I know how much you want to make sure your raw fed dog is getting every nutrient he/she needs. I want the same thing!
Below is a complete look at vitamin A for dogs. We’ll cover the benefits, warnings and ideal food sources for your raw fed dog.
Always remember that vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin and, therefore, needs to be consumed with fat in order to have optimal absorption.
What Is Vitamin A?
Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin that also acts as a powerful antioxidant. It plays a critical role in maintaining your dog’s vision, bone health, neurological function, healthy skin and more.
Vitamin A is found in two primary forms:
- Active vitamin A (also called retinol, which results in retinyl esters)
- Beta-carotene
Retinol comes from animal-derived foods and is a type of “pre-formed” vitamin A that can be used directly by your dog’s body.
Beta-carotene is found in fruits and vegetables. Beta-carotene and other types of carotenoids found in plant-based products need to first be converted to retinol in order to be utilized by the body. Because the canine body isn’t able to effectively convert beta-carotene, this is one of many reasons why your dog should not be eating plant matter.
Why Vitamin A for Dogs is Essential
So, what is vitamin A for dogs good for? Studies have repeatedly shown that antioxidants like vitamin A are vital to good health and longevity.
Vitamin A Benefits
- Aids in Reproduction
- Boosts Bone Health
- Contains Cancer-Fighting Properties
- Keeps Skin Healthy
- Prevents Bladder Stones
- Promotes Tissue Repair
- Protects Eye Health
- Relieves Inflammation
- Supports Immunity
- Vitamin A Protects and Promotes Eye Health in Dogs
One of the most well-known benefits of vitamin A is its ability to boost vision and keep your dog’s eyes healthy.
- Vitamin A Supports Immunity in Dogs
Vitamin A plays an integral role in your dog’s immune health and is especially beneficial for warding off illness and infections. According to a study out of Baltimore, a deficiency can weaken immunity and even alter the function of immune cells.
- Vitamin A Relieves Inflammation in Dogs
The anti-inflammatory effects of vitamin A can have many positive effects on your dog’s health. This is because inflammation is at the root of many chronic conditions: cancer, heart disease, diabetes, etc.
- Vitamin A Improves Skin Health
Due to its anti-inflammatory properties, such as retinaldehyde, vitamin A may be useful in the treatment of a wide range of skin conditions in dogs.
- Vitamin A Contains Cancer-Fighting Properties
Upping your dog’s intake of vitamin A could help protect against cancer development. According to a review published in BioMed Research International, retinoids have been shown to block the growth of a variety of cancer cells.
- Vitamin A Boosts Bone Health in Dogs
Did you know that vitamin A is a crucial component of bone growth?
However, the right balance of vitamin A is essential because both an excess and deficiency in this important vitamin have been linked to compromised bone health.
- Vitamin A Promotes Tissue Repair in Dogs
When it comes to tissue repair and cell regeneration, getting enough vitamin A is key.
- Vitamin A Prevents Bladder Stones in Dogs
Urinary stones generally form in the kidneys and then slowly grow and develop in the bladder.
One study from the National Institute of Nutrition’s Department of Biophysics in India examined the relationship between vitamin A levels and urinary stone formation among children. The study found that those with low levels of vitamin A had a higher risk of urinary stone formation.
Vitamin A for Dogs: Food Sources for Your Raw Fed Dog
Upping your raw fed dog’s intake of vitamin A foods is the best way for them to reap the benefits of this important micronutrient.
Below are some of the top vitamin A (retinol) sources. However, let me first clarify a few things.
- A raw diet of 80% muscle meat, 10% organ (secreting), and 10% bone will likely meet your dog’s vitamin A needs. Especially if you’re feeding liver and other organs from grass-fed animals.
- I have listed a variety of fish below. I would not recommend you feed very much of the larger fish. The mercury levels and other chemical levels in fish are much higher in larger fish. When feeding fish, feed the smallest ones you can (mullet, anchovies, etc.).
- I’ve noted egg yolks but eggs should be fed whole, shell and all, as a complete source of nutrition.
- I’ve listed two types of liver (beef and lamb) but liver from chickens, rabbits, etc., are also nutritious!
- Beef Liver — 713% DV per serving, 1 slice: 6,421 mcg (713% DV) 100 grams: 9,442 mcg (1,049% DV)
- Lamb Liver — 236% DV per serving, 1 ounce: 2,122 mcg (236% DV) 100 grams: 7,491 mcg (832% DV)
- Egg yolks — 5% DV per serving, 1 large egg: 245 international units
- Cod Liver Oil — 150% DV per serving, 1 teaspoon: 1,350 mcg (150% DV) 100 grams: 30,000 mcg (3,333% DV)
- King Mackerel — 43% DV per serving, 388 mcg (43% DV) 100 grams: 252 mcg (28% DV)
- Salmon — 25% DV per serving, 229 mcg (25% DV) 100 grams: 149 mcg (17% DV)
- Bluefin Tuna — 24% DV per serving, 214 mcg (24% DV) 100 grams: 757 mcg (84% DV)
- Trout — 8% DV per serving, 1 fillet: 71 mcg (8% DV) 100 grams: 100 mcg (11% DV)
Vitamin A Deficiencies in Dogs
Dogs with long-term malabsorption of fats are more susceptible to developing a vitamin A deficiency. Dogs with leaky gut syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease or pancreatic disorders are also at a higher risk of deficiency.
A vitamin deficiency will show some different symptoms depending on the functions of the vitamin which is lacking. However, the following symptoms are all signs of a deficit of this micronutrient:
- Loss of appetite
- Dermatitis
- Decreased body temperature
- Changes in the color of gums/tongue
- A dull coat and/or dry skin
- Clotting problems
- Neurological signs
A proper raw diet of 80% muscle meat, 10% organ (secreting), and 10% bone is a must for a healthy raw fed dog. Choosing beef and lamb liver from grass-fed animals is a good way to increase your raw fed dog’s vitamin A consumption.
If your vet recommends that your dog get more vitamin A than their current 80%/10%/10% raw diet is providing, add some healthy choices of fish to the mix.
Be sure that as you increase the vitamin A in your pet’s diet, your vet is monitoring them regularly. As I’ve mentioned, getting too much vitamin A is as bad as getting too little.
Precautions of Vitamin A for Dogs
High doses of vitamin A for dogs may actually do more harm than good. Feeding too much has been associated with birth defects, lower bone density and liver problems. Vitamin A toxicity can also cause symptoms like nausea, loss of appetite, irritability, vomiting and hair loss. Some studies also suggest that the results of a vitamin D deficiency may be worsened by high supplemental intake of vitamin A.
Always keep in mind that vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin and, therefore, needs to be consumed with fat in order to have optimal absorption.
To prevent issues with vitamin A overdose, feed a well-balanced diet rich in nutrient-dense raw meats, bones and organs to help maximize your dog’s health.