Vitamins In Dog Food

The Importance of Vitamins in Dog Food

Everyday, pet parents are trying to do the best they can for their dogs. Many are moving to make homemade dog food or add some toppers to the bowl. Both of these are great decisions. But, many pet parents still fall short of getting the nutritional profile right.

See My Homemade Food Guide

Vitamins can be classified as either fat-soluble or water-soluble, depending on how they are absorbed and metabolized by the body.

• Fat-soluble vitamins are stored in the liver and fatty tissues of the body, and they can accumulate to toxic levels if too much is consumed.

• Water-soluble vitamins are not stored in the body to the same extent as fat-soluble vitamins, and any excess is excreted in the urine. This makes them less likely to cause toxicity, but it also means that they need to be consumed more regularly to maintain adequate levels.

• Vitamin A — fat soluble, good for the eyes of course. But also necessary for growth, fetal development, immune system health, and cellular function. Supportive to the skin & bones.

  • Food Sources Include: carrots, spinach, liver, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, eggs, turnips, fish oil. Beta carotene.

• Vitamin B: water soluble. promotes growth, supports stress, aids in healing wounds or surgical recovery, required for vaccines to work effectively & if deficient may cause a vaccine reaction. Deficiencies may lead to hair loss, premature gray, hind-end weakness, loss of appetite, eating stool, and attracting fleas & flies. We also see Vitamin B deficiency associated with Anxiety, stress, nervousness, edema, and heart disease.

  • Food Sources Include: Liver/organ meat, Beans, Green Veggies, Spirulina, Nuts, Dairy, Molasses, Eggs, goat’s milk, muscle meat, Yogurt, Kelp and Seaweed. (you’ll also find it in grains, wheat germ, wheat bran, and brewer’s yeast)

    • B1 - thiamine - breaks down sugars and amino acids

    • B2 - Riboflavin — cell growth, enzyme function,

    • B3 - niacin - metabolic processes

    • B5 - pantothenic acid -

    • B6 - pyridoxine - helps manufacture glucose, supports red blood cell and nervous system functions, regulates hormones, supports the immune system, produces niacin, creates glucose, supports gene activation, and helps synthesize taurine & carnitine.

    • B7 - biotin -

    • B9 - folate & folic acid — cellular growth, amino acid metabolism, DNA synthesis. B9 pairs with B12 to form methionine.

    • B12 - cobalamin - transforms food to energy, supports the nervous system and cells, helps prevent anemia.

• Vitamin C — water soluble, antioxidant to free radicals, reduces inflammation, supports brain health in aging pets. Used to boost and support the immune system. Supports bone growth and joint health. Can be beneficial in cancer cases — consider veterinary IV administration.

  • Food sources include: fruits, citrus fruits, organ meat, vegetables

  • The body naturally produces Vitamin C in the liver.

• Vitamin D — is fat-soluble and allows the body to balance phosphorous and calcium for healthy bone growth. Essential for muscles on bone health. Supportive to healthy skin, fur, and eyes.

  • Food sources include: Dairy, Liver, Beef

  • Excess Vitamin D can lead to toxicity

  • Vitamin D can be produced by exposure of the skin to UV light.

• Vitamin E — fat soluble, helps the body defend against oxidative stress and damage. Required for cell function & metabolizing fat. It supports eye health, muscle health and reproduction.

  • Food Sources include leafy greens, seeds, liver, plant oils. (you’ll also find it in seeds, wheat germ, bran, and whole grains)

• Vitamin K - fat soluble, allows your dog’s blood to clot properly. Also helps bone metabolism and offers protection to the immune system.

  • Food sources include: liver, leafy greens, dairy, cabbage and fish

• Choline — brain health and liver. (may be beneficial to dogs with epilepsy)

Kibble feeders are most likely getting only synthetic vitamins and minerals in their diet vs whole food sources. Homemade Dog Food Recipes may be missing certain vitamins and minerals or perhaps not enough of them. It’s recommended to use Endurance from Volhard or Holistic Total Body Support From Dr. Ruth Roberts. If your dog has an intolerance to chicken or beef or pork, I can help you create a supplement combination of vitamins and minerals based on what' you’re feeding.

When making homemade foods, you’ll need to do a little math to make sure you're in the right range of vitamins and minerals based on the food ingredients you choose.

See also Minerals Matter