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You want your dog to be healthy and happy. That means finding the right nutritional balance. Vitamins are an important part of keeping our bodies working right, and can affect tens of thousands of chemical reactions. These nutrients work along with enzymes and minerals to help our bodies – and those of our dogs – stay in good condition.

You want your dog to be healthy and happy. That means finding the right nutritional balance. Vitamins are an important part of keeping our bodies working right, and can affect tens of thousands of chemical reactions. These nutrients work along with enzymes and minerals to help our bodies – and those of our dogs – stay in good condition. Here’s a look at what’s out there, and how to provide the right supplementation for our pets.

Vitamins come in two kinds – water soluble and fat soluble. Water soluble vitamins pass through the body daily, and are excreted in urine.

Fat soluble vitamins remain in fatty tissues and the liver, and can be stored up for use over time. Fat soluble vitamins include A, D, E and K, while water soluble vitamins include the B vitamins and vitamin C.

This means that while it’s hard to feed too many water soluble vitamins, too much of a fat soluble vitamin, such as A or D, could actually be unhealthy. People and animals have been known to get vitamin poisoning from fat soluble vitamins, when taken in excess.

So, which vitamins for dogs should you offer, and when? It depends on your dog and what they’ve been eating.

Young, active adult dogs which are getting a good quality, well balanced diet don’t need much in the way of supplementation. Some puppies may benefit from it, however. It can help them grow properly. Just beware of calcium supplementation in large and giant breed puppies, which can cause overgrowth and joint problems in adulthood. Older dogs absorb less nutrition from their food, and can also benefit from supplementation.

If you’re thinking about using vitamins for dogs, make sure you talk about them with your vet.

He or she can help you understand what’s right for your pet and how to administer the supplements. Remember that you need to find a good vitamin supplement which will provide the, pet, eight essential vitamins in the right ratio.

It’s also a good idea to choose vitamins in appealing flavors, to prevent a morning struggle over your pet’s daily dose. Liver and bacon flavors will make your dog happier to take his or her vitamins. If your dog doesn’t like one brand, try another. The result will be a healthier dog.

I am a Professional Dog Groomer and have been so for over 15 years. In that time I have seen countless instances of dogs eating discount dog food or one of the brands you see endlessly on television commercials. More often than not these are the dogs that have dry, itchy skin, hot spots,lethargy, and/or ear infections, to name a few of the problems that I encounter.

I would like to offer you a FREE 10 part mini course which will answer some of your questions about what you are, and should be, feeding your pet to insure optimal health!! Please visit our website Healthy Dog Food to get your pet started down the path to a healthy and happy life!

Author: Karen Hayes | Source: ezinearticles.com