Top 5 Vitamins Every Dog Owner Should Know About
It is general knowledge that vitamins are good for you, and that humans need a combination of various vitamins and minerals on a daily basis to maintain their health. Minerals have an inorganic composition and are mostly found in soil and water; to a much lesser extent, they are also present in fruits, vegetables and animals.
A vitamin, on the other hand, is defined as an organic compound found throughout nature that is necessary to sustain life. They are produced by plants and animals, as well as chemical reactions (such as your body producing Vitamin D when coming into contact with sunlight). Every vitamin has a different function in the body and understanding how each one benefits us is important.
The same is true for your dog. A healthy dog food diet should also include the vitamins they need for their bodies for physical and mental wellbeing. What makes dogs’ nutritional needs a bit more complicated when it comes to vitamin intake is that different breeds have slightly different requirements. Some other factors to take into account are their age, size, how active they are, and if they have any health problems.
5 Important Dog Vitamins
However, all dogs have similar nutritional needs, so their diet should include these 5 important vitamins for dogs on a regular basis.
Vitamin A
- Eye health
- Foetal development
- Immune system support
- Growth
Every vertebrate species requires Vitamin A, including dogs. Also called retinol, this fat-soluble vitamin supports bone health, immune function, growth, foetal development, cell function and vision. The reason why Vitamin A is needed for so many essential body functions is because it is stored in a dog’s fat cells, which means it assists with various bodily processes throughout the dog’s life stages.
Your dog especially needs Vitamin A for strong bones, a clear vision, and to recover from illnesses.
Signs of Vitamin A deficiency
Skin and coat problems, especially sparse fur or hairless patches.
Vitamin B
- Energy
- Metabolism
- Brain development
- Brain function
Because there are many forms of Vitamin B, such as niacin, pantothenic acid and riboflavin, it provides a wide variety of benefits for dog health. These include the following:
- B1: Supports brain function and breaks down carbohydrates
- B2: Vital for muscle function and supports eye health
- B3: Helps with digestion and the metabolism of fatty acids
- B6: Facilitates enzyme function
- B7: Necessary for healthy skin and fur
- B12: Supports hormone regulation, red blood cell function and glucose generation
Signs of Vitamin B deficiency
There is an extensive list of health conditions that are caused by Vitamin B deficiencies, as each type of vitamin B affects different parts and functions of the body. In general, watch out for muscle weakness, fatigue, dull coat or a coat with bald patches, and tooth decay.
Vitamin C
- Inflammation reduction
- Cognitive health
As an oxidant, Vitamin C helps your dog’s body to reduce inflammation as well as mental aging. This vitamin is also important to ensure a dog’s skin is healthy, nails are strong, and to avoid excessive shedding. By creating a vital protein, Vitamin C helps puppies to grow and older dog’s wounds to heal. Vitamin C improves iron absorption, so it helps your dog to also maintain strong teeth and bones.
Signs of Vitamin C deficiency
If your dog struggles with these health issues, they may have a vitamin C deficiency: Bloody gums, teeth loss, lethargy and skin spots.
Vitamin D
- Bone growth
- Muscle growth
Vitamin D helps dogs to balance minerals in their body, which is critical for their joints, healthy bone growth and muscle development.
Signs of Vitamin D deficiency
Dogs with a vitamin D deficiency could have muscle weakness, bone pain, hair loss, fatigue and poor wound healing.
Vitamin E
- Metabolism support
- Antioxidant properties
As another fat-soluble vitamin, vitamin E is very important for fat metabolism and cell function. It also protects your dog against oxidative damage, which occurs when there are too many free radicals in the body, as well as the protection of cell membranes.
Signs of Vitamin E deficiency
A vitamin E deficiency can lead to reproductive problems or eye and muscle degeneration.
Daily dog nutrition
Clearly, the dog food you feed to your canine friend is very important. This is why Canine Cuisine® is scientifically formulated by a veterinarian and animal nutritionist to give the best dog nutrition for overall wellbeing, without compromising on taste.
Give your dog what his body needs, with immune-boosting vitamins, minerals and Omega oils and fatty acids, with Canine Cuisine® dog food. It’s health and happiness contained in one bag.
References:
7 Vitamins Your Dog Needs for a Healthy Life
Which Vitamins and Minerals Do Dogs Need?
Understand the nutritional needs of different dog breeds