If you’re a dog owner, then you know that dogs are the most loyal creatures on earth. They have a lot of energy and they want to be active all day long. But sometimes their health can suffer if they don’t get the proper nutrition they need, which is why it’s important to make sure that your dog gets the right diet, including vitamins and supplements. To learn more about your dog’s specific nutritional needs, read our article on Your Dog’s Nutritional Needs.
Read on as a vet talks about why dogs need vitamins and supplements.
Protecting Your Dog’s Health
Vitamins are essential for dogs because they’re not able to produce their own vitamins from food like humans do. They need them to stay healthy! If your dog has a condition or disease that requires additional nutritional support, your vet may prescribe additional vitamins that can be added to regular food.
Supplements are also used in veterinary medicine. They’re typically used to treat conditions such as arthritis or seizures—or they can be recommended when a pet has trouble digesting certain foods due to allergies or other issues with their GI tract like irritable bowel.
Essential Vitamins & Supplements for Dogs
The following are some common vitamin and mineral supplements that can help dogs:
- Vitamin A: Helps maintain healthy skin and mucous membranes, aids in reproduction and growth, aids in maintaining proper vision, helps with lactation (milk production), maintains healthy teeth and bones, supports immune function
- Vitamin B1 (thiamine): Helps convert carbohydrates into energy
- Vitamin B2 (riboflavin): Helps release energy from food; involved in growth and repair of tissues; maintains healthy skin, coat, and mucous membranes; promotes normal fertility; assists with the production of red blood cells; promotes normal bone marrow function; promotes normal cellular respiration; promotes normal nerve function
- Vitamin E is an antioxidant that helps protect your dog’s cells from damage by free radicals. This is especially important for older dogs or those with health problems such as heart disease or diabetes.
- Vitamin B-12 helps keep your dog’s nervous system healthy and supports their red blood cell production. If your dog doesn’t get enough of this vitamin through their diet, he may develop anemia. Dogs who don’t eat red meat will likely need additional supplementation to prevent deficiency.
- Zinc is another nutrient that dogs can sometimes have trouble getting enough of.
When it comes to dogs and their health, veterinarians are an important part of the equation. You should always consult with your vet before giving your dog any vitamins or supplements, because there may be some ingredients in these products that could be harmful to your pet if they aren’t used properly or taken in moderation. Our Vet Nutrition and Weight Management services can help you develop a personalized plan to ensure your dog is getting all the necessary nutrients for optimal health.
If you have more questions or wish to schedule your pooch for a checkup, feel free to call us, your local animal clinic in Hobe Sound, FL anytime!
