As fur parents, it is our responsibility to keep our little fur babies nice and healthy. Aside from a healthy diet and updated vaccines, our dogs also need the right vitamins to keep them happy and healthy.
But what vitamins do our dogs need? Do they need the same vitamins as we humans do? And are there any risks when giving our dogs vitamins?
Here, we’ll be covering the seven common vitamins your dogs need. And you might be familiar with a lot of them as we might need them as much as our pups do.
Vitamin A
We’ve all been told by our parents and schools to eat our carrots because they can help promote good vision. This good vision is thanks to the Vitamin A found in carrots. And dogs need it too. Aside from good vision, Vitamin A also promotes growth, immune function, and cell function. For dogs, Vitamin A often comes in the form of eye supplements.
B Vitamins
This is more of a category than a single vitamin, so we’ll be discussing the different B vitamins that dogs need. First, we have B1 or thiamine. This B vitamin helps regulate your dog’s energy and carbohydrate metabolism. It also activates the ion channels in neural tissue.
Next, we have riboflavin (B2) and niacin (B3) which we’ll also lump with vitamin B12. These three B vitamins will help facilitate your dog’s enzyme function. Meanwhile, pantothenic acid or vitamin B5 helps with the dog’s energy metabolism.
Lastly, vitamin B6 is a vital vitamin responsible for a lot of functions. It deals with the nervous system, red blood cells, hormone regulation, glucose generation, gene activation, and immune response.
Vitamin C
This antioxidant helps reduce inflammation and cognitive aging in your dogs. While dogs can naturally synthesize vitamin C in their livers, giving them vitamin C supplements can also offer additional health benefits.
Vitamin D
If your dog loves to bathe in the warm sunlight, then that might actually be a good thing. Vitamin D, dubbed the “sunshine vitamin,” helps your dog balance minerals in its body. It aids in their development and helps them maintain healthy bones and muscles.
Vitamin E
When your dog has a vitamin E deficiency, it might develop reproductive problems and degeneration in the eyes and muscles. This is because vitamin E is supposed to defend your dog against oxidative damage and is essential for fat metabolism and cell function.
Vitamin K
Vitamin K activates the blood’s ability to clot, which is crucial. When your dog’s ability to use vitamin K is inhibited due to ingestion of rat poison, it may lead to hemorrhaging and even death.
Choline
Choline supports healthy liver and brain function in your dogs. It may also be used for treating pets that suffer from epilepsy.
What Are the Risks?
While vitamins are indeed good for both humans and dogs, too much of a good thing can still be bad. For example, when there’s too much vitamin A, your dog may experience joint pain and dehydration. It may even harm the dog’s blood vessels.
Some supplements may also contain other ingredients that might not be so good for your dog or affect certain medications they are taking. When choosing vitamin supplements for your dog, it is best to consult with your veterinarian first. They can tell you which vitamins are necessary and recommend an appropriate dosage for them.
Conclusion
Just like humans, dogs need vitamins too. These common vitamins can help your dog in many ways, from promoting healthy vision to treating epilepsy. But too much of a good thing can be harmful. It’s best to consult a veterinarian beforehand when it comes to your dog’s health.
Get your dogs the best supplements from a trusted Ann Arbor pet store. Wags to Wiskers is a community-based pet supplies store with a focus on natural, holistic pet foods. We also offer supplements, treats, pet supplies, and grooming services. We serve fur parents in Ann Arbor, Chelsea, and Ludington, MI. Order by email now!