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Vitamins for Dogs: What Does Your Dog Need?

Tips for keeping your dog cool and healthy

Edited by Dr Primrose Moss MA VetMB MRCVS

Vitamins for dogs, vitamin supplements for dogs, canine supplements

Which vitamins are best for dogs – and what’s the best way to give them? Learn about the different vitamins dogs need and how to supplement them safely.

Which Vitamins are for Which Dogs?

Whether your dog’s young and full of energy or starting to slow down, you might be wondering if some extra vitamins could help to keep them healthy – and if so, which ones? 

Navigating the endless array of vitamin supplements for dogs can be overwhelming. That’s why we’ve put together an overview of vitamins for dogs, including the essential vitamins they need, which ones they might benefit from topping up on, and the risks to be aware of.

Essential Vitamins for Dogs

The essential vitamins for dogs are vitamins A, D, E and K, and the B vitamins. 

The metabolic interactions they’re involved in are incredibly complex, but their roles can be broadly summarised as follows:

  • Vitamin A – essential for vision, as well as immune function and reproductive health1
  • Vitamin D – crucial for bone development and skeletal health, but with various other functions that reduce dogs’ risk of some diseases2
  • Vitamin E – a critical antioxidant that neutralises damaging ‘free radical’ molecules and helps to support skin and coat health, as well as immune function3
  • Vitamin K – a key part of blood clotting pathways, and involved in bone maintenance4
  • B vitamins, including biotin, folate and niacin – the B vitamins are vital to a range of processes, including energy production, red blood cell formation and maintenance of the skin barrier and coat5

Vitamin C is also important for dogs, but – unlike humans – they’re able to produce it in their liver. While they can still benefit from dietary vitamin C, which helps to support their immune system and tissues and acts as an antioxidant6, it’s not an essential part of their diet.

Vitamin Supplements for Dogs

A complete, balanced diet for dogs should provide all the core vitamins and nutrients your dog needs to live a healthy life. However, the guidance for formulating pets’ diets is based on studies of vitamin deficiencies – not necessarily the best levels for optimal health.

While no dog fed a complete diet should develop symptoms of a diet-related vitamin deficiency, dogs may still benefit from a ‘top-up’ of certain vitamins and other nutrients like omega 3s.

But should they have more of all of them?

In short, no. When it comes to vitamins, you can definitely have too much of a good thing – and getting too much of a nutrient like vitamin D can be just as harmful as getting too little.

That’s why it’s important to pick the right supplement, making sure it provides the vitamins your dog needs, and not the ones they don’t, at a dose that’s right for them.

What about other canine supplements?

It’s important to remember that vitamins aren’t the only things to look out for. There are many other valuable nutrients that can be included in canine supplements, such as essential fatty acids, prebiotics and antioxidants. 

Pets (and humans) can also benefit from less well-known nutrients. Sometimes, it’s not just one molecule that’s responsible for a food’s health benefits – it’s the numerous beneficial compounds it contains. 

Turmeric, for example, contains numerous vitamins, minerals and complex natural compounds that together contribute to its health-promoting properties.7

For this reason, canine supplements designed to provide only specific synthetic vitamins may not always be the best option.

Choosing the Right Vitamins for Dogs

If you’re looking for a vitamin supplement for your dog, it’s important to know which vitamins you’re looking to add to their diet. Different vitamins play very different roles and can offer different benefits.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is an antioxidant involved in a huge number of processes in the body, and one of its key roles is to support the immune system.

Alongside vitamin E and beta-carotene, vitamin C supplementation in dogs’ diets has been shown to increase immune cell protection, reduce DNA damage and improve antioxidant status8 – so it’s a great choice to add into your dog’s daily routine.

Dogs produce vitamin C themselves but can still benefit from an added boost of this vital vitamin. 

Food-based supplements such as turmeric and beetroot powder can be a great way to give your dog a boost of vitamin C alongside other valuable minerals and complex nutrients.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E, alongside vitamin C, is an essential antioxidant for dogs – but unlike vitamin C, dogs can’t synthesise it themselves and must rely on their diet to provide it.

Levels have been linked with physical endurance in dogs9 and, in the study described above, vitamin E contributed to immune cell protection and DNA health. 

However, one of the main benefits of vitamin E is its effects on the skin and coat.Vitamin E supplementation has been shown to provide antioxidant support for the skin barrier10 and may improve skin health and soothe itching in dogs.11

Vitamin E supplementation can therefore be particularly valuable for dogs whose skin and coat could use some extra support.

B vitamins

B vitamins, including biotin, folate and niacin, are water-soluble. This means they’re lost in urine and the body can’t store them effectively – so a constant supply is necessary.

B vitamins are included in complete diets but, just like humans, dogs may benefit from higher levels.

Many of the B vitamins support metabolic processes that release energy from food, and B vitamin supplements are often recommended to help boost energy levels.

However, one B vitamin stands out: biotin.

Biotin, or vitamin B7, is incredibly important in the growth of healthy skin, hair and nails. In dogs with dull, poor coats, biotin supplementation has been shown to effectively support skin and coat health.12

If your dog’s coat isn’t as healthy and shiny as it should be, a supplement containing biotin could help. 

Many dogs don’t necessarily need a targeted B vitamin supplement – but they may still benefit from getting extra B vitamins alongside other natural, health-boosting compounds from pet-safe products containing superfoods like chia seeds and spirulina.

Risks of Vitamin Supplements for Dogs

Nowadays, everyone seems to have an opinion on pets’ diets, nutrition and health – and it can be hard to know what’s safe for your pet, never mind backed up by any real evidence.

Unfortunately, a mix-and-match approach to supplementing your dog’s diet with multiple overlapping products could be harmful if they end up with an overdose of certain vitamins. 

Even something as simple as feeding too much liver can result in an overdose of vitamin A, as pets can’t easily get rid of excess fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E and K) – and overdosing on these vitamins can cause significant health issues, especially if it’s over a prolonged period.

That’s why it’s essential to choose a supplement that’s suitable for your dog’s needs, at a dose that’s safe for them.

It’s also worth being aware that some diseases may affect your pet’s absorption and processing of vitamins. If your dog has a health problem like IBD, kidney disease, liver disease or a hormonal condition, it’s worth checking with your vet before giving any supplements.

The Bottom Line

Supporting your dog’s health with extra vitamins shouldn’t be confusing or complicated. 

The best way to avoid potential problems while making sure your pet gets everything they need for optimal health is to pick a trustworthy brand that’s done the work for you – so you can relax, knowing you’re giving your pet the best possible combination of vitamins and nutrients, in just the right amounts.

Find out more about how Sniff ‘n’ Waggle’s personalised supplements are tailored to provide your dog with the perfect nutritional support for them.

References

  1. Shastak Y, Pelletier W. Pet Wellness and Vitamin A: A Narrative Overview. Animals (Basel). 2024;14(7):1000. Published 2024 Mar 25. doi:10.3390/ani14071000 
  2. Stilwell N. The Importance of Vitamin D in Canine Health. American Veterinarian. 2018;3(1). Accessed January 10, 2025. https://www.dvm360.com/view/the-importance-of-vitamin-d-in-canine-health 
  3. Kane E. Dietary antioxidants are important for pets. DVM 360. Published February 2004. Accessed January 10, 2025. https://www.dvm360.com/view/dietary-antioxidants-are-important-pets
  4. Pet Poison Helpline. VITAMIN K1 FOR DOGS. Pet Poison Helpline. Published November 16, 2022. Accessed January 10, 2025. https://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/pet-tips/vitamin-k1-for-dogs/
  5. Williams I. The importance of the B vitamins. Veterinary Practice. Published August 1, 2014. Accessed January 10, 2025. https://www.veterinary-practice.com/article/the-importance-of-the-b-vitamins
  6. Gordon DS, Rudinsky AJ, Guillaumin J, Parker VJ, Creighton KJ. Vitamin C in Health and Disease: A Companion Animal Focus. Top Companion Anim Med. 2020;39:100432. doi:10.1016/j.tcam.2020.100432
  7. Kępińska-Pacelik J, Biel W. Turmeric and Curcumin-Health-Promoting Properties in Humans versus Dogs. Int J Mol Sci. 2023;24(19):14561. Published 2023 Sep 26. doi:10.3390/ijms241914561
  8. Jewell DE, Motsinger LA, Paetau-Robinson I. Effect of dietary antioxidants on free radical damage in dogs and cats. J Anim Sci. 2024;102:skae153. doi:10.1093/jas/skae153
  9. Piercy RJ, Hinchcliff KW, Morley PS, et al. Association between vitamin E and enhanced athletic performance in sled dogs. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2001;33(5):826-833. doi:10.1097/00005768-200105000-00024
  10. Jewell, Dennis & Yu, Shiguang & Joshi, Dinesh. (2002). Effect of serum vitamin E levels on skin vitamin E levels in dogs and cats. Veterinary therapeutics : research in applied veterinary medicine. 3. 235-43.
  11. Kapun, A. & Salobir, Janez & Levart, Alenka & Tavcar-Kalcher, Gabrijela & Nemec Svete, Alenka & Kotnik, Tina. (2014). Vitamin E supplementation in canine atopic dermatitis: Improvement of clinical signs and effects on oxidative stress markers. The Veterinary record. 175. 10.1136/vr.102547.
  12. Frigg M, Schulze J, Völker L. Clinical study on the effect of biotin on skin conditions in dogs. Schweiz Arch Tierheilkd. 1989;131(10):621-625.