Dogs, like all animals, require a variety of nutrients and vitamins to maintain their health and wellbeing in top notch condition. To make sure you’re giving them the care they need, it’s important to know what you should and shouldn’t include in their diets. Vitamin C is an essential nutrient in all human diets, with major benefits for our health, but does it work the same way for our pets and what exactly is the role of vitamin C for dogs?
If you’ve ever wondered if vitamin C can boost your dog’s health and offer them the same benefits it offers us, we have some answers for you. In this article, we’ll discuss the importance of vitamin C for dogs, the way in which it can be valuable if included in your pet’s diet, and the best sources of this nutrient.
What is vitamin C?
Vitamin C, or ascorbic acid, is an essential vitamin that can boost growth, immunity, and repair of body tissues. It can also help with the production of collagen, which is a protein that helps in the healing of wounds. One thing to keep in mind is that a dog’s body can produce vitamin C naturally, unlike a human body which requires supplements or certain foods rich in vitamin C.
Also, vitamin C is not as essential for your dog’s health as it is for us, so deficiency of vitamin C is relatively uncommon in dogs.
Is vitamin C good for dogs?
Although it can be beneficial in certain circumstances, vitamin C is not essential for a dog’s health. Your furry friend can synthesise their own vitamin C in their liver, so they don’t need more of it unless they have a specific health condition that requires it.
The cases where dogs may benefit from additional vitamin C are rare, but they can include situations when they struggle with joint issues, allergies, or a weak immune system. Vitamin C can also be used to boost your dog’s heart health and help prevent cell damage.
Benefits of vitamin C for dogs
Every dog is different, and Vitamin C can be helpful in some cases, depending on the dog’s particular needs. Check out some of the possible benefits of adding vitamin C to your dog’s diet:
- Boosts immunity
- Can help prevent hip dysplasia
- Helps in collagen formation
- Improves quality of skin and coat
- Reduces inflammation
- Supports joint health
- Helps fight infection
As already mentioned, dogs are one of the few animals that can synthesize vitamin C in their bodies. As such, you should only consider supplementing it under special circumstances and after consulting a vet.
What’s the right dosage of vitamin C for dogs?
The appropriate dosage of vitamin C depends on several factors like the dog’s breed, size, age, and overall health.
Before deciding to add vitamin C into your dog’s diet, it’s crucial that you consult with a trusted veterinarian, because too much of it can be harmful to dogs. They will be able to inform you about the appropriate dosage depending on your dog’s health status and needs and about the potential adverse effects.
Foods that contain vitamin C
Most commercial dog foods contain a sufficient amount of vitamin C but if your vet recommends supplementing it, here are some of the natural foods you can consider:
- Fruits: blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, oranges, or lemons – should always be offered in moderation and after removing any seeds or pits.
- Vegetables: broccoli, kale, spinach, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, bell peppers.
- Fish
When consumed in moderation, vitamin C can have a real and valuable impact on your dog’s health, helping boost their quality of life.
Find our other principal ingredients you may find in our pet food and the nutritional function they serve here.
