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| Learn More about Vitamins |
| Key Features of These Important Nutrients |
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Vitamin A
Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin. This means Vitamin A needs fats in order to be absorbed and stored in the body. Other fat-soluble vitamins are Vitamin D, E, and K. Vitamin A is important for keeping your pets' skin and coat healthy. It also helps with bone growth, vision, the immune system - protecting against infections. Vitamin A is necessary for allowing protein to be utilized by the body.
An excessive amount of Vitamin A is potentially dangerous because this vitamin can be stored in the body up to toxic levels. Some symptoms of vitamin A deficiencies are dry, itchy skin, poor body growth, and night blindness.
Natural sources of Vitamin A are liver, dairy products, fish liver oils, leafy green vegetables (like kale), broccoli, spinach, parsley, and yellow vegetables such as carrots and red peppers. Fruits are also good sources of Vitamin A.
Vitamin B1 (Thiamin)
Vitamin B1 (and other B vitamins) is a water-soluble vitamin, meaning it dissolves in water. Vitamin B is not stored in the body - excess amounts are flushed out of the body with urine. As such, the body requires this type of vitamin on a daily basis. (As another example, Vitamin C is also water-soluble.) Because the body cannot store Vitamin B1, it is considered safe even when taken in high dosages.
The body uses Vitamin B1 to change fats, carbohydrates, and proteins into energy. This vitamin is helpful in maintaining the proper function of the nervous system, including improving brain activity.
In pets, thiamin (B1) deficiency is rare, except in cases of cats who are fed highly processed food or excessive amounts of raw fish.
Natural sources of Vitamin B1 include brown rice, fish liver, poultry, pork, brewer's yeast, broccoli, peas, beans, and nuts and seeds.
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)
Vitamin B2 is important for proper tissue growth, including maintenance of mucous membranes with the help of Vitamin A. Vitamin B2 is needed for good digestion and helps in producing red blood cells and antibodies needed to fight infections and disease.
Vitamin B2 deficiency produces cracks in mucous membranes, cataracts, and dermatitis, among other things.
Cheese, poultry, yogurt, spinach, fish, leafy green vegetables, nutritional yeast, brewer's yeast, kidney, and liver all represent good natural food sources for this vitamin.
Vitamin B3 (Niacin)
Vitamin B3 helps in the metabolism of fats and improves blood circulation in the body. Having sufficient B3 levels helps maintain healthy skin and a good coat.
Deficiencies in Vitamin B3 may result in "black tongue disease", dermatitis, and so on.
Vitamin B3 is found naturally in seeds, yeast, brown rice, liver, carrots, cheese, eggs, fish, potatoes, peas, peanuts, poultry, salmon, tuna, and milk.
Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid)
Vitamin B5 is known to be good against stress because this vitamin helps adrenal glands to function properly. Like other "B" vitamins, B5 aids in transforming fats, carbohydrates, and proteins into energy.
Deficiencies in Vitamin B5 seem to be rare. As long as your pets are eating reasonably well, you may not have to worry about getting enough of this vitamin.
Natural food sources for Vitamin B5 include eggs, wheat germ, brewer's yeast, whole grains, liver, and vegetables.
Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine)
Vitamin B6 is needed for normal brain and spinal cord function, in part by its role in controlling sodium and potassium balance. Vitamin B6 is also related to protein and fat absorption. And without B6, Vitamin B12 cannot be absorbed properly. Proper amounts of Vitamin B6 in your pets' diets help keep their immune systems strong.
Deficiencies in B6 may result in nervousness, skin inflammation, and weight loss.
Natural food sources for Vitamin B6 are nutritional yeast, brewer's yeast, fish, eggs, meat, spinach, carrots, broccoli, brown rice, potatoes and lentils.
Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin)
Vitamin B12 is needed for proper nerve cell function, and also for the production of red blood cells. Meat represents the primary source of Vitamin B12 - if you feed your pets a vegetarian diet, please make sure they get enough Vitamin B12 from some source (such as supplementation, if you prefer).
Vitamin B12 deficiencies may result in anemia, loss of appetite, weakness, and fatigue.
Vitamin B12 is found naturally in eggs, chicken liver, dairy products, fish, beef liver, and kidneys, among other sources.
Biotin
Biotin is a member of the Vitamin B family.
Biotin helps the body break down fats, carbohydrates, and proteins into energy. Biotin keeps your pets' skin and hair healthy. It can also be helpful for easing muscle pains.
In addition to a lack of Biotin in the diet, eating an excess of raw egg whites for prolonged periods can also cause deficiencies in this nutrient. Insufficient Biotin may result in anemia, skin disorders, and other related problems.
Natural food sources for Biotin include brewer's yeast, nutritional yeast, brown rice, tuna, chicken, and liver.
Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid)
Vitamin C is very important for manufacturing collagen, which binds body cells together, strengthens the body, and heals cut wounds. Thus, Vitamin C is considered good for pets with arthritis because collagen is an important part of cartilage. Vitamin C also helps your pets' bodies absorb iron.
By attaching itself to metals such as cadmium and lead, Vitamin C helps in the removal of these and other dangerous foreign toxins through the kidneys.
Dogs and cats can synthesize Vitamin C in their bodies. However, many veterinarians offer Vitamin C as a supplement for sick pets or pets under a lot of stress.
You and your pets can never get too much Vitamin C. Deficiencies in this important nutrient may result in slower wound or scar tissue healing, anemia, gum problems, and so on.
Many natural foods contain Vitamin C, including oranges, green vegetables, broccoli, spinach, kale, parsley, strawberries, and rose hips.
Vitamin D (Cholecalciferol)
Vitamin D helps with the proper absorption of calcium and phosphorus in the digestive tract. This vitamin is vital for the growth of bones and teeth. However, exposure to sunlight is important if you wish to see the benefits of Vitamin D - sunshine activates this nutrient into a form the body can use.
Because of its important role in bone growth and development, deficiencies in Vitamin D can cause "rickets" (a bone disorder), brittle bones, etc. However, also note that excessive amounts of Vitamin D can be toxic.
Vitamin D is found naturally in many fish oils, such as cod liver oil, mackerel, salmon, and herring. It is also found in butter, egg yolks, oatmeal, and sweet potatoes.
Vitamin E (Tocopherol)
The main role of Vitamin E is to act as an antioxidant. When combined with Vitamin C, Vitamin E is often used as a natural preservative for pet foods instead of chemical preservatives such as BHA, BHT, and Ethoxyquin.
As an antioxidant, Vitamin E keeps free radicals from damaging cells. It also acts as an anti-blood-clotting agent, promotes healthy muscle and nerves, and aids in keeping the skin and coat healthy. Vitamin E is good for healing scars, cuts, and burns efficiently. This nutrient can also keep fats and other fat-soluble vitamins from being oxidized.
Tocopherols come in four forms: Alpha, beta, gamma, and delta. "Vitamin E" usually means only alpha-tocopherol. Alpha-tocopherol is the most common tocopherol used in food, as a synthentic form of dl-alpha-tocopherol. Good holistic dog and cat foods use a mixture of natural (not synthetic) tocopherols, in order to provide optimum health for pets. Foods using this approach typically say "natural mixed tocopherols" on their labels.
Vitamin E deficiencies can result in muscle weakness, lack of energy, and related symptoms.
Natural food sources for Vitamin E include leafy green vegetables, whole grains, brown rice, eggs, liver, alfalfa, and rosehips.
Vitamin K
Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin essential for proper blood clotting. A deficiency of this vitamin can produce excessive internal and/or external bleeding. Without Vitamin K, there can be no scab formation - wounds would remain open and bleeding indefinately.
Note that Vitamin K is used for dogs and cats who suffer from warfarin poisoning (such as from rodent poisons).
Vitamin K is produced inside the intestinal tract. If your pets have fewer intestinal bacteria due to anti-biotic therapy, their supply of Vitamin K may become low. In this event, supplementing your pets' diets with probiotic bacteria (friendly bacteria living in the intestinal tract) can help produce more Vitamin K.
Vitamin K can be found in kale, turnip greens, spinach, broccoli, alfalfa, egg yolks, and liver.
Click here to read about minerals.
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Special Note: Although every effort has been made to present healthy products and useful information to support your pets' health, the products and information contained within this website are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. The contents of this site are not meant as a substitute for consultation with a trained veterinarian. If you are concerned about the health of your pets, you should ask your veterinarian for proper guidance suited to the specific condition of your pets. The owners of this website accept no liability for any consequences resulting from the use of products and/or information provided through this site. Please use your discretion when attending to your pets' health. |
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