Having a pet can be a big responsibility, especially with animals that are more social like dogs and cats. If you want your pet to live a long and happy life, then you’ll need to make sure that you’re giving it the care and attention it deserves.
When it comes to dogs, a few essentials include a healthy diet, proper exercise, and regular grooming. With regard to a healthy diet, make sure your dog is also getting the vitamins needed for growth and bodily functioning.
Does Your Dog Need Vitamins?
You probably remember from childhood health classes that vitamins are essential for healthy living. Your teacher reminded you to take vitamins daily to ensure good health and bodily functioning. Just as we need necessary vitamins to be live our very best, our furry family members also require vitamins for growth and development.
In a moment we’ll provide a brief overview of some important vitamins to include in your dog’s diet. As always, it’s best to speak with your veterinarian for specific details. If you’re concerned about the nutritional value of the dog food you typically purchase, then you may want to discuss possible dog supplements with your veterinarian as well.
Vitamin A for Dogs
As a kid, your parents and teachers probably encouraged you to eat carrots to help your eyesight. This essential vitamin is also responsible for ensuring healthy fetal development, proper growth throughout life, immune function, and cell function.
B Vitamins for Dogs
The B Vitamin group plays a vital role in promoting good health with your furry friend. This vitamin grouping helps regulate energy and carbohydrate metabolism, facilitate enzyme function, red blood cell and nervous system function, hormone regulation, immune response, and gene activation, just to name a few.
Vitamin C for Dogs
Vitamin C serves as an antioxidant and can help guard the body against harmful free radicals. It can also help reduce inflammation in the body and slow cognitive aging.
Vitamin D for Dogs
One of the main sources of vitamin D for humans is from the sun, which is why doctors encourage people to get some sunshine, especially during the winter months. However, vitamin D is also found in the foods we eat. For your dog, vitamin D can help balance minerals like phosphorus and calcium for healthy bone growth and development.
Vitamin E for Dogs
This vitamin helps protect your pooch against oxidative damage. It’s also necessary for healthy cell function and proper fat metabolism. If your dog doesn’t get sufficient vitamin E then he can suffer from eye and muscle degeneration or reproductive issues.
Vitamin K for Dogs
Vitamin K is important for supporting the blood’s ability to properly clot. Please note, that if you put out mouse or rat poison then you’ll want to make sure your dog doesn’t ingest any of it. Some of these toxic substances can hinder the body’s ability to use vitamin K, which can lead to hemorrhaging or death if not treated early enough.
Choline for Dogs
Important for the phospholipid cell membrane, this vitamin also helps with healthy liver and brain functioning. It’s sometimes used in the treatment regimen for dogs with epilepsy.
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