Vitamins for Dogs and Cats: Vitamins are essential to dogs and cats, just as they are to humans. Getting the right vitamins can help your pet live a longer, healthier life.
However, there are many different kinds of vitamins on the market, and it can be confusing to find out which are right for your pet’s needs and which aren’t necessary or might even be harmful. Here’s what you need to know about the essential vitamins for dogs and cats.
Vitamins A, B, C
Providing essential vitamins for dogs and cats can help keep your furry friend in optimal health. Vitamin A plays a critical role in vision, cellular development, reproduction, bone growth, gene expression and immune function. Excessive amounts of vitamin A can cause adverse side effects such as vomiting, weight loss or hair loss so be sure to give your dog or cat small amounts of cod liver oil instead of mega-doses of vitamin A supplements.
Fish oil is a great source of both omega-3 fatty acids AND vitamin D; many people believe that dogs are incapable of producing vitamin D but new research suggests otherwise. Always talk to your vet before giving fish oil to your pet as excessive amounts could be toxic.
Vitamin B1 (thiamine) helps break down carbohydrates and also assists with protein metabolism. Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) aids in energy production and has been shown to help reduce allergic reactions.
Vitamin C promotes healthy teeth, bones, blood vessels, and cells throughout your pet's body while vitamin E acts as an antioxidant helping protect against free radicals which contribute to cell damage.
As with humans, a proper diet is vital when it comes to providing vitamins for dogs and cats but there are also plenty of vitamins available at local pet stores. If you have any questions about how much vitamin C you should be giving your dog or cat per day consult with your veterinarian who will determine what amount works best based on their size/weight.
Essential Minerals
We all know that dogs and cats need to consume essential vitamins every day. But did you know they also need essential minerals?
In particular, there are certain minerals—like calcium, phosphorous, magnesium, sodium, potassium, and chloride—that are integral to your pet’s bone health. Be sure to include your pets’ daily intake of these nutrients in their diet.
f you’re unsure how much they should consume each day, a veterinarian can recommend dosages based on your pet’s weight.
To make sure your dog or cat is getting enough vitamins and minerals, give them supplements such as fish oil or salmon oil pills, which contain Omega-3 fatty acids.
Alternatively, you could mix some vegetables into their food (if they’ll eat it) or feed them meat scraps instead of kibble. However, you choose to do it, make sure both your dog and cat get enough nutrients! It will help them live longer lives.
This isn’t just good for older animals; puppies and kittens need minerals too! Calcium, in particular, plays an important role in building strong bones.
From birth until approximately six months old, your young animal needs at least 200 mg of calcium per kilogram of body weight each day; after six months old until around two years old, they only need 125 mg per kilogram daily.
Also vital is phosphorus; a minimum of 120 mg/kg/day between 6–12 weeks old is recommended by vets. Along with vitamin D3 (as well as taurine), phosphorus plays an important role in growth during the early development stages.
Trace Elements
While vitamins are important, they’re also relatively easy to supplement. Trace elements, on the other hand, are usually difficult or impossible to get through food alone. They include minerals like selenium, zinc, iodine, and copper. Without trace elements, your pet won’t be able to build healthy bones or fight off disease effectively—creating a serious risk of illness or injury over time.
That’s why it’s vital that pets with medical conditions receive trace element supplements; consult your vet if you have any questions about what may be appropriate in your case. And remember, just because a dog or cat doesn’t seem sick doesn’t mean he isn't at risk for future problems.
If you don't know whether your pet is getting enough trace elements from his diet, ask your vet about testing. You can also give your pet vitamin-mineral supplements made specifically for dogs and cats.
These products provide an excellent way to make sure all nutritional needs are met without having to do the research yourself. Remember, though, that too much of anything can be harmful—even vitamins! Always check with your vet before giving any sort of supplement to your pet. Puppy & Kitten Formula: Pups and kittens need a lot of energy to grow up big and strong, so many brands offer puppy or kitten formulas designed especially for young animals.
Many adult formulas contain unnecessary amounts of calcium that could cause growing pups pain as their bodies adjust to their new size. Puppy formula often contains DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), which plays an important role in cognitive development. It's best not to switch back and forth between formulas as doing so could upset your pup's digestive system. Consult your vet if you're unsure which formula is right for your animal companion—and always double-check labels when buying commercial brands to make sure they're suitable for dogs or cats.
Digestive Enzymes
These help dogs and cats digest food, making sure they absorb all of their nutrients. This is a must-have if you’re switching to a raw diet because cooked diets are far less nutritious than their uncooked counterparts.
Any enzyme formula can work, but brands that contain protease an enzyme that breaks down protein are especially helpful with raw diets.
Be aware that digestive enzymes don’t include multivitamins, so consider adding a multivitamin supplement to your pet’s diet. This is an especially good idea if you plan on adding human foods (such as vegetables) to your dog or cat’s meals. If you do add human foods, be sure to check in with your vet first.
Some human foods aren’t safe for pets, while others might not be healthy in large quantities. Your vet will also be able to give recommendations on how much of each vitamin your pet needs daily.