Mineral Supplements and vitamins are very important components in the diet of any dog. This ensures that the immunity of the dog isn’t compromised. This the dog will be disease resistant to many diseases and viruses that can plague other dogs without a balanced diet.
The knowledge that Vitamins A, D, K and E are fat soluble while most other vitamins are water soluble is a must for every pet owner. Certain vitamins like pyridoxine, cyanobalamin and thiamine are essential for the proper functioning of the dog’s nervous system. The lack of various vitamins can lead to various complications. For eg. lack of Vitamin A leads to skin lesions and night blindness while lack of Vitamin D leads to weakening and softening of the dog’s bones.
Dog owners often face these problems. Anything in excess is poison. Excess of Vitamin A is toxic and so is excess of Vitamin D. Exercise extreme caution while feeding your dog and make sure they get just the right amount of vitamins. Cod liver oils which are rich in Vitamin A are considered among the best feed for dogs.
Vitamins and Minerals may not be a day to day supplement for dogs, but they are essential for a healthy future of the dog. If they are not fed with the right vitamins, they might get sick or begin to age at a very young age. Their good health is heavily dependent on these supplements.
Dogs that are fed with frozen fish often, they might suffer from deficiency of vitamin B1. These dogs need to be given extra supplements of Vitamin B1. As mentioned before, be cautious while providing supplements. Excessive minerals might cause diseases. Always consult your dog’s vet before introducing new supplements.
Apart from Sodium and Potassium, other minerals including calcium, iron, magnesium, copper, zinc and manganese need to be given sufficient emphasis. Potassium aids muscle health while skin health is controlled by Zinc. Bones and teeth are kept strong by phosphorous along with calcium.
You can reduce the number of supplements if you feed your dog with mutton, chicken and beef along with the required vegetables. But if you cannot maintain this balanced diet, consider giving them all the essential supplements. Lack of balanced diet occurs in most of the cases due to various reasons.
Abhishek Agarwal
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/keeping-your-dog-healthy-giving-it-sufficient-nutrient-supplements-753416.html
