Dog Vitamins

It has now been 90 years since it was observed that dog vitamins deficiencies could cause health problems just as it does in humans. Although in general dogs require low concentrations of vitamins they are still essential to good health. They are actually classified as micronutrients because compared carbohydrates, proteins, fats, and water the body needs them in relatively small amounts. One important fact about the majority of vitamins cannot be synthesized by the body so they must be provided with food or if necessary dog supplements.

Vitamins are organic substances that regulate the metabolism and assist the bio-chemical processes that allow basic cells to grow, reproduce, and remain healthy. Depending on the particular vitamin they are sometimes the catalyst or just a partner working with essential chemicals (enzymes) help make sure the process is carried out correctly in the body.

There are 13 identified vitamins. They are generally classified based on their solvability which determines how they are stored by the body. The classifications are fat or water. Vitamins A, D, E, and K are fat soluble and vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B7, B9, B12, and C are water soluble.

The fat soluble vitamins are stored mostly in the liver and somewhat in fatty tissue which is the same way the body deals with dietary fats. As excesses build up they are normally excreted through the feces. Since this class of vitamins is stored by the body many deficiencies develop slowly. But if proper diet is not maintained or supplemented your dog’s health is eventually adversely affected. One must be careful with trying to control these vitamins since the body can build up toxic levels that also either adversely affect the health or counter the good effects of the vitamins themselves.

The vitamins that are solvent in water are stored by the body in only small amounts usually not longer than a day and sometimes for as little as 4 hours. They are usually absorbed by the body in the small intestine with the excess simply expelled in the urine. Vitamin B12 is an exception in that the body can actually store up to five years of its need. With this class of vitamins it is important that your dog is provided a healthy diet or supplements that supply the daily requirements. Also since the body does not store these vitamins it is much less likely that toxic levels are reached.

The following table contains useful information on the 13 vitamins: