Avitaminosis in animals in winter
Surely, as a child, the arrival of winter brought you a wild joy: the smell of tangerines, snow-covered trees, sleds, and, of course, the anticipation of New Year's gifts. However, over the years, winter reveals new, less rosy sides: slippery paths, frozen hands, snow-covered cars, and constant grayness.
Lack of sunlight can trigger a state of lethargy and apathy, and a lack of vitamins Leaves a gap in our immune system, making us a target for various viruses and diseases. Are we the only ones who suffer from vitamin deficiency and winter blues? It turns out that pets face the same problems as us.
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How does vitamin deficiency manifest itself in pets?
You can make this diagnosis for your four-legged friend if you notice sluggish movements, dull fur, increased shedding, or itchy skin.
- Vitamin A deficiency can cause growth retardation in young animals, weight loss, and even damage to the mucous membrane of the eyes.
- A lack of B vitamins in the diet can lead to digestive problems, decreased hemoglobin levels in the blood, hair loss, and seizures.
- Vitamin C is necessary for the prevention of infectious diseases.
- And vitamin D supports the musculoskeletal functions of pets.
How is it with wild animals?
In the wild, the ancestors of modern predators obtained all the necessary minerals and vitamins independently and in full by eating their herbivorous prey.
And at home
Due to their dependence on their owners and the food they choose for their pets, our furry family members are unable to provide themselves with the necessary micronutrients. Therefore, it is crucial to take a responsible approach to their diet at any time of year.
How to create a diet?
Of course, you might assume that natural foods contain all the necessary nutrients, and that's how they should be delivered to your pet. In reality, no matter how hard you try, it's very difficult to visually create a balanced and complete diet for your pet.
Another popular option among owners is to compensate for vitamin deficiencies by adding certain foods to dry food. While this approach seems perfectly logical at first glance, veterinarians warn against this rash step. These two feeding regimens are very different physiologically: mixing different types of food can cause stomach, kidney, and liver problems in your beloved cat or faithful dog.
The third option is to introduce supplements to correct the levels of missing elements. In practice, pleading, tricking, or threatening your smart furry friend often fails to get him to take his vitamins.
Conclusions
What can be done? Fortunately for caring pet owners, Canadian specialists have developed formulas that 100% meet the natural needs of these domesticated, yet still predatory, animals. Due to evolutionary factors, the proper diet for these long-eared companions, like that of their wild relatives, should be rich in animal proteins, but by no means limited to them.
The philosophy of Biologically Appropriate Nutrition (BAN) calls for a diet rich in berries, vegetables, fruits, and medicinal herbs. This approach allows for the most accurate recreation of natural nutrition found in the wild, providing the body with essential vitamins and minerals such as iron, calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium, and, most importantly, raising a healthy and happy animal.
Any questions? You can ask our website's staff veterinarian in the comments below, who will answer them as quickly as possible.
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