How is vitamin A toxicity diagnosed?
Diagnosis is based on a history of being fed foods high in vitamin A, clinical signs, and radiographic evidence from X-rays of new bone formation. Acute ingestion of toxic doses (ingesting a bottle of vitamins for example) can be treated with activated charcoal. Your veterinarian may recommend blood and urine tests to rule out other causes of these clinical signs.
Dan Richardson has been a practicing veterinarian for over 10 years. He specializes in surgery and orthopedics. Dan is originally from rural western Nevada and attended the University of Idaho for undergraduate study and Oregon State University for Veterinary School. The Richardson Family enjoys camping and spending time on the water fishing, paddle boarding, or digging their feet in the sand somewhere warm.
What was it that Ralph Waldo Emerson said? “Moderation in all things, especially moderation.” Witty as always, Mr. Emerson, but in there lies a truth: moderation is key—even when you need to moderate your moderation.
Healthy habits can become unhealthy habits when taken to the extreme. Running is great for your body. Running nonstop from the moment you wake up to the moment you crash and burn is great… for injuries. Cake is good for the soul. Marie-Antoinette even said, “Let them eat cake!” Alas, even cake, in excess is not good.
Benefits of vitamin A for dogs
The body is an amazing thing. It converts food into the raw materials to make cells and energy to power them. But unlike a vehicle that cant repair itself when damaged, the body can—thanks in part to vitamin A.
While all vitamins for dogs have their roles, this vitamin is the project manager when it comes to repair and regeneration of living tissue—especially the cells that line the gut, lungs, and eye, along with skin itself. This is why vitamin A is needed for everything from good eyesight to a strong immune system.
Lets look at an example: the gut. The acids and harsh enzymes that digest food are pretty rough on the digestive tract. To keep the intestine healthy means a never-ending cycle of repair and replace for its lining. Vitamin A deficiency causes the biological equivalent of a construction workers strike, with the gut left in poor repair. This is one of the causes of diarrhea.
But dont forget the whole body is deficient, not just the gut, so other organs also start to break down. For the eye, this means the light sensitive layer (the retina) cant work properly, leading to vision loss and blindness. In the lungs, this can lead to a poor ability to fight infections and serious complications, such as pneumonia.
But what of the benefits of vitamin A for dogs? Flip this coin over and we find vitamin A helps strengthen the immune system to better fight off bugs; creates healthy tissue in the lungs, gut, and urinary tract; and ensures the eyes are fit for their purpose. In growing pups, vitamin A also helps make strong bones. Last but not least, vitamin A has antioxidant properties that fight the damage done by free radicals that contribute to aging and can cause cancer.