Vitamins

General

Vitamins are organic compounds that are required for many of the processes that take place in a dog’s body. Depending on their individual specific properties, vitamins can, for example, assist in the formation of intact, healthy skin, play an important role in the proper functioning of the metabolism and in the maintenance of healthy eyesight, and boost your dog’s own natural defences. Given the diverse biological functions of individual vitamins and the complexity of the biochemical processes that take place in the body, vitamins may have the effect of supplementing, neutralising, strengthening, inhibiting or otherwise interfering with each other’s actions.
The amount of each vitamin that a dog requires is measured in milligrams or micrograms and varies depending on the breed and age of the dog. Growing dogs and pregnant dogs require much higher levels of vitamins. Should your dog’s specific requirements not be met over an extended period of time, deficiency symptoms may occur and may be accompanied by serious illnesses. However, too high a concentration of some vitamins may also be harmful. It is therefore imperative that you always ensure that your dog is getting the right amount of the right vitamins and, where appropriate, follow the instructions on the packaging. Premium dog food provides your dog with a large proportion of his daily vitamin requirements. However, there are many cases where it is advisable to give vitamin supplements. For example, dogs require much higher levels of vitamins as they grow and during pregnancy, as well as at times of stress when vitamins are depleted from the body much more rapidly. Stressful situations are increasingly becoming part of a dog’s daily life. These include, for instance, thunderstorms and visits to the vet’s, as well as the noise of heavy traffic and busy streets.

Fat-soluble vitamins

Bile salts and especially fats are needed to help your dog’s body utilise fat-soluble vitamins. Vitamins belonging to this group — vitamin A, D, E and K — are stored in the body’s fatty tissue. As these can be stored there for a considerable time, the body can draw on this supply when its levels of these vitamins run low. An overdose of fat-soluble vitamins can be harmful for your dog.

Water-soluble vitamins

Vitamins belonging to the group of water-soluble vitamins are the Vitamin-B group, which includes biotin (formerly called vitamin H), and vitamin C. These vitamins can be easily absorbed and utilised by the body. With the exception of vitamin B12, water-soluble vitamins are not stored in the body in appreciable amounts. As any excess amounts of these vitamins are readily excreted from the body, the risk of toxicity is relatively low. This means that dogs need a continuous supply of such vitamins in their diet.

Vitamin A (retinol)

At a glance: Vitamin A

Vitamin A, also known as retinol, is extremely important for your dog’s body: it is essential for normal vision and for the formation and protection of the skin and mucous membranes, stimulating, when required, their regeneration, in addition to promoting a healthy coat. Because this vitamin is crucially important for your dog, a prolonged vitamin A deficiency may have serious consequences: for example, eye disorders may develop, occasionally in the form of night blindness or sensitivity to light. A deficiency may also reduce the resistance of your dog’s skin and mucous membranes to disease and cause damage to the structure of the hair. Given that, in the event of a deficiency, important bodily processes may be impaired, this may lead to an increased risk of infection.
Just as vitamin A is essential for your dog’s body, so, too, is the right amount. You therefore need to ensure that you do not give your dog too much vitamin A. Excessive amounts could cause permanent damage and, at worst, lead to degeneration or enlargement of the liver, bone loss and dehydration. The correct dose of vitamin A is therefore vital.

Did you know?
Vitamin A is an essential antioxidant: it reduces the damaging effect of free radicals and oxygen derivatives present in body tissue and in food.

Vitamin B

Vitamin B group

The vitamin B group includes many vitally important vitamins, such as B1, B2, B6, B7 and B12: these are crucial for the body’s metabolic processes and are involved in the processes occurring within the nervous system and in cell growth and division, thereby stimulating the regeneration of your dog’s skin and mucous membranes and promoting the formation of red blood cells. A prolonged deficiency can have serious consequences, such as a metabolic disorder or a neurological disease. Although you should avoid giving your dog excessive amounts of vitamin B over a prolonged period, vitamins belonging to this group are generally not considered to be toxic, as they are readily excreted by the body.

Vitamin B1

Vitamin B1 helps to regulate your dog’s calcium and phosphorus metabolism and enhances his body’s capacity to absorb calcium. It is vital for the proper functioning of nerve cells and cardiac muscle. It also helps protect your dog’s gastro-intestinal tract.

Vitamin-B2

Vitamin B2 is essential for protein metabolism and for the enzyme-catalysed reactions that take place in your dog’s body. It is also involved in amino acid and lipid metabolism and, like vitamin B1, protects the gastro-intestinal tract.

Vitamin-B6

Like vitamin B2, vitamin B6 plays a vital role in protein and lipid metabolism and is also essential for carbohydrate metabolism.

Vitamin-B7 (biotin)

Vitamin B7, better known as biotin, is an essential coenzyme for a number of important metabolic processes and assists in the production and breakdown of fatty acids and in the breakdown of amino acids. Because of its multiple functions, it also plays a key role in promoting the health of your dog’s claws, skin and coat.

At a glance: Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 not only is important for the production of amino acids and plays a vital role in various metabolic processes that take place in your dog’s body but it is also essential for growth. It is furthermore vitally important for the formation of haemoglobin and reduces the incidence of cardiovascular disease.

Vitamin C

Just like in the human body, vitamin C strengthens your dog’s immune system and plays a crucial role in wound healing. It is furthermore an essential coenzyme for the formation of various connective tissue components and contributes to the structure of teeth, gums and bones.

Did you know?
Vitamin C is an essential antioxidant: it reduces the damaging effect of free radicals and oxygen derivatives present in body tissue and in food.

Unlike humans, dogs have the ability to synthesise sufficient amounts of vitamin C in the liver and kidneys. However, in certain cases, such as during the period of maximum growth of puppies, it is advisable to supplement their diet with the extra vitamin C that they require.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D is vitally important for the formation of bones and teeth, as it plays a crucial role in helping the body absorb and store calcium. Furthermore, the right amount of vitamin D in your dog’s body is extremely important for the maintenance of calcium and phosphorus homeostasis.
A prolonged vitamin D deficiency may cause serious damage. The potential consequences range from a disorder of calcium and phosphorus metabolism and rickets in young dogs (bone softening, bendy, poorly calcified bones, swollen joints) to osteomalacia (bone softening), osteoporosis (thin, brittle bones) and enlargement of the rib-cartilage junctions in adult dogs. However, when measuring vitamin dosage, you should always bear in mind that excessive amounts of vitamin D given over a prolonged period can be harmful for your dog and may, for instance, lead to increased calcium deposits in the organs and blood vessels.

Vitamin E (tocopherol)

Vitamin E

Vitamin E plays a vital role in carbohydrate and glycogen metabolism in your dog’s body and is essential for the metabolic processes occurring in the muscles. For this reason, a prolonged vitamin E deficiency may lead to growth disturbances, to various muscular disorders, including atrophy of the skeletal musculature, and to degeneration of glandular and nerve tissue. Furthermore, as well as causing reduced fertility, a deficiency may result in the development of an immune system disorder. Although you should always avoid giving excessive amounts of any vitamins over a prolonged period, this is not such a problem with vitamin E, as it is one of the least toxic vitamins.

Did you know?
Vitamin E is an essential antioxidant: it reduces the damaging effect of free radicals and oxygen derivatives present in body tissue and in food.


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