Synthetic Vitamins, Minerals In Dog Food
Risk Of Synthetic Vitamins and Minerals In Dog Food
Bodies, including yours, do not understand synthetics. This is true of many medications as well. The body really only understands natural foods, plants, and essential oils,
It's important for you to know that many supplements added to your back of dry kibble will be synthetic. This may also be true of most vitamins and minerals you buy from local & online retailers. In many cases, most of what is going in is coming right out the other end. You may be wasting your money, you may be giving too much or too little even though you have good intentions.
In kibble products, synthetic vitamins and minerals are quite common. The real nutrient of the original food is so highly processed and cooked at such high temps, the final product must be supplemented. Supplementing with whole food sources is not what they do — they use cheaper synthetic products. Much like the synthetic vitamins and mineral supplements,you find in your drug store.
Here are just a few risks that may be related to synthetic vitamin and minerals in your dog’s food or supplements.
1. Reduced Bioavailability
One of the key differences between natural and synthetic vitamins is how well they’re absorbed and utilized by your dog’s body. Synthetic vitamins are often not as efficiently absorbed, meaning your dog’s body may not process them effectively. Of course, getting vitamins any way you can is better than not having any at all. But they may not be absorbed well. They may not meet your dog’s nutrition needs. etc. Deficiencies can be a real problem leading to dis-ease and health concerns over time. Because synthetic nutrients lack the natural cofactors found in whole foods, relying too heavily on them can disrupt your dog’s natural nutrient balance, leading to deficiencies in other critical areas.
2. Risk of Overdosing
Excess use of synthetic vitamins and minerals is not a better option. It often takes higher doses of synthetic vitamins to match the benefits of natural forms. This can lead to imbalances and even overdosing, which isn’t something any pet parent wants. Fat-soluble vitamins can get stored in the tissues rather than being eliminated through urine. Synthetic vitamins are highly concentrated, which makes it easier for dogs to ingest too much, especially with fat-soluble vitamins like A and D. Overdosing on these can lead to toxicity.
3. Possible Side Effects
Some dogs may experience nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea after consuming synthetic vitamins. These additives can be harsh on their digestive systems, and certain synthetic compounds may even trigger allergic reactions. Synthetic sources may include allergens, and sensitivities can develop over time, especially in dogs with already sensitive digestive systems.
4. Nutrient Interference
Synthetic vitamins can sometimes interfere with the absorption of other essential nutrients. For example, high levels of synthetic calcium may inhibit the absorption of magnesium and zinc—two minerals that are critical for maintaining overall health. The delicate nutrient balance in your dog’s diet is crucial. Synthetic vitamins can tip this balance, potentially causing long-term health issues.
5. Long-Term Health Risks
Continuously feeding your dog synthetic vitamins may have unknown long-term health consequences. Unlike natural nutrients, these artificial counterparts don’t interact with your dog’s body in the same beneficial ways. The quality of synthetic vitamins varies widely. Lower-quality supplements can contain contaminants and might not even provide the benefits they claim. When in doubt, always aim for higher-quality, whole food-based options.
If the body cannot absorb / metabolize the product, it can’t be effectively used by the body. Then, 1 of 2 things will happen — it’s passed through the liver and kidneys as waste OR it’s stored somewhere in the tissues & cells of the body. Storage in cells isn’t a good thing. Again this is why some medications and products warn us about long-term use or checking liver values during use.
Without proper, usable vitamins and minerals the body is going to struggle in some way. If it goes on too long, the body will be seriously compromised. Disease or even death could be a result. Read More about The Importance of Vitamins and Minerals in your dog’s diet.
Choosing supplements shouldn't be done willy-nilly. It shouldn't be a try this maybe that approach. Truly evaluate what you need and start to learn where your dog is getting the necessary vitamins and minerals and what they do! Over-supplementation can be as problematic as under.
Whole food sources are definitely your best option. But when we face challenges we want the best supplements we can find -- knowing that what we are choosing is safe for the dog.
Synthetic Vitamins, Minerals In Dog Food
What may have once been a real vitamin or mineral in the dog food ingredients was processed out during the intense cooking and manufacturing process. Dog food manufacturers have to add vitamins and minerals back in to meet MINIMUM requirements. We also run the risk in commercially prepared dog food of errors leading to recalls due to illness and even death of our pets due to toxicity issues, as we have seen in the Vitamin D Recalls.
Synthetic vitamins and minerals have the same water-soluble or fat-soluble properties as their natural counterparts. Synthetic vitamins are chemically identical to naturally occurring vitamins, and their properties, including solubility, are the same.
Synthetic vitamins are often used in commercial pet foods to replace vitamins and minerals lost during processing at high temperatures and ensure that dogs are getting all of the essential nutrients they need. However, it's important to note that the bioavailability of synthetics.
Synthetic vitamins and minerals may not be as high as that of naturally occurring vitamins, and they may not be as well utilized by the body and may not properly meet the needs of your dog.
How To Identify Synthetics in Your Dog’s Food or Supplements
Testing Your Dogs Vitamin Mineral Ranges
Get testing done with your veterinarian for some baseline information Not only should you look to see if your dog is within range, but where in the range are they. Then, year over year compare where they are within the range, and look for any significant swings in placement -- even if they are staying within range.
Medications, Illness, Chemical Exposure and a number of other factors could prevent your dog from absorbing nutrients properly. Likewise in some of the recipe ruts or added supplementation many people give their dogs because the internet said so, can lead to too much vitamins and minerals.
Knowing your dog’s number, allows you to be his best health advocate when meeting with your vet.
Whole Food Vitamins and Minerals
This is why we strongly encourage our clients and followers to feed fresh, get balanced nutrition, and use whole foods!
If you must continue kibble, try to improve the quality of your brand and use this blog to learn many things you can add to your dog’s bowl with fresh ingredients to help improve their nutrition.
I recommend for all my kibble feeders and/or homemade dog food makers use Volhard Endurance as a source of whole food, non-synthetic vitamin and mineral supplement.
Order Endurance here: Volhard Affiliate Link
We also strongly recommend you explore our Detox Protocols