Pet Vitamins – Keeping Your Furry Friends Healthy

April 9, 2020

Pet Vitamins – Keeping Your Furry Friends Healthy

We all know multivitamins benefit humans immensely, and are vital for proper nutrition. We also know that without sufficient vitamins and minerals, we become malnourished and susceptible to diseases such as rickets, scurvy, and beriberi. But what we may not know is that pets also need and benefit from vitamin supplements. While good-quality pet food typically contains a fair amount of these nutrients, some pets may need additional vitamins and minerals to aid in their system function. Without them, your pets’ lifespans can be cut short. Conversely, over-supplementation can be dangerous, too. Be sure to consult with your vet before buying and/or administering vitamin supplements to your pets, and be sure to read the label carefully.

Many factors can contribute to vitamin deficiency in animals. Sicknesses that require antibiotics are a common culprit, because the antibiotics kill all germs, bad and good. Because pets are lower to the ground, they are more exposed to cleaning agents we use and various other toxic substances. Cold weather and stress also take a toll on your pets’ overall health and well being, and can necessitate additional nutrition to make up for this.

Just as it does in humans, vitamin deficiencies manifest themselves both overtly and internally in pets. Skin and hair coats will lack luster and shine, and the animals will appear fatigued outwardly, but the deficiencies can also lead to more severe conditions internally, such as cancer, and heart and adrenal problems.

Vitamins fall under two groups: water soluble and fat soluble. Water-soluble vitamins flush out of the system, and are often drastically cut down in food because of processing and cooking. Fat-soluble vitamins are stored in the pets’ bodies in cells called lipocytes. The fat-soluble vitamins are easier than that water-soluble ones to overdo, so take extra measure not to feed them more than necessary. However, your pet will need these vitamins daily over a period of months for positive change in their nutrition, so be consistent in the distribution.

Here’s a list of vitamins and some of their many benefits. Several of these vitamins and minerals have overlapping purposes.

Water-Soluble Vitamins and Minerals

The “B” vitamins (Thiamine, Riboflavin, Niacin, Pantothenic Acid, Pyridoxine, Folic Acid, Cobalamin and Biotin) – food digestion and nutrient absorption, DNA synthesis, proper growth, nerve damage prevention, healthy coat, thyroid, bone marrow and proper enzyme use
Vitamin C – immune system booster

Fat-Soluble Vitamins and Minerals

Vitamin A – bone and teeth formation
Vitamin D – regulating phosphorus and calcium levels in the bloodstream
Vitamin E – cell function and fat metabolism, also an antioxidant
Vitamin K – regulates blood and clotting (to prevent hemorrhaging)
Phosphorus – allows the body to produce its own energy
Calcium – heart, nerve, and muscle function
Iron – red blood cell generation, energy, enzyme function
Magnesium – heart rate, healthy bones, nervous system, and muscles
Manganese – reproductive health, milk production for nursing pets, fat-to-protein assimilation, blood sugar regulation
Potassium and Sodium – regulating body fluid
Selenium – slows aging

For those interested in natural supplements above and beyond the necessary ones, here’s a short list of popular ones and their uses.

Glucosamine and Chondroitin – joint and muscle pain
Milk Thistle – liver health (hepatitis treatment)
Ginger/ Slippery Elm – digestive problems
Echinacea/Vitamin C – immune system help
Omega 3 Fatty Acids – aid in treating heart disease, cancer, kidney disease, arthritis and allergies
Choline – can help with seizures and cognitive diseases

It’s important to keep in mind that while these vitamins and minerals may help, they in NO way suffice as a substitute for vet care.