Does Your Dog Need Vitamins? 

If you are wondering if your dog needs vitamins, then the answer is YES! However, there are a wide assortment of vitamins so you might wonder what kind of dog vitamins you need to give your canine pal. 

Organic compounds, vitamins meet the needs of your pet for life and health. Usually, dog foods and natural diets contain vitamins that help a dog with maintenance and growth. 

Your dog will need the same vitamins as you do but in different amounts. 

Vitamin A

Vitamin A occurs naturally in carrots and helps your dog see well. It is a fat-soluble vitamin that helps with growth, immune function, fetal formation, and cellular regeneration. Many eye-care supplements contain vitamin A.

Vitamin B 

B vitamins are not just singular, but a group of vitamins needed by the canine. 

Below are the most needed B vitamins:

• Thiamin regulates your dog’s carbohydrate metabolism and energy levels. It also helps neural tissue function.
• Vitamin B6 is essential for red blood cell production, glucose balance, nervous system function, immune system function, and niacin conversion. 
• Riboflavin (B12) facilitates enzyme functions. 
• Folic acid is an amino acid that assists in mitochondrial protein synthesis and nucleotide metabolism.

Vitamin C 

Vitamin C serves as an important antioxidant that helps the dog’s body battle free radicals that can cause inflammation of the joints. A canine can synthesize vitamin C in their livers but sometimes they also benefit from supplementation. 

Vitamin D 

Often called the ‘sunshine vitamin.’  Vitamin D lets your dog effectively balance minerals such as calcium and phosphorus. Your dog requires ample amounts of vitamin d for muscle and dog development. 

Vitamin E  

Vitamin E is necessary to fight against oxidative damage. The fat-soluble vitamin helps with fat metabolism and improves cellular function. If your dog is deficient in vitamin E, then the dog can experience eye, muscle degeneration, or have reproductive issues.

Vitamin K 

With vitamin K, your dog’s blood can form clots when necessary. 

Choline 

Choline is a component needed by the body’s cell membranes. It helps with the functions of the liver and brain. Choline is often used as a treatment for dogs that suffer from epilepsy. 

 Should You Give Your Dog Vitamin Supplements?

If you feed a well-balanced diet, your dog probably receives their essential vitamins, nutrients, and minerals. This is especially true for commercial dog foods that cater to the stages of a dog’s lifecycle. However, some veterinarians do recommend vitamin supplements for large breed puppies, pregnant females, and seniors. Also, if you feed your dog a homemade diet or a raw food diet then you’ll want to consider supplementing with vitamins. 

Choosing a Dog Vitamin

In order to choose an appropriate dog vitamin, you’ll want to discuss your dog’s needs with your veterinarian. You’ll also want to explore dosage and vitamin types to meet your pet’s unique requirements. If your dog is deficient in some vitamins, you can also focus on vitamin-rich foods such as vegetative or fruits to provide natural vitamin choices instead of supplements.