22 Apr Necessary Vitamins and Minerals for Dogs

Some vitamins and minerals for dogs are essential for their health. Vitamin deficiencies can be determined by a dog’s behaviour. If the pet has a complete diet, the need for vitamins will be met in the food. And if he eats natural food, vitamin-mineral supplements are essential. Your dog’s health depends on the types of vitamins and minerals he takes in the right amount. Micronutrients, vitamins and minerals are essential to our health as well as the health of our dogs. Deficiency of one or more micronutrients can lead to disease and even death; the severity of these diseases varies according to the degree of deficiency, nutrition of the dog and his genes. On the other hand, high levels of these micronutrients can also cause problems. You must know what vitamins and nutrients your dog needs, which are determined by your veterinarian. Stay tuned to this article to find out more.

What is a dog vitamin?

Vitamins for dogs guarantee their health and help your dog have healthy skin and hair. It also has a direct effect on the growth of their teeth and bones. Dogs and puppies get a variety of vitamins from their food sources. Vitamins should be present in either commercial or homemade food. Because if dogs don’t get the necessary vitamins, this deficiency manifests itself in various ways.

If you’re looking to get the vitamins you need by making healthy foods for your dog, you should seek help from a veterinarian. Because commercial foods are formulated and the nutritional needs of your dog are taken into account. The same procedure should be followed in home food. Your veterinarian can tell you it with a special diet plan. But the most important thing is to know that the presence of vitamins in the early stages of growth is essential. A growing puppy should be able to receive a variety of vitamins with a balanced diet.

Are human vitamins safe for dogs?

Some of them are safe and some are not. Because their structure is different and especially since they’re produced for humans and their digestive system and may not fit the animal digestive system. You should ask your veterinarian about this.

Add vitamins and minerals to your dog’s diet

If you want to add vitamins and minerals to your dog’s diet, you need to know which vitamins can cause illness if taken in large amounts. For example, vitamins A and D are fat-soluble vitamins that are stored in the liver and can cause bone and joint disease if taken in excess.

What kind of vitamins does a puppy need?

Vitamins A and C are needed to boost immunity. Vitamins E, F, and B are essential for beautiful hair and healthy skin. Vitamin D is also responsible for the healthy growth of bones and skeletons during development. In addition to vitamins, puppies need minerals – calcium, iron, zinc, iodine, copper.

The best multivitamin for dogs

Remember to consult your doctor before buying a multivitamin. Because the accumulation of this nutrient in the body of a dog or puppy can disrupt his digestive structure and immune system. A multivitamin, if properly prepared, can meet your dog’s needs. You can use mineral tablets or multivitamins. The mineral multivitamin is also one of the most popular. Because it’s easy to eat and dogs and puppies love it. The best multivitamin for dogs is the one that covers the dog’s vitamin deficiency and is easy to eat. To give your dog a multivitamin, you can also ask help from a veterinarian to put it in dog food or feed him.

Vitamin B complex is also one of the best supplements for dogs. This water-soluble vitamin is useful for many dogs’ problems. This supplement is used to increase flea resistance and reduce dog shedding. It also helps the dog’s body to perform many actions. Perform metabolic (e.g. better protein absorption). If your dog has any of the following symptoms, he’s deficient in B vitamins:

• Premature aging
• Anxiety and stress
• Excessive hair loss
• The constant absorption of fleas and ticks
• Weight gain or constipation
• Poor response to the vaccine
• Dirty or rotten teeth

Important vitamins for dog health

Vitamin A

Vitamin A can be very useful and effective for chronic skin diseases and eye problems. For humans, beta-carotene is usually recommended instead of vitamin A. Beta-carotene isn’t toxic and is converted to vitamin A. The best way is to give the whole family beta-carotene, known as carotenoids, to the dog. Carotenoids are easily found in carrots. Carotenoids aren’t essential vitamins for dogs, but by using them, you will notice the beauty and shine of your dog hair.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D is essential for calcium absorption and consumption. This vitamin is responsible for the proper growth of muscles and bones in dogs. This vitamin is one of the most important types of vitamins for puppies.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E is one of the most widely used fat-soluble vitamins for the treatment of chronic disease. This vitamin has anti-inflammatory action and can help both heart and joint function. The official name of the most common type of vitamin E is “di-alpha-tocopherol”. The other cheaper type is “DL Alpha”, which contains both “D” and “L”. The dog’s body consumes type “D” better and more easily and expels type “L” from the body. Vitamin E is an antioxidant, but whenever it acts as an antioxidant, it becomes a prooxidant; at this point, vitamin C is needed.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C restores vitamin E as its prooxidant. A dog’s body produces enough vitamin C to recover a normal amount of vitamin E. If you give him too much vitamin E, you should increase the amount of vitamin C by the same amount to fight the prooxidants produced by vitamin E in the dog’s body. Vitamin C is also useful for the prevention and treatment of kennel cough and other respiratory diseases. If you use vitamin C to treat these conditions, be sure to add bioflavonoids and zinc to it.

B vitamins

B vitamins are water-soluble, the excess of which is excreted in the urine and does not harm the body. However, niacin and vitamin B6 can be toxic to dogs if taken in excess. B vitamins are especially useful for anemia, anorexia and nervous system problems. Vitamin B12 is a very effective and non-toxic vitamin and can be easily added to dog food. Choline is also effective when the dog has a liver problem. If diagnosed by a veterinarian, you can also give folic acid to the dog; Folic acid tablets are better and easier to absorb.

Vitamin K

This type of vitamin is directly related to blood concentration. Vitamin K deficiency can have dangerous internal side effects. Especially when the dog is injured.

 Useful minerals for dog health

Calcium

Calcium is essential for healthy teeth and bones and maintains normal muscle contraction and proper nerve function. But large breed puppies are sensitive to too much or too little calcium, especially if they also take too much vitamin D. Lactating dogs can have a condition called eclampsia if they don’t get enough calcium and vitamin D. Small breeds whose diet is entirely meat also don’t have enough calcium in their bones.

Phosphorus

Phosphorus is an important companion for calcium. These two minerals balance each other, which means that these two minerals must be used in the right amount in the dog’s diet. By any standard, a 33-pound (about 15 kg) dog that burns 1,000 calories a day needs at least 1 gram of calcium and 0.75 grams of phosphorus.

Zinc

Zinc is a mineral that is essential for wound healing and skin health. Since zinc supplements are often used for chronic skin conditions, the dosage recommended by your veterinarian is usually low.

Selenium

The function of selenium is very similar to vitamin E. If vitamin E can’t have the desired effect, adding selenium to it can be a good answer. But if the amount of selenium is high, poisoning can occur. Unfortunately, one of the symptoms of selenium poisoning is muscle wasting; some people think that they can treat selenium deficiency in dogs and give them more selenium than the dog needs. Combining vitamin E and selenium won’t be a problem if you follow your veterinarian’s instructions.

Sodium 

Sodium helps the dogs’ body create acidic balance in the body and Osmoregulation. It’s also essential for the potential of action and transmission.

Potassium

Potassium is another mineral that is essential for dogs regulating acidic function and transferring potential action.

Chlorine

Chlorine helps the dog’s body by transporting extracellular fluids into cell membranes and, along with sodium and potassium, helps maintain the body’s acidic balance.

Iodine

Iodine is an important substance for the proper functioning of the thyroid gland and is found in large amounts in seaweed (kelp). For dogs with thyroid problems and their thyroid hormone levels are slightly reduced, just give them a kelp tablet. If the amount of iodine is high, it can cause dandruff and hair problems. Using iodine supplementation instead of kelp tablets will cause more dandruff. Mineral supplements essential for a dog’s health include magnesium, manganese, sodium, potassium, chlorine, iron and copper. These supplements don’t cause a problem if the dog isn’t allergic or has a chronic illness.

magnesium

Magnesium has various functions and is essential for maintaining muscle and nerve cell membranes; It also preserves the mineral structure of bones and teeth.

Manganese

Manganese is essential for proper bone growth and nerve function.

Iron

Iron is essential for combining blood elements and the body’s energy metabolism.

Copper 

Copper is essential for the dog’s body due to its various uses, which include the formation of connective tissue, iron metabolism, blood cell formation, melanin and myelin particles. It also has a protective function against oxidative damage. If you decide to give your dog vitamins and mineral supplements, be sure to consult your veterinarian beforehand to determine the exact amount.

When do dogs need supplements and vitamins?

Dogs may need vitamins for certain conditions. These conditions include work and strenuous exercise, pregnancy and lactation, aging and osteoarthritis, health issues, allergies and weight loss. Based on your dog’s general health and specific physical characteristics, your veterinarian will prescribe vitamins and supplements.

Heavy dog ​​work and activities

Dogs that do strenuous activity and exercise daily consume more energy than other dogs. They need more nutrients so that they don’t become deficient in the future. You can give them the right multivitamins.

Pregnancy and lactation

Pregnant and lactating dogs’ food should be very nutritious. They need more vitamins. So in addition to not having problems and deficiencies themselves, their puppies will grow well.

Aging and osteoarthritis

As dogs get older, their digestive system won’t be able to absorb enough vitamins from their meals. As a result, you need to use the right multivitamins for adult dogs to get the vitamins their body needs. Supplements such as glucosamine and chondroitin can be suitable for dogs with osteoarthritis.

Dog health issues

If your dog has recently had surgery or an illness, he may not be eating well and his appetite may be diminished. In this case, the food won’t reach their body. In such cases, you should take vitamins and supplements so that your dog doesn’t become physically weak.

Dog allergies

If your dog has allergies, he won’t have healthy skin and hair. In such cases, with the help of a veterinarian, choose the right vitamins for your dog.

Dog weight loss

If your dog is on a weight loss diet, his diet will certainly be reduced and he will be deficient in vitamins. It’s essential to use vitamins during this period. So the dog’s immune system isn’t weakened.

It’s the responsibility of a veterinarian to check the health status and write a diet plan for your dog. He should check the dog’s physical condition and tell you what vitamins are lacking in his body and which ones are high. If your dog or puppy eats commercial food, it’s usually rare for him to become vitamin deficient. Unless he has specific problems or simple illnesses such as obesity or overweight dogs. To have a healthy and lively dog, you need to pay attention to nutrition, activity, health, grooming and much more. You can prevent the disease and have a healthy dog in this case. In all these steps, you can count on the specialized team of MishkaGrooming. Our experienced and precise groomers have groomed your dogs carefully and accurately so that they count the moments for the next session.