Dog Supplements: Fat-soluble Vitamins

Vitamins are nutrients that are needed as catalysts for the dog’s metabolism. They are organic compounds that are essential to dog’s growth and development and day-to-day life-support functions. Like mineral, vitamins work in countless ways to promote and maintain your dog’s bodily functions.

Vitamins Are Classified By Solubility

Fat-soluble vitamins: They are Vitamin A, D, E, and K which are absorbed from the gut along with fat and stored in the body. A daily intake is not necessary as in doing so, over-supplementation, can have toxic effects on your dog which can make him very ill.

Water-soluble vitamins: They are Vitamin C and  B complex. Unlike fat-soluble vitamins, 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.

Fat-soluble Vitamins

Vitamin A: It is stored in the fat cells in the liver. The first milk or colostrum is rich in Vitamin A and it is very important vitamin for growing puppies. Some dogs, i.e. Cocker Spaniels, have difficulties producing sufficient vitamin A which lead to oily skin problems.

• Functions / Benefits: Vital for vision, proper growth, reproductive functions, healthy skin and coat, resistance to infection, and mucous membranes lining the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts.
• Food Sources: Leafy green and yellow (carotene) vegetables, milk, egg yolk, liver, fish oils.
• Deficiency Symptoms: Stunt growth, depress in immune system which lead to respiratory and eye diseases, dry skin and itching.
• Positive Interactions: Vitamins B3 (Niacin), C, D, E, pantothenic acid, zinc.

Vitamin D: Dogs gain Vitamin D from their diet and can synthesize it by sunlight’s ultraviolet radiation in their skin.

• Functions / Benefits: Regulates calcium and phosphorous levels in blood and bone. Extremely important for bone and tooth development and formation. Important for nerve and muscle functions.
• Food Sources: Fish oils, egg yolk, dairy products, tuna.
• Deficiency Symptoms: Deficiency is rare, however, in excess is fairly common which can leads to calcium deposits in soft tissue and skeleton deformities.
• Positive Interactions: Vitamin A, C, calcium, phosphorus.

Vitamin E: Potent antioxidant. Shown to prevent heart and neurological diseases. Vitamin E is highly susceptible to destruction in commercial foods.

• Functions / Benefits: Protects cell membrane and tissues. Protects the body against free radical damage. Helps prevent arthritis and diseases caused by free radical damages. Maintains circulatory system.
• Food Sources: Liver, meat, vegetable oil, leafy vegetables, grains, wheat germ.
• Deficiency Symptoms: Damaged organ tissue; ulcerated bowel, poor muscular and circulatory performance.
• Positive Interactions: Vitamin C, B12, manganese, selemium.

Vitamin K: Intestinal bacteria. Although supplementation is not necessary as it is produced in the dog’s body, however it is highly recommended in the diet for dogs underwent prolong antibiotic treatment.

• Functions / Benefits: It is needed for blood coagulation—clotting factors.
• Food Sources: Green leafy vegetables, egg yolk, kelp, yogurt.
• Deficiency Symptoms: Rare
• Positive Interactions: Not known

Dog Supplements (Fat-soluble Vitamins) Recommendations

• Canine Plus (tablet): A broad spectrum vitamin/mineral supplement which provides over 40 essential nutrients, including all of the fat soluble vitamins (A, D, E and K), a complete stress B complex and Vitamin C.
• Only Natural Pet Kelp Boost (powder): Too many to be listed, nevertheless it contains over 65 essential trace minerals, vitamins and amino acids, along with flax seed, rich in natural Omega 3, 6, and 9 fatty acids for supple skin and a soft, shiny coat.

Note: You will notice that these vitamins can be consumed on a daily basis (“contradicts” my above statement on over-supplementation and toxicity). Please keep in mind that the amount of fat-soluble vitamins contain is very minimal to do any damage at all if taken on daily basis but enough to be of benefit to obtain optimal health for your dog. So my advise is not to supplement your dog in addition with other food sources as I listed above.