The most important things at a glance
- B vitamins are a group of different water-soluble vitamins.
- Vitamin B is important, for example, for nerve function and the dog’s energy metabolism.
- A persistent lack of B vitamins can trigger various complaints and promote various dog diseases.
- A good dog food usually contains an adequate amount of B vitamins.
- In some cases, a dietary supplement with vitamin B can be useful.
- Since an overdose involves risks, the additional administration of B vitamins should be discussed with the veterinarian in advance.
What are B vitamins?
A total of eight different substances are counted among the B vitamins. They all have in common that they are water-soluble vitamins. That being said, the various B vitamins, which are all precursors to coenzymes, are quite distinct. The eight representatives of the vitamin B complex are:
- Vitamin B1 known as thiamine
- Vitamin B2 known as riboflavin
- Vitamin B3 known as niacin
- Vitamin B5, also known as pantothenic acid
- Vitamin B6, known under the name of pyridoxine
- Vitamin B7 known as biotin
- Vitamin B9 known as folic acid
- Vitamin B12, also known as cobalamin
Why do dogs need vitamin B?
B vitamins fulfill a number of important functions in the dog’s body. Among other things, they are important for the regeneration of nerve cells and normal nerve function. Vitamin B also plays a role in the metabolism of proteins, fats and carbohydrates. Other processes for which the dog’s organism needs vitamin B are for example:
- Maintaining normal vision
- The formation of red blood cells (erythrocytes)
- Nail and coat health
- The regulation of blood sugar
In young dogs, the supply of B vitamins is also very important to ensure healthy growth.
What are B vitamins in?
Almost all B vitamins are found in animal and plant foods. The only exception is vitamin B12. This is only found in significant concentrations in animal foods.
How does a vitamin B deficiency in dogs become noticeable?
A persistent vitamin B deficiency can have serious consequences for your dog and can manifest itself in a number of health problems. Some of the possible symptoms that can indicate a vitamin B deficiency in a dog include:
- anemia
- digestive problems such as diarrhea
- susceptibility to stress and nervousness
- exhaustion and tiredness
- skin problems and hair loss
Do Dogs Need Vitamin B Supplements?
If you feed your dog a dog food that is marked as complete food, you can usually be sure that the four-legged friend is getting a sufficient amount of B vitamins. The occurrence of a defect is therefore not to be expected under normal circumstances. In some situations, however, it may well be that dogs can benefit from the additional administration of B vitamins as a dietary supplement.
This can be the case with old dogs, for example. In the case of four-legged seniors, vitamin B supplements can sometimes help alleviate typical age-related complaints and improve vitality and general well-being. That being said, a deficiency primarily occurs when a health problem interferes with the absorption of the B vitamins. Possible health-related triggers for a lack of vitamin B include:
- Intestinal parasites such as giardia or worms
- Chronic diarrhea
- An imbalanced gut microbiome
In addition, a pancreatic weakness in dogs can lead to a vitamin B12 deficiency. The treatment of affected four-legged friends therefore often also includes appropriate vitamin preparations.
Avoid overdosing
Normally, excess water-soluble vitamins are simply excreted from the body. This means that overdosing is virtually impossible. However, this does not apply to cobalamin (vitamin B12). The vitamin is mainly stored in the liver. If your dog takes in too much of it permanently, side effects can occur. For this reason, the administration of B vitamins as a dietary supplement should be discussed in advance with the veterinarian to be on the safe side.
Conclusion
Just like for you, it is also important for your dog to get enough B vitamins. As a rule, this is not a problem with good dog food. In certain situations, however, the additional administration of B vitamins as a dietary supplement can sometimes make sense. However, in order to avoid an overdose and the associated risks, we advise against administering high-dose vitamin B supplements to your four-legged friend without consulting a veterinarian.