Essential Vitamins for Dogs: Key Nutrients for Optimal Health

Recently, Hsviko has seen many questions about dog vitamins, such as “Do dogs need dog supplements? Which dog supplements are good for dogs?”

Just like humans, dogs need vitamins to be healthy. As early as 70 years ago, vitamins were considered essential for dogs. Because vitamins cannot be synthesized in the body or are synthesized in insufficient amounts, they must be supplemented through dietary supplementation or other forms of supplementation.

In this article, we’ll look at each dog’s essential vitamins, the signs of deficiency, when supplementation is necessary, and how Hsviko Petcare products can help keep your furry friend healthy.

Understanding Essential Vitamins for Dogs

What are vitamins?

Vitamins are a group of small organic molecules necessary to maintain the normal life processes of living organisms. They are not required in large quantities but are essential for maintaining the body’s health. Vitamins do not provide the body with calories like carbohydrates, nor do they form the raw materials for the body’s tissues. They regulate the body’s metabolism in the form of coenzymes.

Vitamins are small amounts of nutrients that dogs need to maintain normal physiological functions. They help regulate metabolism, support growth and development, and prevent disease. While most commercial dog foods are formulated to provide adequate vitamins, some dogs may require additional supplementation based on their specific needs.

Classification of Vitamins

The first vitamin isolated was vitamin B1, an amine compound. Initially, the vitamin was named “Vitamine,” but as research progressed, it was discovered that not all vitamins contain amines, so the name was changed to “Vitamin.”

Vitamins can be categorized into two groups based on their solubility: fat-soluble and water-soluble.

Fat-soluble vitamins

Fat-soluble vitamins are derivatives of non-polar hydrophobic isoprene and are found mainly in fats and oils in food, especially in animal foods such as offal and fish oil. Although most fat-soluble vitamins are of animal origin, a few can be obtained from plants, or their precursor substances, such as carotenoids, can be obtained from plants. Fat-soluble vitamins include vitamins A, D, E, and K.

Vitaminas hidrossolúveis

On the other hand, water-soluble vitamins are widely found in various vegetables, fruits, grains, meats, edible mushrooms, and poultry eggs. These vitamins include the B vitamins, vitamin C, choline, and inositol, which can be extracted from water-soluble foods.

Essential Vitamins Every Dog Needs

Vitamina A

Function: Vitamin A is essential for maintaining healthy vision, especially in low-light conditions. It also keeps the typical structure of epithelial tissue and promotes average growth. Vitamin A is also necessary for normal bone and tooth growth.

Sources: Rich sources of vitamin A include liver, fish oil, and orange or yellow vegetables such as carrots and sweet potatoes.

The maintenance requirements for vitamin A in pet dogs are 110 IU per kilogram of body mass for adult dogs and 220 IU for growing dogs.

Vitaminas B

Overview: The B vitamins include Vitamin B1 (thiamin), Vitamin B2 (riboflavin), Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid), Vitamin B3 (niacin), Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), Vitamin B9 (folic acid), Vitamin B12 (cobalamin), Vitamin B7 (biotin), and Vitamin B4 (choline).

Function: B vitamins play critical roles in energy metabolism, nervous system function, and maintaining healthy skin and coat. Biotin, for example, is known for promoting a shiny coat and healthy skin.

Vitamin C

What it does: While dogs can synthesize their Vitamin C, certain conditions (such as stress or illness) may increase their need for this antioxidant.

Sources: Fruits such as blueberries and vegetables such as spinach can provide additional Vitamin C.

Vitamina D

Importance: Vitamin D’s primary roles include increasing calcium and phosphorus levels in the blood, promoting bone calcification, and promoting the absorption of calcium and phosphorus from the small intestine. Vitamin D is essential for growing dogs, with rickets occurring in growing dogs and chondromalacia in adult dogs when deficient.

Sources: Natural sources include cod liver oil and egg yolks; however, many commercially available dog foods are fortified with Vitamin D.

Vitamina E

What it does: Known for its antioxidant properties, Vitamin E supports immune function and helps maintain healthy skin.

Sources: You can find Vitamin E in vegetable oils, nuts, seeds, and leafy greens.

Vitamin K

Importance: Vitamin K is essential for blood clotting and overall cardiovascular health. Dogs and cats synthesize Vitamin K in their bodies, so they are usually not deficient.

Sources: Green leafy vegetables such as kale and spinach are excellent sources of Vitamin K.

How to get vitamins for your dog by food? Click to read the guide

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Signs of Vitamin Deficiency in Dogs

Deficiencies in these essential vitamins can lead to a variety of health problems. Here are some common signs:

Vitamin A deficiency: night blindness, dry eyes, dull coat.

B Vitamin Deficiency

Vitamin B1 deficiency in dogs can lead to neuritis, which manifests as lethargy, weakness, loss of voice, and, in some cases, muscle pain. Puppies may also suffer from foot fungus, swollen forelimbs, and dilated heart, which can be fatal within a few days. Older dogs develop a stagy gait, lack of appetite, and loss of voice.

Dogs deficient in vitamin B2 have decreased body mass, conjunctiva with inflammation, cloudy corneas, mobility problems, ulceration of the mouth and lips, and salivation.

Vitamin B3 (niacin) canine niacin insufficiency causes black tongue disease, manifested by reduced feed intake, body mass decline, skin inflammation, and discharge of foul-smelling feces.

Vitamin B4 (choline) pet choline deficiency manifests in a depressed spirit, reduced feed intake, gastrointestinal digestion ability, growth and development, fatigue and weakness, and movement imbalance. It also decreases the function of fat metabolism, and fat is deposited in the liver in large quantities, forming a fatty liver.

Vitamin B5 deficiency in dogs can also lead to coma, shortness of breath, rapid heartbeat, seizures, and gastrointestinal symptoms, including gastroenteritis and intussusception.

Vitamin B6 deficiency can result in non-feeding, severe loss of body mass, and death in newly weaned puppies before changes in blood composition occur. In older dogs, symptoms such as convulsions, seizures, and anemia can also occur.

Vitamin B7 (biotin) deficiencies in the canine table can cause inflammation of the skin, depression, decreased food intake, frequent vomiting, and anemia.

When pets are deficient in vitamin B9, the number of white blood cells decreases and lowers immunity. It also shows anemia, slow growth, skin inflammation, reduced feed utilization, and reduced reproductive function.

Pets deficient in vitamin B12 are prone to severe anemia and abnormal tissue metabolism.

Vitamin C deficiency: When dogs do not consume enough vitamin C, paroxysms of intense pain occur. This condition also leads to mouth ulcers, anemia, bleeding gums, skin, and mucous membranes.

Vitamin D deficiency: weak bones; increased risk of fractures.

Vitamin E deficiency: skin damage or poor fur quality.

Vitamin K deficiency: excessive bleeding or bubbling, prolonged clotting time, and gastrointestinal bleeding can occur.

Regular veterinary checkups are essential to monitor your dog’s health and detect deficiencies early.

When to Consider Supplementation?

In some cases, your dog may require additional vitamin intake:

Homemade diets: If you prepare your dog’s meals at home without proper guidance, they may be deficient in essential nutrients. melhores suplementos para cães para comida caseira

Problemas de saúde: certain health conditions may increase the need for specific vitamins.

Life Stages: Puppies and older dogs often have different nutritional needs than adult dogs.

Hsviko offers a range of high-quality pet supplements designed to fill nutritional gaps in dogs’ diets. Their products are carefully formulated to ensure your pet gets the vitamins it needs for optimal health.

Choosing the Right Supplements for Your Dog

Consider the following guidelines when choosing a vitamin supplement for your dog:

Consult Your Veterinarian: Before starting any new supplement regimen, discuss it with your veterinarian. They can recommend specific products based on your dog’s individual needs.

Quality matters: Choose a reputable brand, such as Hsviko, whose formulations prioritize safety and efficacy.

Tailored solutions: Look for a supplement suitable for your dog’s age, breed, size, and health conditions.

Hsviko’s commitment to quality ensures you provide your pet with safe supplements supporting their overall health.

Hsviko Natural Dog Vitamin Supplement

Hsviko has designed dog vitamin supplements based on their body structure and essential nutritional needs. We have vitamin tablets for dogs, liquid B vitamins, multivitaminas, and more. In addition, we offer rotulagem privada services, free labeling, and package design for pet brands, pet hospitals, and pet stores worldwide. Contact us to start a new business!

Conclusão

When supplementing your canine with vitamins, moderate intake can positively impact promoting healthy growth. However, excessive vitamin intake can lead to adverse health consequences. Therefore, to ensure canine health, vitamin supplementation should be done under the guidance of a veterinarian or pet nutrition specialist to ensure the dosage is appropriate.

Consider incorporating Hsviko’s high-quality supplements into your pet’s diet as an effective way to meet its nutritional needs. Always consult your veterinarian when making dietary changes or introducing new supplements. It’s all worth it for your dog’s health!