It is completely normal to worry about your dog’s health and want to learn more on how to prioritise their well-being. From physical health to mental health, it can be confusing to learn what your dog actually needs. In our previous blog post we discuss interactive dog toys and how they are beneficial for your dog’s mental health. In this blog post, we are moving onto physical health and how dog vitamins can play a vital role in your furry friend’s overall well-being.
Choosing the right dog vitamins for your furry friend!
There is no need to be adding four to five vitamin tablets to your dog’s dinner every night. In fact, too many vitamins can be harmful. It is important to learn which vitamins are right for your dog’s needs. For the majority of dogs, vitamin tablets are not essential, however giving your dog essential vitamins listed below can improve joint health, maintain a healthy coat, strengthen their immune system and so many more benefits! We are going to explain what each vitamin does and from there you can easily decide if it is suitable for your dog!
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin B2
- Vitamin B12
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin D
- Vitamin E
- Magnesium
- Vitamin K
Dog Vitamins: A
Vitamin A is perfect for keeping your dog’s eyes healthy! Just like humans eat carrots to be able to see better in the dark, dogs need vitamin A. Furthermore, vitamin A is great at maintaining skin cell growth as well as reproductive hormones. Vitamin A can be found naturally in foods such as fish and eggs. It is important to note that too much Vitamin A can be harmful!
Dog vitamins: B2
Vitamin B2 maintains a dog’s skin and coat health. This is great for dogs like mine with dry and itchy skin! Additionally, B2 helps to break down fats and carbohydrates which gives your dog energy, as well as helping with digestion. Vitamin B2 can be found in foods such as beef kidney, beef liver and pork heart! All these foods are suitable for dogs.
Dog vitamins: B12
Not to be confused with B2, vitamin B12 is great for maintaining the healthy function of your dog’s brain and nervous system. B12 can also assist in the growth of blood cells and help with digestion. B12 deficiency in dogs can be spotted by weight loss, dull coat, diarrhoea, and neurological issues. If you think your dog has a B12 deficiency, make a vet appointment as soon as possible.
Dog Vitamins: C
Vitamin C is extremely good for dogs and is one of the few essential vitamins every dog should take! Not only is it beneficial for healthy ageing in dogs but can also help dogs with allergies by reducing inflammation. Vitamin C is great for a dog’s immune system and can even improve energy levels!
Dog Vitamins: D
Vitamin D’s primary purpose is to help dog’s retain calcium and phosphorus. However, vitamin D is not essential for dog’s and too much is actually bad for their health. Before giving your dog vitamin D we recommend consulting with a vet.
Dog Vitamins: E
Vitamin E is quite different from the previous vitamins as they protect your dog’s healthy cells from attacks. In turn, this strengthens their immune system and overall health. Like vitamin C, vitamin E is an essential supplement. However, if your dog eats foods such as eggs, salmon and even peanut butter, there is no need for vitamin tablets.
Dog Vitamins: Magnesium
Magnesium tablets are not needed for healthy dogs. Magnesium is great for helping with chronic illnesses such as diabetes, heart conditions and epilepsy. Additionally, dogs who are malnourished such as stray dogs can benefit from magnesium supplements.
Dog vitamins: Vitamin K
Vitamin K supplements helps proteins develop which are needed to assist with dog’s blood clotting. Vitamin K can also be used to treat poisoning and is a common vitamin for your vet to prescribe. A natural source of vitamin K for dogs include green leafy vegetables, liver, milk, and egg yolks.
Factors that affect dog vitamins!
It is necessary to understand that at different stages of a dog’s life their vitamin needs will change. Vitamins that puppies take will not be the same for senior dogs! It is important that you take this blog as a guide only and a starting step to go on and further research each vitamin in more depth!
Consult with your vet!
Last but not least, it is so important to consult with your vet about your dog’s health. They have a much deeper understand of your dog and can recommend if and when your dog should be taking vitamins. Additionally, if you are feeding your dog a balanced and healthy diet, there is no need for multiple vitamins!
As mentioned previously, this blog is a good starting point on learning about dog vitamins, but it is increasingly important to do your own further research. Every dog is different and healthy dogs do not need vitamins added to their food. Before jumping to vitamins, try introducing foods that are high in nutrition. If you want to learn more about what human foods your dog can eat, read out blog post – Healthy dog treats found in your kitchen!
Blog Posts
If you want to learn more about your dog’s health, check out our blog post – Interactive dog toys, do they work? To find out all you need to know on your dog’s mental health.
