WHAT ARE THE RECOMMENDED DAILY AMOUNTS OF ESSENTIAL VITAMINS AND MINERALS FOR DOGS?
Dogs require a balanced and complete diet that contains all the essential nutrients they need to maintain good health.
Here are some of the essential vitamins and minerals that are necessary for dogs:
Vitamin A: Vitamin A is important for maintaining healthy vision, skin, and coat.
Vitamin D: Vitamin D is necessary for strong bones and teeth, and it also supports healthy immune function.
Vitamin E: Vitamin E is an antioxidant that helps protect cells from damage and supports healthy immune function.
Vitamin K: Vitamin K is important for blood clotting and bone health.
B vitamins: B vitamins, including thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pyridoxine, and cobalamin, are important for energy metabolism, nerve function, and red blood cell production.
Calcium: Calcium is important for strong bones and teeth, and it also plays a role in muscle and nerve function.
Phosphorus: Phosphorus works together with calcium to support healthy bone growth and maintenance.
Iron: Iron is important for the production of red blood cells, which carry oxygen throughout the body.
Zinc: Zinc is important for maintaining healthy skin, coat, and immune function.
Copper: Copper is necessary for the formation of connective tissue and supports healthy immune function.
It's important to note: that dogs have specific nutritional requirements depending on their age, activity level, and overall health. To ensure that your dog is getting all the essential vitamins and minerals they need, it's best to choose a high-quality homemade nutrition plan either Raw, or Cooked and consult with a holistic or integrative veterinarian or veterinary nutritionist to develop a customized diet plan for your dog. Second choice would be to buy your dog’s food from a small batch, high quality maker.
Third would be to try to choose a super premium, high quality food from a reputable pet boutique and do so after consulting with your holisitc/integrative veterinarian or veterinary nutritionist.
As we mentioned, the recommended daily amounts of essential vitamins and minerals for dogs can vary depending on factors such as their age, weight, and activity level. Additionally, the specific nutrient requirements can also vary depending on the type of diet (e.g., commercial dog food versus homemade diet) and the individual dog's health status.
Here are some ‘general guidelines’ for the ‘recommended daily amounts of essential vitamins and minerals for adult dogs’:
Vitamin A: 5000 IU to 10,000 IU per day
Vitamin D: 400 IU to 1000 IU per day
Vitamin E: 20 IU to 200 IU per day
Vitamin K: 0.5 mg to 1.5 mg per day
Thiamine (Vitamin B1): 0.55 mg to 2.5 mg per day
Riboflavin (Vitamin B2): 1.2 mg to 4.5 mg per day
Niacin (Vitamin B3): 4.5 mg to 22 mg per day
Pyridoxine (Vitamin B6): 0.5 mg to 5 mg per day
Cobalamin (Vitamin B12): 7 mcg to 30 mcg per day
Calcium: 1.0% to 2.5% of their daily food intake
Phosphorus: 0.8% to 1.6% of their daily food intake
Iron: 12.4 mg to 154 mg per day
Zinc: 15 mg to 40 mg per day
Copper: 1 mg to 4 mg per day
It's important to note that these are general guidelines for a canine, and the specific nutrient requirements for your dog may vary based on their individual needs. *If you have concerns about your dog's nutrient intake, it's best to consult with a veterinarian or veterinary nutritionist who can provide personalized recommendations based on your dog's specific needs. Just like for humans; we may all be living in a human body, but we are all different when it comes to SPECIFIC Nutrition needs depending on the time of life we are in and what we are going thru, the SAME hold true for our beloved dogs.
