semi-moist food. Which one is more suitable for your dog depends, among other things, on his preferences. Some animals simply do not like one variant. You can see this in their eating behavior. Simply offer another type of food if your dog does not accept the offered food well. However, only dry food is suitable for working with a food dummy.

Vitamins For Dogs: What Factors Influence Vitamin Requirements?

Breed, weight, age, as well as daily activities are among the factors that determine your dog’s vitamin needs. Since the breed has an influence on the weight and usually also on the natural activity urge, these factors can not always be clearly separated.

Young dogs in development have a slightly higher requirement in relation to their body weight than adult dogs. In older dogs, vitamins are not absorbed as well due to slower metabolism. These animals may need more vitamins in their food to ensure adequate supply.

You should also consider your four-legged friend’s health status when providing vitamins. If he is recovering from an illness or needs certain vitamins to get healthy, the need may be increased.

How To Recognize Vitamin Deficiencies

Typical deficiency symptoms always appear in the areas in which a vitamin fulfills important functions. In most cases, a deficiency develops gradually and the symptoms only become apparent after some time. The most serious symptoms include:

• Vitamin A (retinol): night blindness, skin and bone changes.
• Vitamin D (cholecalciferol): bone softening and deformities.
• Vitamin E (tocopherol): poor performance, muscle weakness, reproductive disorders.
• Vitamin K (phylloquinone/menaquinone): blood clotting disorders, decrease in bone density.
• Vitamin B1 (thiamine): poor performance, cramps, edema, cardiac dysfunction.
• Vitamin B2 (riboflavin): inflammations, tissue changes, organ function disorders.
• Vitamin B3 (niacin): mucosal changes, digestive disorders, neurological disorders.
• Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine): increased susceptibility to infections, skin changes, neurological disorders, growth disorders.
• Vitamin B12 (cobalamin): nervous system disorders, anemia.
• Vitamin C (ascorbic acid): fatigue, susceptibility to infections, muscle pain.
• Vitamin H (biotin): skin and coat changes.
• Folic acid: increased susceptibility to infections, impaired wound healing.

Does Your Dog Need Vitamin Supplements?

Vitamins for dogs, which are produced by the organism itself, are normally sufficient for the basic supply in healthy animals. If vitamins are already added to your dog food, you will usually cover your animal’s vitamin requirements. This applies in particular to ready-made foods whose composition is specially adapted to the requirements of dog nutrition. In the dog food assortment you will also find products for certain breeds, age groups or special needs.

In some cases, vitamin supplements can be useful, including diseases that require an increased vitamin intake. Here, a targeted vitamin preparation can be useful until the symptoms improve. The same applies if your dog is diagnosed with an acute vitamin deficiency.

In addition, vitamin supplements for dogs have a supporting effect in times of increased stress help, for example, during the change of coat.

Can A Dog Get Too Many Vitamins?

It is indeed possible to feed too large amounts of vitamins. This is especially true for vitamins that the dog’s organism produces itself. A lot is not necessarily good when it comes to vitamins for dogs. Your pet’s organism functions best when the food meets its actual needs.

It is true that water-soluble vitamins can be easily excreted if they are not needed. But fat-soluble vitamins may accumulate in the tissues and cause health problems. Very high doses of vitamin A, for example, can cause symptoms of poisoning in dogs. For this reason, it is better to feed vitamins selectively and as needed. Then your dog will get exactly what he needs.

FAQ

How Reliable Is The Vitamin Information On Dog Food?

You can rely on the information provided by the manufacturer. However, you must bear in mind that the vitamin content can change due to storage. Improper storage or prolonged storage of opened food packages can reduce the vitamin content.

What Should I Do If My Dog Shows Signs Of Deficiency?

If the symptoms are mild, you can try to see if they can be treated by changing the food. If the symptoms are severe or worsen, you need medical advice. Vitamin deficiencies and diseases cannot be clearly distinguished from each other. In this case, a veterinarian must make a diagnosis after careful examination.

My Dog Needs A Diet. How Can I Ensure The Vitamin Supply?

If the reduced amount of food does not ensure an adequate supply of vitamins, vitamin supplements are an option. If in doubt, consult a veterinarian for advice on how to feed your dog properly during the diet.

My Dog Is In Foal. Does She Need More Vitamins?

For optimal care of a pregnant bitch, more vitamins are indeed necessary. This is because she must provide for the growing puppies as well. Adjusting needs is an individual matter that the veterinarian caring for the bitch can best assess. Lactating bitches also want to be well cared for. They need to recover from giving birth and provide enough high-quality milk for the puppies.

Are Artificial Vitamins Better Or Worse For Dogs Than Natural Ones?

Opinions differ among owners, breeders and doctors on this question. Some reject artificial vitamins on principle. Others see no difference in the effect. What is certain is that you can reach an overdose more quickly with vitamin preparations. This is very rarely possible with vitamin intake from natural sources.