Supplementing a dog's diet with vitamins can be useful with some dogs. If the dog is not getting the proper amount of vitamins in its food, vitamin supplementation becomes more important for overall health and wellness.
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Features
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Just like people, dogs need the proper amount of vitamins to stay healthy. High-quality dog foods tend to have an adequate amount of vitamins that a dog needs.
Fat-Soluble Dosing
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Vitamins that are fat-soluble are A, D, E and F. Vitamin A dosage is 2272 IU, vitamin D is 227 IU and vitamin E is 23 IU per pound of dry food. Vitamin K is synthesized in the body and does not have a daily recommendation.
Water-Soluble Dosing
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Water-soluble vitamins include, C, B1, niacin, B2, B5, B6, B12, folic acid and biotin. Vitamin C is synthesized in the body. B1 dose is .01 mg, B2 is .05 mg, B5 is .1 mg, B6 is .01 mg, B12 is .00025 mg, niacin is .12 mg, folic acid is .002 mg and biotin is .001 mg per pound of dry food.
Considerations
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Older dogs have more difficulties absorbing vitamins and may benefit from supplementation.
Warning
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It is unwise to give a human multivitamin to a dog since many of the vitamins people need are not what a dog needs.
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