Dog Supplements: Water-soluble Vitamins

There is little risk (or any) of over-supplementing with water-soluble vitamins. As said, these are not stored in the body in significant amount. Any excess will be filtered through the kidneys and excreted in urine four to eight hours after ingestion. For this reason, these vitamins must be replaced daily preferably in their meals.

If your dog’s meal is deficient in vitamin B complex, yeast-based tablets the safest supplement to give (see below recommended dog supplements).

Water-Soluble Vitamins for Dogs

Vitamin B1 (Thiamine): Susceptible to destruction in commercial foods. Raw fish (viscera-internal organ) and bracken (plant) contains an enzyme (thiaminase) that destroy thiamine. Avoid giving raw fish of any kind.

• Functions / Benefits: Important for carbohydrate metabolism, it converts glucose to energy. Required by muscles and nerves to function normally.
• Food Sources: Brewer’s yeast, egg yolk, green vegetables, lean meat, poultry, fish, cereal, liver.
• Deficiency Symptoms: Loss of appetite, poor reflexes, and neural disorder, energy production.
• Positive Interactions: B-complex, B12, Vitamin C

Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin): Dogs on vegetarian diet may require this key vitamin supplements. Susceptible to destruction by light and irradiation.

• Functions / Benefits: Necessary for normal growth, hair coat and muscle development. Important for metabolism of fats, carbohydrates, proteins. Healthy skin and coat, tissue repair, antibody and red blood cell formation
• Food Sources: Cereals, milk, eggs, leafy green vegetables, organ and lean meat.
• Deficiency Symptoms: Weakness of rear limbs, poor growth, vision problems, heart failure.
• Positive Interactions: Vitamin A, B-complex, B1, B3 (niacin)

Vitamin B3 (Niacin): Mostly found in meat, dogs on vegetarian diet may require supplementation.

• Functions / Benefits: Energy (carbohydrate, fat, protein) metabolism. Required to make enzymes function properly. Healthy skin, nervous system, cell metabolism, oral and pharyngeal tissues.
• Food Sources: Eggs, liver, lean meat, fish, rice, potatoes
• Deficiency Symptoms: Weakness, skin rash, memory loss, irritability, weight loss, inflamed gums, cheeks and lips.
• Positive Interactions: B complex, B1, B2, B6, tryptophan

Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid): Vitamin B5 is important in the synthesis of amino acids and fatty acids, and deficiency in this important vitamin is thought to contribute to stomach upsets (i.e. flatulence, diarrhea) and constipation in dogs.

• Functions / Benefits: Necessary for metabolism of proteins, fats, carbohydrates which helps to convert these substances into energy.
• Food Sources: Most vegetables and meat.
• Deficiency Symptoms: Hair loss, diarrhea, and gastrointestinal problems.
• Positive Interactions: Folic acid, biotin, B-complex

Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine): Susceptible to destruction in commercial foods.

• Functions / Benefits: Amino acids metabolism. Growth.
• Food Sources: Meat, eggs, most vegetable
• Deficiency Symptoms: Numerous disorders such as anemia, nerve dysfunction, fatigue, irritability, gum disease.
• Positive Interactions: Vitamin C, Vitamin B7/H (biotin), B5 (pantothenic acid), B3 (niacin), magnesium

Vitamin B7/H (Biotin): Raw eggs whites contain an enzyme that destroys biotin, raw yolks, however, are very rich in it. So feed only the yolk to your dog.

• Functions / Benefits: Promote healthy skin and coat, growth, circulatory system, metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins, fats.
• Food Sources: Egg yolk, liver, kidneys, milk, leafy vegetables.
• Deficiency Symptoms: Poor coat, skin rash and sores
• Positive Interactions: Vitamin A, B2, B6, niacin

Vitamin B12 (Cyanocobalamin): Necessary for red blood cell and white blood cell formation. Important for neurological functioning. Biotin involved in fatty acid and protein synthesis in the body. Helps ensure healthy skin and hair coat, growth, digestion and muscle function.

• Functions / Benefits: Development of red blood cells, growth, nervous system maintenance.
• Food Sources: Fish, lean meat, milk, organs—heart, liver, kidneys
• Deficiency Symptoms: Anemia, weakness, fatigue, red-sore gum, nerve degeneration.
• Positive Interactions: Folic acid, A B1, B6, niacin, biotin, pantothenic acid

Choline: It’s required for cell membranes and neurotransmitters. It is present in many plant and animal materials and mammals are able to synthesize it within the body. It is required in larger quanitities than other vitamins.

• Functions / Benefits: Nerve transmission. Regulate liver and gallbladder. Cell membranes structure.
• Food Sources: Eggs, fish, wheatgerm, all organ meats
• Deficiency Symptoms: Growth problem, impaired liver and kidney function
• Positive Interactions: Vitamin A, B-complex, inositol, folic acid

Folic Acid: Necessary for the formation of red blood cells and white blood cells from the bone marrow.

• Functions / Benefits: Production red blood cells, tissue cells. Normal growth. Healthy intestinal tract.
• Food Sources: Leafy green vegetables, meat, yeast, fish
• Deficiency Symptoms: Anemia and increased likelihood of infection.
• Positive Interactions: Vitamin C, B6, B12, niacin

Vitamin C: Urine acidifier, may help reduce bladder stones. Helps protect against cancer and other diseases. Susceptible to destruction in commercial food. Although dogs can manufacture Vitamin C on their own, but the amount that’s produced is insufficient to maintain good health especially living in a polluted environment today. It is highly recommended that dog under any of stress or given medication or with hepatic disease be supplemented with Vitamin C.

• Functions / Benefits: Bone formation, healthy teeth and gum, wound healing, immune system, capillary and mucosal integrity.
• Food Sources: Fresh citrus fruits, tomatoes, vegetables.
• Deficiency Symptoms: Weak bones, anemia, spongy and inflamed gum, dirty teeth, urinary tract infections, cystitis and limping in the front or rear legs (swollen joints—scurvy).
• Positive Interactions: Vitamin A, B6, pantothenic acid, zinc

Dog Supplements and Vitamins Recommendations

Vitamins C Supplements

• Halo VitaGlo Xtra-C Vitamin C
• Rosehip C Herbal Formula (contains Vitamin C and bioflavonoids)
• Wild Things (antioxidants, designed to provide dogs with nutritious whole non-heat processed vegetable foods and fruits that closely resemble what they might consume in the wild)

Vitamin B complex Supplements

• Only Natural Pet Brewer’s Yeast & Garlic
• Organic Pet Superfood Super Immunity (100% Certified organic, vegetarian, DNA certified, and grown in an FDA-registered biotech facility)
• Only Natural Pet Kelp Boost
• Canine Plus