Multivitamin supplements for puppies: what do you need to know?

What is the ideal source of vitamins for puppies? Buying good quality food is the best way to ensure your dog is getting all the vitamins he needs.

Anyone who gets a puppy wants to do everything possible to make sure it has a long and healthy life. When they are this young, one wonders if they will need vitamins to grow healthily. However, before purchasing multivitamin supplements for puppies, there are a few things to consider.

In this article we will tell you what to consider when it comes to multivitamin supplements for puppies, especially in relation to diet.

Vitamin supplements for puppies: how to choose them?

Choosing multivitamin supplements for puppies can be tricky. We often don’t know where to start. What do you need to pay attention to? The first thing to do is to pay attention to your dog’s diet.

Good nutrition begins with what you choose to feed your pet every day . It may seem obvious, but it is effective. With the right information on essential nutrients and foods that offer a multivitamin intake for puppies, you will feel better informed and more confident in choosing.

A dog needs six essential classes of nutrients to live healthily: water, proteins , fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals.

However, each dog may require these essentials in different amounts. The key to doing this right is to understand the animal’s general nutritional needs.

Requirements vary based on age, race, health status and activity . By taking these factors into consideration, you can rest assured that you will be able to find the multivitamin supplements that meet your dog’s needs .

The nutritional needs of puppies

If the puppy is a few weeks old, he will probably still need to be nursed. During breastfeeding, the puppy receives all the nutritional elements it needs from its mother’s milk.

Even if you are bottle feeding him, he will get the nutrients you need. This is because most of the formula milk that replaces breast milk contains the right amount of vitamins and minerals needed to make it grow healthily.

During the first year of life, you will need to ensure that his diet is rich in quality , complete and balanced foods . This way, he will get all the vitamins he needs for development.

The puppy has a lot of requirements to grow, but if his diet is adequate, he won’t need multivitamin supplements.

Why are vitamins important for puppy health?

Here is a brief overview of the role of vitamins in puppy health:

Vitamin A

It is essential for the normal functioning of the retina. It is also responsible for growth, fetal development and immune function.

Vitamins of group B

B vitamins are a group of vitamins that are important for metabolism.

  • Vitamin B1 or thiamine helps regulate energy and carbohydrate metabolism and neuronal transmission.
  • Riboflavin (B2), cobalamin (B12) and niacin (B3) help facilitate enzyme function.
  • Vitamin B6 ( pyridoxine ) is responsible for the generation of glucose, the function of red blood cells and the nervous system. In addition, it participates in hormonal regulation, immune response, niacin synthesis and gene activation.
  • Pantothenic acid (B5) helps improve energy metabolism.
  • Folic acid (B9) acts in the synthesis, repair and methylation of DNA; it also helps rapid cell division and growth

C vitamin

It is a powerful antioxidant. It removes potentially harmful free radicals and can help reduce inflammation and aging.

Vitamin D

With this vitamin, the dog’s body is able to balance minerals such as phosphorus and calcium for healthy bones.

Vitamin E

It is essential for cell function and fat metabolism . In addition, it is important in the regeneration of eye and muscle cells and in the reproductive process.

Vitamin K

It is the key vitamin for activating the blood’s clotting capacity.

Multivitamin supplements: yes or no?

Dogs on a proper commercial diet generally don’t need multivitamin supplements. This argument is valid, of course, as long as the vet does not advise otherwise.

Instead, dogs fed a homemade diet may require supplements in some cases. However, vitamins should only be given on medical advice.

Although both humans and dogs need vitamins, it is very important to realize that animals need them in different amounts than we do . For this reason, you will need multivitamin supplements for dogs.

Are there any risks associated with multivitamin supplements?

We have seen that vitamins are absolutely vital to the health of our pets. However, multivitamin supplements for puppies, if given in excessive quantities, can be potentially dangerous.

For example, some supplements contain other ingredients, such as herbs, which may conflict with the action of certain medications. These risks can be avoided by following the advice of the veterinarian.

Too much vitamin A can cause dehydration, joint pain and even damage the dog’s blood vessels. Excess vitamin D can make a dog sick and have potentially fatal consequences.


Why shouldn’t puppies be given the multivitamin supplements you bought for you?

The main reason is that vitamins can be poisonous when ingested in large quantities. So there are 4 potentially toxic ingredients commonly found in multivitamin supplements for humans. These are xylitol, vitamin D, iron and calcium.

Sugar-free gummy vitamins often contain xylitol . This compound can cause signs of hypoglycemia and even liver failure in the dog.

Vitamin D, when ingested in toxic quantities, can cause a very high level of calcium in the body. This usually results in secondary kidney failure.

At very high levels, iron can cause severe vomiting, diarrhea, and even organ damage.

When it comes to multivitamin supplements for puppies, it is imperative to follow your veterinarian’s recommendations . If he thinks that the dog needs additional nutrients, he will prescribe the intake of puppy food (indeed, rich in nutrients) or a multivitamin appropriate to the diet and age of your dog.

Your vet may also recommend supplementing your dog’s diet with specific fruits and vegetables, rather than multivitamin supplements.

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