Fat Soluble Vitamins
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Vitamin A
MDR
Vitamin A has a Minimum Daily Requirement per pound of body weight for a
Maintenance Dosage of 34 IU and for a Growth Dosage of 92 IU.
Purpose
1. Vitamin A promotes vision. It helps maintain the clarity of the Cornea and it
converts light into nerve impulses in the retina of the eye.
2. Vitamin A is use in protein synthesis and cell differentiation this further allows
the maintaining the health of epithelia tissues and skin.
3. Vitamin A supports reproduction and growth. In studs it helps in sperm
development. In bitches it supports normal fetal development during the bitches’
pregnancy. In puppies it helps the puppy to thrive and grow.
4. Vitamin A helps your small bones to be remolded into large bones while
growing.
Signs of Deficiency
The lack of Vitamin A can cause:
Various eye problems, weakened immune system, and malnutrition and
decreased chrondrogenesis in growth plates of growing dogs, and weeping sores
on the skin.
Signs of Excess
Too much Vitamin A can lead to:
Weakened bones, liver abnormalities, abnormal fetal development or congenital
anomalies like: hydrocephaly, blindness, hairlessness, deafness, ataxia,
cerebellar dysplasia, intestinal hernia and resorption of fetuses and stillbirths, joint
ills, and weight loss.
Natural sources of Vitamin A
Vitamin A can be found in:
Fish liver oils, egg yolks, liver, and corn.
Vitamin D
MDR
Vitamin D has the Minimum Daily Requirement per pound of body weight for a
Maintenance Dosage of 4 IU and for a Growth Dosage of 10 IU.
Purpose
1. Vitamin D is really a hormone. The body can make it and it does not need to be
supplied by foods. Vitamin D is needed for bone growth.
2. Vitamin D’s most important role is to maintain the bloods concentrations of the
minerals calcium and phosphorus.
Signs of Deficiency
The lack of Vitamin D can cause:
Bone loss, bone fractures, swayed backs, chest deformities, poor tooth eruption,
and bowed legs.
Signs of Excess
Too much Vitamin D can lead to:
Elevated blood calcium (hypercalcemia), anorexia, nausea, fatigue, renal
damage, diarrhea, dehydration, and death.
Natural sources of Vitamin D
Vitamin D can be found in:
Sunlight, irradiated yeast, fish liver oils, and egg yolks.
Vitamin E
MDR
Vitamin E has the Minimum Daily Requirement per pound of body weight for a
Maintenance Dosage of 0.23 IU and for a Growth Dosage of 0.54 IU. (Note: The
quantity of polyunsaturated fatty acids in the diet will affect the dosage needed.).
Purpose
Vitamin E is used in defense against oxidative damage.
Signs of Deficiency
The lack of Vitamin E can cause:
Red blood cell breakage, reproductive failures, weak or dead pups, muscular
dystrophy, steatites, and nerve damage.
Signs of Excess
Too much Vitamin E can lead to:
None recorded but it can interfere with anti-clotting medications.
Natural Sources of Vitamin E
Vitamin E can be found in:
Egg yolk, corn, milk fat, cereal grains.
Vitamin K
MDR
Vitamin K has no dietary need.
Vitamin K can be synthesized by bacteria in the intestine.
&n> Vitamin K is needed to help with blood clotting.
Signs of Deficiency
No purpose listed.
The lack of Vitamin K can cause:
Inability of blood to clot, free hemorrhage following injury.
Signs of Excess
Too much Vitamin K can lead to:
None recorded, high levels thought dangerous.
Natural Sources of Vitamin K
Vitamin K can be found in:
Yeast, soy beans, and liver.
1. The Collins Guide to Dog Nutrition, By Donald R. Collin, DVM
(1989)
2. Understanding Nutrition, by Ellie Whitney and Sharon Rady Rolfes
(2005).
3. http://dels.nas.edu/dels/rpt_briefs/dog_nutrition_final.pdf
4. http://www.vetmed.vt.edu/vth/sa/clin/cp_handouts/Nutrition_Adult_Dog.
5. http://www.canismajor.com/dog/nutrit2.html
6. http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/182902.
htm
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