According to Professor Tony Buffington, DVM, PhD, “most people are doing it because they want to, not because it is necessary,” when it comes to giving dogs vitamins. The best way to choose a dog vitamin is to talk to your veterinarian about what, if any, dog vitamin supplements your dog needs. You can avoid these risks by working out a nutritional plan with your veterinarian. On top of that, there are very few studies that have tested the long-term safety of dog vitamin supplements, and some supplements contain other ingredients, like herbs, that can interact with certain medications. Too much vitamin A can cause dehydration, joint pain, and can even harm your dog’s blood vessels. You might not know that vitamins can cause problems, too. You already know that too much of the mineral calcium can cause skeletal problems in large breed puppies. It should not surprise us that something so essential could also be potentially dangerous in large quantities. Are There Risks Associated With Dog Vitamins? Simply feeding these dogs a vitamin with dinner is not enough. However, these vitamins should be given to match the diet, according to veterinary nutritionist Susan Wynn, DVM. Dogs fed a homemade diet, on the other hand, may require supplements to ensure that they are getting enough vitamins with their meals. This is especially important for large breed puppy foods, as these breeds can develop diseases, such as hip dysplasia, if their food contains vitamins and minerals, like calcium, that make them grow too quickly.ĭogs fed an appropriate commercial diet should not require vitamin supplements unless recommended otherwise by a veterinarian. Commercial dog food diets labeled “complete and balanced” are specially formulated to contain all of the vitamins, minerals, and nutrients your dog needs.įoods catered toward different life stages, like puppy food, adult dog food, and senior dog food, contain different levels of certain vitamins, depending on the requirements of that life stage. Your dog gets his vitamins from dog food. It supports healthy brain and liver function, and is occasionally used as part of a treatment plan for pets with epilepsy. Choline for DogsĬholine is a necessary component of the phospholipid cell membrane. Ingestion of certain rat and mouse poisons inhibit dogs’ ability to use the vitamin K in their bodies, which leads to hemorrhaging and death if not treated. Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin instrumental in activating your dog’s blood’s ability to clot. Deficiencies can lead to eye and muscle degeneration and reproductive problems. This fat-soluble vitamin is also essential for cell function and fat metabolism. Vitamin E is one of your dog’s defenses against oxidative damage. Without it, your dog would not be able to develop properly or maintain healthy muscles and bones. Vitamin D, or the “sunshine vitamin,” allows your dog’s body to balance minerals like phosphorous and calcium for healthy bone growth. Dogs can actually synthesize vitamin C on their own in their livers, but in some cases supplementation may offer health benefits. It scavenges potentially harmful free radicals in the body and can help reduce inflammation and cognitive aging. Folic acid plays a role in amino acid and nucleotide metabolism and in mitochondrial protein synthesis.Pantothenic acid helps with energy metabolism.This vitamin is responsible for glucose generation, red blood cell and nervous system function, hormone regulation, immune response, niacin synthesis, and gene activation. Riboflavin, B12, and niacin help facilitate enzyme function.Thiamine helps regulate energy and carbohydrate metabolism, and activates ion channels in neural tissue.The B vitamins are a group of important vitamins that play a role in your dog’s health. There are eye care supplements for dogs that include Vitamin A. This fat-soluble vitamin is also responsible for growth, fetal development, immune function, and cell function. Vitamin A, in case you’ve ever wondered, is the vitamin in carrots that is responsible for that good vision your parents promised you. B vitamins (biotin, folate, niacin, pantothenic acid, riboflavin, thiamine, vitamin B-6, and vitamin B-12)ĭogs need these vitamins, too, although it is very important that we realize they may need them in different amounts than people do.You are probably familiar with most of the vitamins human and animal bodies need: Animals’ bodies need vitamins for growth and maintenance. Vitamins are organic compounds that are necessary to sustain life. With so many options for us, it is completely logical that we wonder if dog vitamins are the right choice for our pets, too.īut do dogs actually need vitamins? Are there any risks? Which vitamins should you give your dog? Here are some answers. Grocery stores and pharmacies are stocked with row upon row of human vitamins.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |