It goes without saying that humans need the right amount of vitamins and minerals to ensure that we are in the pink of health. Our doctors will prescribe us different nutritional requirements, depending on our age, body type, activity and genes. The same is true for dogs. You may be feeding them all-natural dog food or they may be sticking to a raw food diet, but essential nutrients is still crucial to their growth. If only your dog knew what his body needed to ensure that he grows up healthy and strong, he would have probably barked all the way to the vet!
As your dogs grow older, you will notice that their appetites are not the same as before. This is especially true when they are already in the mature age. This is where vitamin supplements come in. Older canines should receive the right amount of vitamins, and providing them supplements when their appetites have decreased will really help.
There has been countless forums on whether vitamin supplements are mandatory for a dog's diet. Some may say that the right dog food will already have the combination of what a dog needs; others would argue that this may not be enough. Since the manufactured dog food that we buy in groceries and supermarkets are packed and canned, there is a possibility that the potency of some of the vitamins are lost in the process. Exposing the food through extreme heat may somehow lessen the effects of these vitamins to our pets and so we might need to provide them additional alternatives. Majority of the pet food available nowadays would tell you how much vitamins a dog needs to have, but again, this is only a recommendation. It will only provide us an average estimate but will not give us information on how we are able to prevent certain pet diseases.
The amount of vitamins that your dog needs is actually dependent on the type of breed. For example, golden retrievers are prone to hip dysplasia, arthritis and other diseases concerning the bones. If untreated, they have a tendency to be crippled. That would be the last thing that we want to see happening to our dog! This is why vitamin D will be important to your canine. This will directly impact your dogs' bones, as well their teeth.
Other vitamins would also help keep your dog healthy and strong; vitamin E is for their skin and can act as an antioxidant; vitamin K aids in regular blood flow and circulation. Healthy muscles should also be important, and vitamin B is a good source for it. As with humans, vitamin C also helps as an antioxidant as well as for stress.
The appetite of your dog is extremely important as well. Fortunately, there are also specific vitamins that can help increase your dog's appetite and control your dog's metabolism. Water soluble vitamins like vitamin B and C are daily supplements and should be taken every day; Vitamins A,K,E and D are called fat soluble and this stays longer in the body.
Your pet is an important part of your home and you want to make sure that the right amount of vitamins are available to them. Read up on nutritional content and your dog will be at their healthiest!
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