Vitamins and Minerals for dogs
Vitamins and minerals play an essential role in nutrition and cannot be taken for granted. In years past our soils were rich in nutrients, our air clean to breath and acid rain was unheard of. Our world has drastically changed and the pursuit of providing proper nutrition has become more challenging. Save 20%-70% On Pet Care Products At eVitamins Modern day technology is great but does come with some draw backs. No one would argue home made dog food is healthier for our dogs, but our fast paced lifestyles make this alternative a real challenge or impractical.
In the alternative we are left with commercial dog food, some of which is good while other brands not so good. The manufacturing process can be tough on vitamins so it is not uncommon for people to give their dog’s vitamin and mineral supplements. Vitamin deficiencies can lead to a variety of metabolic abnormalities, so it is important to have a proper balance.
If you do supplement your dog’s diet with vitamins and minerals, be careful not to over do. Too much of a good thing is not good. Some vitamins can be toxic if certain levels are exceeded. There are some excellent educational books on this subject worth looking into. Here is a brief summary of vitamin and mineral sources, deficiency consequences and benefits you might find helpful …………. Vitamin A (retinol) is fat soluble Sources: dairy products, eggs, liver, carrots, sweet potatoes, spinach, cantaloupe, pumpkin, peas, broccoli, spinach, apricots, cabbage, peaches. Deficiency consequences: conjunctivitis and possibly cataracts, weight loss, ataxia, effects skin and coat, bleeding disorders, vomiting and diarrhea, bone growth, respiratory distress, compromised immune system. Benefits: Helps to maintain good vision, required for a healthy immune system, helps wards off night blindness and cataracts, helps maintain a healthy heart, required for fetal development.
Vitamin B1 is beneficial in maintaining a healthy nervous system, among other things. You could expect your dog‘s urine to be bright yellow when taking B vitamins. Vitamin: B1 (thiamin) is water soluble Sources: egg yolk, liver, fish, wheat germ, nuts, red meat, brewers yeast, oats, brown rice, cabbage, carrots, peas, lentils, bean sprouts, kidney beans, Brussel sprouts Deficiency consequences: can lead to auto immune and neurological abnormalities in puppies, weight loss, impairs growth, digestive upset, nervous system disorders, blood disorders, cardiac abnormalities, brain damage Benefits: helps produce red blood cells, helps with body energy and carbohydrate levels, helps maintain muscle tone.
Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) is water soluble Sources: dairy products, liver, poultry, vegetables, eggs, fruit, condensed milk, brewers yeast, almonds, cheese, cabbage, sesame seeds, died fruit, asparagus, bean sprouts, peas Deficiency consequences: cataracts, conjunctivitis, drains body energy reserves, weight loss, muscle weakness, can lead to auto immune disease, digestive upset, nervous disorders, blood disorders, dermatitis, eye lesions. Benefits: blood cell formation, helps to maintain energy levels, used in the fight against cancer, monitors enzyme function, and helps to prevent birth defects
Vitamin B3 (niacin) is water soluble Sources: green vegetables, fish, liver, milk, meat, poultry, brewers yeast Deficiency consequences: can cause weight loss, inflammation of throat, can lead to auto immune disease, digestive upset and excessive salivation, nervous disorders, convulsions, blood disorders, bloody diarrhea, black tongue Benefits: Helps with proper digestion and enzyme function, helps to control seizures, healthy for the central nervous system.
Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid) is water soluble Sources: eggs, chicken, turkey, fish, liver, kidney, milk, broccoli, bananas, oranges, mushrooms Deficiency consequences: can impair metabolism, loss of appetite, coma, can lead to auto immune disease, digestive upset, nervous disorders, convulsions, gastrointestinal upset, blood disorders Benefits: Helps manage stress, helps regulate metabolism, is used in the treatment of depression, helps to produce red blood cells, and helps boost immune system, helps fight against allergies and infections.
Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) is water soluble Sources: avocados, brown rice, cabbage, nuts, potatoes, barley, corn, carrots, dried fruit, Brussels , bananas, sprouts, spinach Deficiency consequences: can lead to auto immune disease, weight loss, convulsions, digestive upset, nervous disorders, anemia, blood disorders, muscle weakness, impairs motor coordination, heart disease, kidney stones. Benefits: boost the immune system, maintains glucose generation, is used to treat nervous disorders, depression, regulates hormones, diabetes, asthma, skin disorders, acne, promotes red blood cell production.
Vitamin B7 (biotin) is water soluble Sources:, spinach, green leafy vegetables, beans , citrus fruits, mushrooms Deficiency consequences: can cause harm to unborn fetus, can lead to auto immune disease, digestive upset, nervous disorders, blood disorders, hair loss, skin disorders Benefits: helps maintain a healthy metabolism and nervous system, promotes healthy skin.
Vitamin B9 (folic acid) is water soluble Sources: asparagus, citrus fruits, poultry, green leafy vegetables Deficiency consequences: can lead to auto immune disease, weight loss, hemoglobin levels are affected, digestive upset, nervous disorders, blood disorders, birth defects, anemia, seizures, depression. Benefits: Helps to maintain hemoglobin concentrations.
Vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin) is water soluble Sources: liver, red meat, dairy products, fish, yogurt, clams, eggs, poultry Deficiency consequences: anemia, can affect memory and lower immune system, appetite loss, anemia, excessive stress levels may occur, can lead to auto immune disease, digestive upset, nervous disorders, blood disorders, changes to bone marrow. Benefits: Used to help manage stress, gives the immune system a boost, used for attention difficulties, beneficial for digestion and enzyme function, helps to prevent nerve damage, improves fertility
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is water soluble Sources: green vegetables, citrus fruit, red berries, strawberries, melons, broccoli, green peppers, spinach Deficiency consequences: gum disease, breathing difficulties, joint disease, immune system become compromised and recovery takes longer. Benefits: helps to maintain healthy gums, used to boost immune system to fight colds, known to help prevent cataracts, good for heart health.
Vitamin D (calciferol) is fat soluble is water soluble Sources: fish liver oils, liver, dairy products, sunlight on skin, eggs Deficiency consequences: Rickets, Can lead to bone and teeth deterioration, muscle tone is compromised, bones become swollen and weak, nervous disorders, effects vision and muscles. Benefits: Helps body absorb calcium, has been used in the treatment of tuberculosis, beneficial for skeletal structure, helps with blood clotting, helps maintain phosphorous balance, helps body cells function properly, used to treat psoriasis.
Vitamin E (tocopherol) is fat soluble is water soluble – stay away from synthetic brands. Sources: nuts, green leafy vegetables, avocados, vegetable oils, wheat germ, yams Deficiency consequences: bleeding disorders, skeletal muscles weaken, is known to help in the fight against various cancers, hormonal imbalances, effects reproduction, degeneration of the retinal. Benefits: helps to absorb calcium, helps to protect cells from harmful free radicals, helps to improve blood supply to injured areas of the body, and helps to prevent dangerous blood clots. Also helps to prevent excessive scaring, increases stamina.
Vitamin K (phylloquinone) is water soluble Sources: green vegetables, fruits, olive oil, canola oil, broccoli, beets, spinach, parsley, potatoes, eggs, meats, dairy products. Deficiency consequences: blood clotting ability becomes compromised, can cause miscarriage. Benefits: helps liver produce prothrombin, helps to protect the lining of tiny blood vessels.
MineralsCalcium MagnesiumSources: meats, bones and bone meal, dairy products, poultry, fish and lamb meal. Deficiency consequences: rickets, poor growth patterns, arthritis, bones may become compromised, anxiousness and depression, hemorrhage Benefits: Helps to form and maintain healthy bones and teeth, beneficial in promoting proper muscle contraction, promotes proper blood clotting.
Sources: red meat, liver Deficiency consequences: anemia Benefits: helps to metabolize iron, helps in the formation of connective tissue
Sources: dairy products, red meats, eggs Deficiency consequences: poor appetite and weight loss, forelimbs may become swollen Benefits: Maintains metabolism
Sources: liver, fish, leafy green vegetables, eggs, poultry, iodized salt Deficiency consequences: anemia, loss of energy, inhibits growth, diarrhea Benefits: helps to regulate metabolism and hemoglobin
Sources: red meats Deficiency consequences: anemia, decreased energy, causes thyroid gland to become enlarged, weight gain, poor coat, hair loss Benefits: helps to regulate metabolic rate, assists in the production of hemoglobin.
Sources: bone meal, green leafy vegetables, lamb meal, nuts, dairy products Deficiency consequences: tremors, heart arrhythmia, depression and irritability, puppies could have convulsions, seizures, muscle spasm. Benefits: promotes proper hormone secretion,
Sources: eggs, nuts, leafy green vegetables Deficiency consequences: impaired growth rate, bone growth is compromised, blindness, paralysis Benefits: helps to regulate blood sugars, aids in fat assimilation, aids in monitoring pituitary gland.
Sources: vegetables, bananas, rice Deficiency consequences: respiratory distress, insomnia, anxiousness, inhibits growth, paralysis Benefits: maintains transmission of nerve impulses
Sources: fish, eggs, poultry Deficiency consequences: effects mucous membranes, increased heart rate Benefits: Sources: organ meats, fish Deficiency consequences: cause premature aging, weight loss, depression, muscular degeneration, heart disease, compromises immune system, restricts growth rate, Benefits: antioxidant properties, helps to regulate blood sugars.
Sources: meats Deficiency consequences: impairs growth, sexual dysfunction, diabetes, vomiting, Benefits: promotes healing.
Water soluble = vitamins are easily dissolved in water. Excessive amounts of vitamins are excreted in the urine. Fat soluble = vitamins are absorbed through the intestines. These vitamins are stored in the body and toxicity levels could be reached if not cautious. Here is a list of conditions and natural remedies using essential oils, flower of essence, herbs, homeopathic and folk medicine Conditions and Remedies
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