Vitamins for dogs

When considering your pet's health, it's important to understand that it directly depends on their daily diet. A balanced diet is key to disease prevention and ensures your pet's energy, beauty, and longevity. Proper feeding involves not only a balance of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates, but also a comprehensive range of minerals and vitamins.

The role of vitamins cannot be overestimated: they improve metabolism, have a beneficial effect on the overall health of the body, strengthen the immune system, muscular and circulatory systems, and are also the key to proper growth and development of the skeletal system.

When do dogs need vitamin supplements?

Fans of natural foods, such as diets consisting of porridge with meat, or various homemade stews and soups, are advised to first consider vitamins for dogs, as it's virtually impossible to create a balanced diet with the correct ratio of all essential nutrients when feeding natural foods. For this reason, many dog ​​owners prefer ready-made commercial foods, which already contain multivitamin complexes to meet their pet's nutritional needs.

However, not all food is the same, and according to the experience of practicing veterinarians, in some cases dogs' vitamin requirements increase, and then even a super-premium diet will not be able to provide the pet with the required amount of beneficial supplements.

Circumstances in which dogs have an increased need for vitamins:

• Expectation of offspring and lactation period;
• The stage of active growth of a puppy;
• Exhibitions, increased physical activity (agility, working, hunting and sled dogs);
• Moulting period;
• Aging phase;
• Loss of appetite, digestive problems;
• A period of stress, illness, surgery, or recovery;
• Vaccination, decreased immunity.

The most famous brands

Today, pet stores and online retailers offer a huge selection of various nutritional supplements for animals. They come in tablet, powder, paste, or liquid form. Manufacturers produce dog vitamins in a variety of flavors, such as liver, cheese, or beef, so owners don't have to find a clever way to administer an unpalatable pill.

The most popular manufacturers of vitamin complexes, which have long earned a reputation for the best and highest quality products, are the following brands:

• Canina (Canina);
• 8 in 1;
• Beaphar (Бефар);
• Polidex (Polydex);
• Nutri-Vet (Nutri-vet);
• Canvit (Канвит);
• Veda;
• Hokamix (Hokamix).

Each of these brands offers both general-purpose medications and targeted supplements that are designed to provide a combination of specific conditions and enhanced effects aimed at solving or preventing a specific problem in your pet.

Canina

Canina vitamins are manufactured in Germany by Canina pharma GmbH, a company renowned for its unique, patented developments. Their distinguishing feature is the use of only natural ingredients, which significantly improves the absorption rate of the product compared to synthetically synthesized ingredients.

Canhydrox GAG (Canhydrox GAG) is one of the most popular products of the company Canina, designed to address joint, ligament, and cartilage issues. It also promotes tendon strengthening and proper skeletal and dental development in puppies. It is especially recommended for large and giant breeds with "sagging" metatarsus and pasterns, and loose joints.

It is used starting at two months of age at a prophylactic dose of 2 tablets per 10 kg of body weight, and for treatment, 4 tablets per 10 kg of body weight. Aging animals and animals recovering from injury are also given 4 tablets per 10 kg of body weight.

Caniletten is a complex containing vitamins, minerals, macro- and microelements, and also includes seaweed and yeast. This product belongs to the group of general supplements or multivitamins; it improves metabolism, immunity, digestion, and appetite. It is recommended at any stage of life and for any feeding type.

8 in 1

The 8 in 1 company was founded in the USA and currently has two research and development centers – in New York and Mehl (Germany), where all of their products are developed and manufactured.

Excel Brewer's Yeast is the company's most popular 8-in-1 vitamin for dogs. This complex promotes healthy skin and coat, reducing shedding time. It also supports liver function, normalizes metabolism, and boosts immunity. In addition to brewer's yeast, it contains garlic, biotin, fish oil, and trace elements.

Available in two dosages: standard – 1 tablet per 4 kg of body weight, and for large breeds – 1 tablet per 25 kg of body weight. These dosages can be administered starting at 2 weeks of age and throughout the pet's life.

Excel Mobile Flex+ (Excel Mobile Flex+) is a chondroprotector or, more simply put, vitamins for strengthening joints and bones. It is used both for prevention and for cartilage restoration in cases of existing musculoskeletal problems. It is based on New Zealand mussel powder, rich in glucosamine and omega-3 acids. It also contains chondroitin, methionine, β-glucan, and vitamin C.

This supplement is available only as a powder, which should be mixed into your pet's food at a rate of 0.5 teaspoon (2.5 grams) per 10 kg of body weight. It is prescribed for puppies during the intensive growth phase, adult dogs during exercise or for preventative purposes, and aging animals. The full course of treatment lasts 30 days.

Beaphar

Equally well-known among dog breeders and veterinarians are the products of the Dutch company Beaphar. This internationally renowned company began producing homeopathic supplements for animals, and now their product range includes antiparasitic medications, care products, and a wide range of vitamin complexes for pets.

Irish Cal is a renowned mineral supplement that provides calcium. It is designed to strengthen bone tissue and promote proper growth and development of the skeleton and teeth in puppies aged two months and older. It also helps prevent rickets, anemia, and other calcium-related diseases. Recommended for puppies, pregnant and nursing bitches.

Available in powder form. The dosage is as follows: puppies and adult pets up to 10 kg – 1 teaspoon per day; adult dogs (medium and large breeds), as well as pregnant and lactating dogs – 3 teaspoons per day. Use for 2 to 4 weeks, mixed with food.

Top 10 for dogs is a daily, universal multivitamin complex with L-carnitine and biotin. It is used as a supplement to the main diet of both adult pets and puppies from 6 weeks of age. It contains mineral salts, trace elements, and vitamins to improve coat condition, boost vitality, and strengthen the body's resistance. It also helps strengthen the heart and overall musculature, as well as promote proper skeletal and dental development in young animals.

Dosage: One tablet per 5 kg of body weight per day. There is no time limit for administration; practicing veterinarians recommend administering these multivitamins twice a year – in spring and fall, as well as to females during pregnancy and lactation.

Polidex

In 2005, the Russian company Vector began producing food supplements for pets under the brand name PolidexAll formulas for these products were developed in the UK by TEC Pharmacephtic. Currently, eight varieties of dog vitamins are produced under the Polidex brand. The most popular of the entire range is Rekovit Plus.

Recovit Plus is used to treat iron deficiency and improve hemoglobin levels. It contains a powerful combination of vitamins, minerals, essential amino acids, and trace elements that promote rapid recovery in animals after injury or illness. This complex stimulates the immune system, metabolism, hematopoiesis, and tissue healing.

The drug is available as tablets in two dosages: one tablet per day per 5 kg of body weight (for mini and medium breeds) and one tablet per 10 kg of body weight (for large breeds). The course of treatment lasts from 1 to 3 months, as needed.

Nutri-Vet

The Nutri-Vet brand belongs to the American company of the same name, which produces vitamins and unique nutritional supplements for pets. In addition to a series of multivitamins and specialized complexes, they also produce a poop-eating deterrent, anti-stress chewable tablets, and a supplement for dogs with allergies, Allerg-Eze, a product rarely found in other manufacturers.

Allerg-Eze is used for allergic diseases, acute skin reactions, and bronchial asthma. This complex inhibits histamine production and has an anti-edematous and anti-inflammatory effect, thereby helping to reduce allergic reactions in pets. Its key components are quercetin and citrus bioflavonoids, vitamins C and E, and pantothenic acid. The tablet has a liver flavor and smell, so pets readily consume it. Dosage is 1 tablet per 10 kg of body weight per day.

Canvit

Canvit vitamin supplements are manufactured in the Czech Republic and have a reputation for high-quality, world-class products. The Chondro series of dog vitamins, which support joints and improve mobility, are particularly well-known among Russian consumers.

Canvit Chondro nourishes dogs with chondroprotective substances essential for the musculoskeletal system: chondroitin sulfate, glucosamine, and collagen. It also contains chelated trace elements and vitamin C. It is used prophylactically for growing and aging dogs, as well as for sports or working animals during periods of high stress. Canvit Chondro is recommended for joint restoration in cases of dysplasia, osteoarthritis, osteoarthrosis, and post-injury.

Directions for use: Prophylactic dosage: 1 tablet per 5 kg of body weight; therapeutic dosage: 2-3 tablets per 5 kg of body weight per day. Duration of treatment: 8-10 weeks; repeat after 3 months.

Veda

The Russian company Veda specializes in herbal remedies, with medicinal plants and natural organic substances serving as key ingredients. One of Veda's products is the multivitamin supplement "Biorhythm," which has already earned the praise of many professional breeders.

Biorhythm is a general health supplement that replenishes essential vitamins and microelements, and also contains L-carnitine and collagen. This supplement is unique in that the tablets are divided into "morning" and "evening" tablets for better absorption of nutrients. Biorhythm is available in four varieties: for puppies over 2 months old, and for adult pets of small (up to 10 kg), medium (10 to 30 kg), and large (over 30 kg) breeds. The course of treatment is 24 days, and can be repeated after 7-10 days.

Hokamix

One of the most famous products from the German company Grau is the unique feed supplement Hokamix30. It is an all-natural complex consisting of a blend of 30 medicinal herbs.

All vitamins and minerals are natural herbal ingredients, making them easily absorbed. This product has a comprehensive effect: it improves skin and coat condition, optimizes metabolism, supports musculoskeletal function, and detoxifies. Hokamix30 is available in powder and tablet form.

Recommended powder dosage: puppies - 1 gram per 1 kg of body weight, dogs weighing 15-50 kg - 15 grams, over 50 kg - 20-25 grams per day. Dosage for tablets: puppies - half a tablet per day, adults weighing 5-10 kg - 2 tablets, 10-40 kg - 4-6 tablets, over 40 kg - 6-7 tablets throughout the day.

Whatever vitamins you choose, they share one characteristic: most of them are not produced by the body and must be obtained from the diet. Many vitamins are not stored, so they must be supplied regularly. However, it's crucial not to overdo it and strictly adhere to the manufacturer's recommended dosages to avoid hypervitaminosis and harm to the animal.

Read also:

• Avitaminosis in animals in winter
• How to give a pill to a puppy
• Allergies in dogs: symptoms and treatment