What human vitamins can I give my dog? Surprising Answer

Clubs Offering:

AKC is a participant in affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to akc.org. If you purchase a product through this article, we may receive a portion of the sale.

Grocery stores and pharmacies are stocked with row upon row of human vitamins. With so many options for us, it is completely logical that we wonder if dog vitamins are the right choice for our pets, too.

But do dogs actually need vitamins? Are there any risks? Which vitamins should you give your dog? Here are some answers.

Vitamins are organic compounds that are necessary to sustain life. Most are found naturally in food. Animals’ bodies need vitamins for growth and maintenance.

You are probably familiar with most of the vitamins human and animal bodies need:

  • Vitamin A
  • B vitamins (biotin, folate, niacin, pantothenic acid, riboflavin, thiamine, vitamin B-6, and vitamin B-12)
  • Vitamin C
  • Vitamin D
  • Vitamin E
  • Vitamin K
  • Choline
  • Dogs need these vitamins, too, although it is very important that we realize they may need them in different amounts than people do.

    Vitamin A, in case you’ve ever wondered, is the vitamin in carrots that is responsible for that good vision your parents promised you. This fat-soluble vitamin is also responsible for growth, fetal development, immune function, and cell function. There are eye care supplements for dogs that include Vitamin A.

    The B vitamins are a group of important vitamins that play a role in your dog’s health.

  • Thiamine helps regulate energy and carbohydrate metabolism, and activates ion channels in neural tissue.
  • Riboflavin, B12, and niacin help facilitate enzyme function.
  • Vitamin B6 is especially vital. This vitamin is responsible for glucose generation, red blood cell and nervous system function, hormone regulation, immune response, niacin synthesis, and gene activation.
  • Pantothenic acid helps with energy metabolism.
  • Folic acid plays a role in amino acid and nucleotide metabolism and in mitochondrial protein synthesis.
  • Vitamin C is an important antioxidant. It scavenges potentially harmful free radicals in the body and can help reduce inflammation and cognitive aging. Dogs can actually synthesize vitamin C on their own in their livers, but in some cases supplementation may offer health benefits.

    Vitamin D, or the “sunshine vitamin,” allows your dog’s body to balance minerals like phosphorous and calcium for healthy bone growth. Without it, your dog would not be able to develop properly or maintain healthy muscles and bones.

    Vitamin E is one of your dog’s defenses against oxidative damage. This fat-soluble vitamin is also essential for cell function and fat metabolism. Deficiencies can lead to eye and muscle degeneration and reproductive problems.

    Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin instrumental in activating your dog’s blood’s ability to clot. Ingestion of certain rat and mouse poisons inhibit dogs’ ability to use the vitamin K in their bodies, which leads to hemorrhaging and death if not treated.

    Choline is a necessary component of the phospholipid cell membrane. It supports healthy brain and liver function, and is occasionally used as part of a treatment plan for pets with epilepsy.

    Your dog gets his vitamins from dog food. Commercial dog food diets labeled “complete and balanced” are specially formulated to contain all of the vitamins, minerals, and nutrients your dog needs.

    Foods catered toward different life stages, like puppy food, adult dog food, and senior dog food, contain different levels of certain vitamins, depending on the requirements of that life stage. This is especially important for large breed puppy foods, as these breeds can develop diseases, such as hip dysplasia, if their food contains vitamins and minerals, like calcium, that make them grow too quickly.

    Dogs fed an appropriate commercial diet should not require vitamin supplements unless recommended otherwise by a veterinarian. Dogs fed a homemade diet, on the other hand, may require supplements to ensure that they are getting enough vitamins with their meals. However, these vitamins should be given to match the diet, according to veterinary nutritionist Susan Wynn, DVM. Simply feeding these dogs a vitamin with dinner is not enough.

    How Other Vitamins May Benefit Dogs

  • Now, there are several other vitamins that could help support your dog’s good health. Here’s a quick look at some of them.
    • Vitamin A – This vitamin helps support motor function, skin health, vision and immune system function.5
    • B-complex vitamins – The B vitamins play a very important role in the health of a dog. For example, vitamin B6 helps a dog’s body generate the glucose needed for energy. It also helps to ensure that the digestive and nervous systems function properly and that the dog’s hormones are properly regulated.6
    • Vitamin D – Vitamin D is also critical because it helps to protect dogs from a wide variety of diseases. A recent study showed that many commercial dog foods don’t provide enough of this vitamin.7
    • Vitamin K – This vitamin makes sure that your dog’s blood is able to clot.8,9

    Never make any changes to your dog’s diet – including supplementation – without first talking to your veterinarian.

  • What to Do If Your Pet Accidentally Consumes a Human Vitamin

    For many pets, sneaking behind your back and consuming one of your vitamins that you left sitting on the table is not cause for an emergency. However, you should still take the situation seriously, says Dr. Lisa Murphy, associate professor of toxicology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine and director of the Pennsylvania Animal Diagnostic Laboratory System.

    “Animals will react differently depending on their age, medical history, and weight, among many other factors,” Murphy says. But, she adds, “no matter the factors, the likelihood of a positive outcome is so much greater with a prompt phone call to the vet.”

    Can I give my Dog Human Vitamins?

    Can dogs eat human vitamins? Maybe you want to share a health boost with your dog while taking vitamins for your own health and wellbeing. If we can take human vitamins, can dogs safely eat them too?

    The short answer is no, dogs can’t eat human vitamins safely. The main issue with dogs and human vitamins is one of dosage.

    Put simply, human vitamins are formulated for much larger bodies. You could risk making your dog sick if you decide to administer human vitamins to them. Only if a veterinarian advises you to give human vitamins to your dog should you do so.

    If your dog managed to eat a lot of your vitamins by accident, call your veterinarian for further advice. Here’s what you need to know about human vitamins and dogs.