Why Are Multivitamins For Dogs So Important?

If you’re health-conscious, you probably pay attention to your own vitamin intake, eating vitamin-rich foods or perhaps taking a daily multivitamin. You may also wonder about vitamins for your dog. What kind of vitamins do dogs need? And does your dog need vitamin supplements in addition to their food?

The pet supplement industry in the UK, USA and around the world is growing at an impressive rate, with more people than ever taking better care of their pets and furry friends, but why are dog supplements and vitamins so important?

What Are Multivitamins For Dogs?

All animals need vitamins to support a balanced diet and growth. The body doesn’t naturally produce vitamins, so animals have to eat foods that supply them. For example, humans need vitamin C to survive, but as our bodies don’t make it, we eat fruits and vegetables or may take supplements to provide the right amount. Multivitamins, particularly when part of a subscription, can however end up being expensive if you aren’t careful; something which can affect you if you are applying for any type of mortgage, financial or credit product.

Multivitamins for dogs are supplements specifically tailored to our canine friends. They contain vitamins, minerals, and other nutrient-dense ingredients to contribute to your pet’s healthy, sustainable life. You should never give dogs human vitamins as they may contain ingredients harmful to dogs.

What Vitamins Do Dogs Need?

Dogs have different vitamin requirements than humans. But, all dogs have similar specific vitamin needs. Multivitamins for dogs contain a number of these essential ingredients. These include:

Vitamin K 

Vitamin K provides dogs with many proteins, including bone proteins and the activation of clotting factors.

Vitamin B1 

Vitamin B1, also known as thiamin, is needed for dogs’ carbohydrate metabolism and the activation of ion channels in neural tissue.

Vitamins B2 and B3 

Also known as Riboflavin and niacin, B2 and B3 are vital to support your pet’s enzyme functions.

Vitamin B6 

Vitamin B6 is an essential vitamin necessary for glucose generation, red blood cell function, nervous system function, immune response, and hormone regulation

Folic acid 

for metabolism and protein synthesis

Why Do Multivitamins Matter?

Multivitamins for dogs can be used as nutrition supplements for most dogs. They play an essential role in maintaining a healthy, sustainable life and prevent future problems from occurring for your pet. If you feed your dog homemade food, multivitamins can be particularly important as they may need added supplements for what is missing in their diets.

Homemade dog food diets can be extremely healthy, but you may not be able to access the specific vitamins your pet needs found in store-bought food. Fortunately, your dog can access these through multivitamin supplements instead. 

Specific supplements can be perfect for ageing dogs, such as antioxidants. Vitamin C and vitamin E can reduce inflammation and support senior dogs with memory difficulties.

Is My Dog Already Getting Enough Vitamins?

Before introducing supplements into your dog’s diet, you should check if they are already getting enough vitamins. Because all dogs have very similar nutritional needs, many store-bought dog foods are specifically tailored to meet them. If the dog food is marked as ‘complete and balanced’, it should contain all of the essential vitamins and minerals. Some people may even seek to find a loan (source: WeLendUS) that covers a large purchase of vitamins for their pet in order to properly care for their health over the medium to long term.

Be careful not to double-up your dogs’ vitamin intake as it is possible for dogs to have too much of certain vitamins, which can have adverse effects. 

If your dog eats a complete and balanced diet and does not display any health problems, they probably get enough vitamins and don’t need supplements. You can still incorporate fresh fruits and vegetables into their diet for added natural nutrition. If you are considering supplements for your dog, you should always talk to your veterinarian to find out what, if any, vitamin supplements your pet needs. Get advice, especially if your dog takes medication, as the ingredients of some herbal supplements can react with medicines.

Should You Give A Sick Dog Vitamin Supplements?

Dogs with particular wellness concerns may benefit from vitamin supplements. While vitamins supplements are not cure-alls or medications, they can help your dog’s health recover in instances of vitamin deficiency. Consult your vet concerning any queries about your pet’s nutrition. If your dog presents new health or behavioural issues, your vet can test for vitamin deficiencies and recommend dietary changes or vitamin supplements to help. The vet may even refer you to a veterinary nutritionist to identify the most suitable vitamin plan for your dog. Remember that multivitamins and other unprescribed supplements should be used for maintenance and prevention only, not to treat a specific ailment.