The most important vitamins for dogs at a glance
You want to know which vitamins are really important for your dog? I have analyzed dozens of sources for you and talked to veterinarians. The best vitamins and tricks I have compressed here for you to the most important. So be excited!
Important vitamins covered in this article are vitamins A, B, D3, E and K.
Vitamin B - complex for dogs
Vitamin B is a generic term that hides a variety of vitamins. They are crucial for metabolism and more than important for every bodily function. Vitamin B can be stored in the organism of the dog only in small quantities.
Therefore, your four-legged friend needs a regular supply of vitamin B. The ideal way would be through food. In the meantime there are also preparations that contain vitamin B.
They are especially suitable for furry noses that are fed a vegetarian diet. Some owners even use vitamin B to ward off ticks.
Vitamin B is also an important precursor to the Coenzymes. They are all water-soluble, provide species-appropriate growth and a healthy appetite.
Suitable natural sources of vitamin B are meat, milk and fish, i.e. animal foods.
You can detect a vitamin B deficiency by the following symptoms, among others:
- Fatigue
- depressive disorders
- Apathy
- Amplification of all kinds of allergies
- premature graying
- Hair loss
- Growth disorders
- Muscle weakness
- Cardiac, circulatory disorders
- increased susceptibility to infection
Before you decide to take vitamin B supplements, be sure to consult your veterinarian. He can recommend the right preparations, which can also be given in case of allergies or food intolerance.
Especially with puppies and young dogs must be approached with caution. Because here you should only resort to supplementary preparations in exceptional cases.
Today there are two options for administration: capsules or tablets. The dosage form depends on whether your protégé copes better with tablets or capsules.
For the dosage, follow the instructions on the package leaflet or ask a vet. As a rule, small four-legged friends should take one capsule a day. Larger dogs should be given two capsules.
Ideally, the vitamins can be mixed into the normal food so that your foster can easily absorb them. Moist food is suitable because of the moisture. In it, capsules can be perfectly dissolved.
Your darling must be sufficiently supplied with vitamin B. This will allow him to develop healthily. However, care must be taken to ensure that the correct amount is given. This is the case with all Food supplements months.
Basically, your faithful companion does not need any additional vitamins if you feed him a high-quality complete food or use the barf method. If you feed your pet a vegetarian diet, the additional intake of vitamin B is recommended.
Vitamin B12 is also known asCobalaminand is responsible for metabolism in the body. It ensures the interaction of folic acid and the transfer of methyl groups.
Too little vitamin B can lead to blood cell deficiency or neurological disorders. A deficiency may well be noticed only after several years. It comes to fatigue, pallor and concentration disorders.
In many foods for the dog is a small amount of vitamin B 12, but it is quite sufficient. It is usually contained only in very high-quality products.
You can prevent B12 deficiency by either using a good dog food with vitamin B12 or by giving your furry friend supplemental supplements with vitamin B12.
Folic acid is a vitamin from the vitamin B complex and is sometimes also called vitamin B9 or vitamin M. Folic acid is actually the synthetically produced version of folate. Folates are absorbed by the body in different ways.
Among other things, these compounds take part in metabolic processes. They are particularly important for cell division and growth. In principle, the dog's organism can produce folate itself, so it is rare for a dog to suffer from a folic acid deficiency.
Research on cleft palate and neural tube defects in dogs has shown that the use of folic acid in pregnant bitches or puppies reduces the risk and is therefore recommended.
A folic acid deficiency is usually not noticed. Open wounds, skin changes, low weight gain during pregnancy, less appetite or even anemia can be signs of this.
An excess of folic acid is not possible because the excess is excreted normally. Folate is found in green leafy vegetables, wheat germ, yeast and liver.
Vitamin D3 is important for the absorption of calcium and phosphorus in the intestine. Vitamin D3 also counteracts bone loss. A vitamin D3 deficiency has a strong influence on mood and mental state. This is because the vitamin is responsible for regulating the serotonin brain messenger substance.
Vitamin D deficiency occurs mostly in young dogs and puppies and manifests as rickets. It can also result in painful softening of the bones. Even an oversupply can be unpleasant for your protégé, because calcifications can occur.
Basically, the largest amount of vitamin D3 is absorbed through sunlight. The skin absorbs the UV rays and produces the vitamin. In dogs that have a thicker coat, the production becomes more difficult. Then a supplement can help.
Good ready-made food contains a good amount of vitamin D3. With barfing or the home-cooked variety, vitamin D3 must be added through supplementary preparations.
Vitamin E enters the body through food. It is found in unsaturated fatty acids, which your pet absorbs through the ingredients of the food.
During pregnancy and growth, your faithful companion has a higher need for vitamin E. This can be compensated by cod liver oil or other fish oils. Signs of vitamin E deficiency:
- Weight loss
- Muscle weakness
- Immunodeficiency
- Blood disorders
- Dermatosis
- reduced fertility
- Eye diseases
An overdose of vitamin E is actually not possible. So far, no studies in this direction could be recorded.
Vitamin A is contained in certain fats and is required for fat metabolism. The vitamin is mainly stored in the liver. Active vitamin A is contained in foods of animal origin. These include cod liver oil, eggs, milk, fish oil and liver. Note that skimmed milk contains hardly any vitamin A.
Vitamin A is important for the visual process, the production of antibodies and for the growth of the dog.
Signs of vitamin A deficiency:**
- Infertility
- Corneal opacity
- Hearing loss
- Nerve damage
- Skin lesions
- Susceptibility to infection
- stillbirth or malformations in pregnant bitches
The vitamin A can not be excreted in case of oversupply. In the long term, overdose may cause lesions of the heart and arteries, cleft palate in puppies, low weight gain, loss of appetite and joint pain.
For a healthy metabolism and cell division process, your pelt nose needs a pleasant amount of biotin. Biotin is also known as vitamin B7 and is an integral part of dog nutrition.
The right amount of biotin is essential for the blood sugar level. Your four-legged friend gets a shiny coat, healthy skin and a good coat structure through a healthy B7 supply.
In barfing and in normal dog nutrition, the ingredient vitamin B7 is important. An adult dog needs about 40 mg a day, which is absorbed through the diet.
Signs of biotin deficiency:
- brittle, dull coat
- Shed
- Eczema
- Itching
- Hair loss
- lack of vitality (often occurs in older dogs)
Biotin is found in many foods: Offal, egg yolk, yeast, wheat bran, oatmeal, salmon, carrots and beef muscle meat.
Last but not least, we should not forget vitamin K. It is responsible for a whole range of important functions in the body. These include:
- Healthy intestinal flora
- Liver and kidney support
- Blood clotting
- Immune system
Tip: Very natural and good vitamin K is found in leafy vegetables like spinach. But: For puppies this is an absolute Taboo and even for large dogs only in small quantities. Fortunately, there are also safe alternatives such as good vitamin tablets.
Basically, your dog is well supplied with the necessary vitamins through a high-quality complete food. It contains enough nutrients and vitamins that a dog needs for everyday life.
But there are always circumstances in which help is needed. Then a supplement is ideal to prevent a deficiency. Meanwhile, there is a rich offer of supplements for dogs.
However, you should not independently resort to any preparations. You should consult with your veterinarian about the necessity and type of dosage.
It is important that vitamin tablets are not administered in excessive doses. This can harm your pet in the long term. As a general rule, vitamin tablets should only be administered for a limited period of time. The following rule usually applies: as soon as the deficiency symptoms have disappeared, the supplements should also be discontinued.
Today, there is such a wide range of supplements that are suitable for your dog. However, you should already pay attention to a healthy mix of ingredients when choosing the right dog food.
Besides proteins and vegetables, you should also consider vitamins. With a balanced diet, it usually does not happen that your pet suffers from deficiencies.
If your bitch is pregnant, you need to pay special attention. In this case you should consult your veterinarian. He will help you to give your bitch the appropriate vitamin rations. So remember this infographic
There are now numerous food supplements for many areas, including mobility and vitality, a healthy bone structure, joints, stomach, intestines, skin and coat, for your dog's well-being and inner peace.
When buying such supplements, you should always make sure that they are natural ingredients. It is better to avoid products with chemical or synthetic additives or ingredients.
