What Are the Best Vitamins for Dogs?
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Do you take vitamins? Are you worried if your diet contains enough vitamins to keep your body in optimal condition? If your answer is yes, we would like to ask you the same questions regarding your dog. Could your pet also benefit from the regular intake of vitamins?
Just like humans, dogs need vitamins to keep themselves healthy and maintain their quality of life. There are some vitamins that dogs need more than others, and they are those that you should include in their diet, be it in their food or with supplements.
Keep reading this AnimalWised article to find out what are the best vitamins for dogs and in what foods they can be found.
What are vitamins? Why do dogs need them?
Vitamins are essential organic compounds that work to ensure that the organism functions properly. They are useful in all stages of life, from growth and development, and they are necessary for all organic processes in an animal's body, like regularing chemicals or managing digestion.
Vitamins are key substances to keep an animal healthy. A deficiency of one vitamin in particular can cause diseases and health problems, which can sometimes have serious and long-lasting effects. You should always look out for any nutritional deficiencies in your dog.
The simplest and most appropriate way to get a good balance of vitamins in your dog's diet is to give it organic and natural foods, which are high in vitamins and low in chemicals and other elements that contribute nothing to your dog's health. Here you can learn more about combining homemade food with bought food for dogs.
Many vets have noticed a lack of vitamins and essential nutrients in the diets of their canine patients. This causes many problems and side effects, such as:
- Skeletal problems
- Arthritis
- Poor state of mouth, gums and teeth
- Oral diseases
- Pain and problems in joints
- Low energy
- Physical despondency
- Digestive problems
- Immune system problems
- Hair loss
- Hair damage
Go to a specialist and never overdo it
Nowadays more and more vets recommend the consumption of multivitamin complexes to boost a dog's immune system. However, they should not be abused; vitamin supplements should only be used to ensure a healthy and balanced diet.
Consult your vet before giving your dog any type of vitamin supplement. He will check your dog's body and make an assessment of the vitamins that it lacks and the vitamins that it needs.
This analysis is important, because having too much of a particular vitamin is counterproductive and can also lead to a number of problems, such as dehydration, excess calcium that affects the bones, loss of appetite, damage to blood vessels, etc.
Types of vitamins for dogs:
1. Calcium
Calcium is the bone's best friend. While not actually a vitamin but a kind of metal, it helps the formation of bones, transmission of nerve impulses, correct blood clotting and muscle action. Calcium is good for puppies as it aids their correct development, but it should always be taken with precaution. You can find it in calcium supplements, seaweed and also eggshell pills. Vitamin D helps the body to absorb calcium, which aids bone formation.
2. Healthy fatty acids
These fatty acids provide energy, help the body to grow and keep all body tissues healthy. You can find them in seafood - which have a minimum mercury content - hake, tuna, salmon, dry beans, fish oil and Omega-6 supplements. Fish can also contain minerals and vitamins A, B and D.
3. Vitamins A and E
These vitamins are essential for dogs that have nutritional deficiencies. They improve the immune system and ensure optimum development. This kind of complex prevents diseases like cancer as well as allergies and infections, and they're good for reducing stress. You can find these vitamins in meats, fruits (such as melons), spinach, green beans, fish and dairy products. Vitamin A is essential for vision, whereas Vitamin E helps the body to create red blood cells.
4. Vitamin K
Vitamin K, a fat-soluble vitamin, helps the blood to clot and form protective scabs. This vitamin is found in animal fat, carrots, green beans and fruits such as blueberries. The dog's body absorbs this vitamin through the intestine to use at a later point.
5. Vitamin B and C
These are important, but it more important to only give them in moderation. They help in the formation of teeth, bones and tissues. Some dogs already produce vitamin C, but vitamin B can only be obtained through their diet. These vitamins are found in foods such as turnip leaves, blueberries, pumpkins, papaya, parsley and carrots, among others.
6. Biotin or B7
Biotin is a kind of water-soluble vitamin B. It's excellent for the dog's fur, and it's good for the dermis' health in general. If you're looking to improve your dog's fur, biotin or B7 is the vitamin for you. You can find it in fish oils, but it also exists in pill and powder form.
In order for these vitamins to have an affect, don't forget that your dog needs to eat good quality food, be exposed to sunlight and exercise if it needs to. Vitamin supplements should always be an extra, and they should only be taken on a temporary basis.
This article is purely informative. AnimalWised does not have the authority to prescribe any veterinary treatment or create a diagnosis. We invite you to take your pet to the veterinarian if they are suffering from any condition or pain.
If you want to read similar articles to What Are the Best Vitamins for Dogs?, we recommend you visit our Other health problems category.
