Vitamin and mineral supplements are the most
important components in any dog’s feeding. If there is a balance in the vitamin
and mineral supplements, then the animal will have a healthy life and hence, the
immunity is not compromised in an unwanted way.
This simply means that there the dog will be more disease resistance
against various diseases.
Pet
owners should know that vitamins A, D, E, and K are the fat-soluble vitamins
and others are water-soluble vitamins.
Vitamins like thiamine, pyridoxine and cyanocobalamin are important for
the functions of nervous system.
Deficiency of vitamin A leads to night blindness and skin lesions and
deficiency of vitamin D leads to the softening and weakening of the bones.
These
problems are many a time encountered by the dog owners. Among these, vitamin A
toxicities may occur if you feed them in excessive amounts, like vitamin D.
Hence, give emphasis on this while you are using these vitamins in the dogs.
Cod liver oil from selected fishes has more vitamin A in them and are
universally good feed for dogs.
All
dogs may not need supplements of minerals or vitamins to live well for the
moment, but it is important for their future.
If they become sick or aged or very young without proper feeding,
supplementations are required for the upkeep of health status in them. However, one has to follow the instructions
of veterinarian in this regard.
If
the dogs are fed with fish in frozen conditions, then they may be suffering
constantly from vitamin B1 deficiency and hence, such dogs need to be given
specifically B1. Careless supplementations of minerals may lead to diseases and
hence, veterinarians always need to be consulted on the supplementation of
minerals or vitamins.
Minerals
like calcium, magnesium, zinc, manganese, iron, copper etc. are given more
emphasis in addition to sodium and potassium. Zinc is related to skin health
and potassium is related to the muscle health and calcium with phosphorus is related
to the bone health.
However,
if you feed the dog with chicken, mutton or beef along with required
vegetables, artificial supplementation of mineral or vitamin tablets may be
highly reduced but supplements need to be thought of when you are not able to
maintain a balanced nutrition as this happens with most of the dogs, due to
multifaceted causes.
Tags:
Health