Vitamin B Complex for Dogs

Vitamin B Complex is very important for the dog’s muscle and nerve functions. A vitamin B deficiency in your dog can be easily noticed and you can administer the lacking vitamins, so that your pet can lead a healthy life.

The Importance of Vitamins for Dogs

Your pet requires vitamins for the basic metabolic processes, which can’t happen without vitamins. The essential vitamins are:

  • Fat soluble vitamins such as vitamins A,D,E and K
  • Water soluble vitamins: vitamin C and the vitamin B complex

Water-soluble vitamins are not stored in the body and the excess is eliminated through urine, so there won’t be toxicity problems.

Fat soluble vitamins will be stored in lipocytes, so with these vitamins can cause toxicity.
These essential vitamins can be found in many foods but not always in sufficient quantities. They can also be easily destroyed by certain enzymes. Therefore, you have to assure your pet gets the necessary vitamins.

Vitamin B Complex

The vitamin B complex includes various types of B vitamins such as:

  • Thiamin
  • Niacin 
  • Folic acid
  • Pantothenic acid
  • Biotin
  • Riboflavin
  • Piridoxine

These vitamins are essential for numerous body functions.

Thiamin

Thiamin is also called vitamin B1 and helps the normal function of muscles and nerves; vitamin B1 also converts glucose to energy.

Thiamin can be found in meat, fish, milk, fruit and vegetables. Raw fish contains an enzyme which destroys thiamin and this can lead to thiamin deficiency.

Thiamin deficiency is signaled by weakness, loss of reflexes and lack of appetite.

Niacin

Niacin helps enzymes to perform their normal function. The best source of niacin is meat. Some symptoms of niacin deficiency are black tongue, inflammation of gums and lips, loss of appetite and bloody diarrhea.

Riboflavin

Known also as vitamin B2, riboflavin is responsible for the muscle strength, normal growth of the bones and the hair.

Riboflavin can be found in organs, meat and dairy products 

A dog with riboflavin deficiency will have an impaired growth, vision problems, limb weakness, fainting and may even be at a higher risk of developing a heart attack.

Panthotenic Acid

The panthoteic acid is another important vitamin and helps in the transformation of carbohydrates, fats and proteins into energy.

The lack of panthotenic acid can lead to loss of hair, stomach problems, diarrhea and abnormal graying of hair.

It can be found in raw meat and vegetables.

Pyridoxine

Pyridoxine, or vitamin B6, is essential in the function of the amino acids. This vitamin can be found in many foods but it can be easily destroyed in the manufacturing process. The lack of pyridoxine can cause skin lesions, tooth cavities, anemia, poor growth or kidney stones.

Folic acid and Vitamin B12

Folic acid and vitamin B12 are closely related. The bone marrow couldn’t produce red blood cells without these vitamins. Their deficiency can lead to a severe anemia. Organs and meat can give your pet the required amounts of folic acid and B12.

Biotin

Besides its role in growing, digestion and muscle function, biotin is also important for the health of the dog’s skin and hair.

Rich sources of biotin include yolk, liver, yeast and certain grains.

Avoid feeding raw egg whites to your pet, as these destroy biotin through an enzyme called avidin.

Biotin deficiency can be recognized in poor hair condition, skin lesions, diarrhea and weakness or paralysis of the limbs.

 

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