Yes, our pets need vitamins. Just like for us, vitamins are very important nutrients. In our modern environment they may need them more than we had originally thought. Vitamins perform many important functions for our pets.

Vitamins are classified into 2 main groups

• Fat soluble
• water soluble

Vitamins A, D, E and K are fat soluble dissolved in fats.

• A is the skin vitamin
• D is for healthy bones and teeth
• E is the antioxidant vitamin, a vitamin with new interest today
  and

  K is the blood clotting vitamin.

Liver is an excellent food source for these vitamins

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The B group and Vitamin C are water soluble. This means that they are easily lost through cooking and processing. However overdosing is not as big a concern as it is with the fat soluble vitamins.

• The B family of vitamins are for healthy muscle, skin and blood.

• Vitamin C the stress, antioxidant vitamin is a popular vitamin for us.

Carnivores can make their own Vitamin C but lately we are suspecting that they may not be making enough especially in stressful situations.

Again Liver and kidney are good food sources.

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How would we suspect a vitamin deficiency?

The dog or cat will show us the signs. For example:

poor skin and hair coat	Vitamin A and/or B
anemic and tired	maybe vitamin B
cancers and heart problems	Vitamin E
weak bones and poor teeth	Vitamin D

Yes vitamins are essential nutrients for our pets.

If they are short they will show us the signs.

About Edmund R. Dorosz, BSA, DVM

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