Vitamins for Older Dogs

Vitamin A – helps dryness, hardening and itching of the skin. Also protects against infection and toxic chemicals.

Vitamin B1 – Thiamine – helps dogs become more alert and intelligent, also helps with fleas and other parasites.
Vitamin B2 – Riboflavin – helps protein and fat metabolism; also helps prevent cataracts in the eyes.
Vitamin B3 – helps convert food to energy, helps protein and fat metabolism. Also controls convulsive seizures in dogs.
Vitamin B5 – Pantothenic Acid – is an anti-stress vitamin because it’s required for producing good antibodies, helps longevity. Dogs deficient in Vitamin B5 can’t fight infection.
Vitamin B6 – Pyridoxine – It is required in the utilization of some minerals for a healthy nervous system, red blood cell production, good brain function, and a strong immune system. Anemia, poor growth, artery disease, kidney stones are all signs of deficiency.
Vitamin B9 – Folic Acid – Dogs need folic acid during pregnancy and to help build the immune system. Signs of deficiency in dogs include: erratic appetite, retarded weight gain, watery secretion from the eyes, and decreased antibody response to microorganisms.
Vitamin B12 – Cobalamin – Dry skin and coat.. This vitamin prevents nerve damage, aids fertility, and promotes normal growth and development. Also helps in the digestion of food.
Vitamin C – helps to fight scurvy, less likely to develop hip dysplasia, spinal myelopathy, ruptured discs, viral disease, skin problem and common bacterial infections.
Vitamin D – key in calcium and phosphorus metabolism to help with strong bones and teeth. Sunlight stimulates dogs to generate vitamin D
Vitamin E – helps boost the efficiency of the heart and circulation system. Promotes dilation of the small blood vessels, increasing the supply of oxygen to all of the body. Vitamin E helps to improve your dogs immune system, muscle power, and stamina. It also protects against air pollution and has been know to rejuvenate ailing and tired dogs.
Vitamin H – Biotin – helps reduce the incidence of skin disorders. Assists the thyroid and adrenal glands and aids the nervous system. Also helps in the prevention of coprophagy (the animal eating its own excrement).
Vitamin K – has a special role in the clotting of blood. Often used after a dog has eaten rat poison!