Vitamin Supplements for Dogs & Cats

Just like us, our pets need certain essential vitamins, minerals and other nutrients to be at their healthiest. And in the same way we might reach for supplements to support our health and wellbeing, you can also support your pet with vitamin supplements for dogs and cats. In this article, we’ll discuss how and when vitamin supplements for cats and dogs might be helpful, and how to choose the best option for your pet.

Understanding the Importance of Vitamin Supplements for Pets

Ideally, your pet would get all their nutritional needs met by a complete and balanced pet food– that is, one that contains all the essential nutrients they need, in the correct ratios.

However, every pet is unique, so some may have slightly different requirements that can be met with vitamin supplements for dogs or cats. For example, longer-haired cat breeds can sometimes benefit from cat vitamins and supplements with an optimal ratio of omega-6 and omega-3, which can help keep their coats in optimal condition. Meanwhile, very active dogs might benefit from high-calorie dog supplements to meet their additional energy needs.

Additionally, there are times when you may want to give vitamin supplements for cats or dogs to support or improve your pet’s health and wellbeing. Some examples include when your pet is:

• Underweight.
• Deficient in certain nutrients due to health conditions.
• Suffering loss of appetite.
• Experiencing troublesome symptoms (e.g. skin problems).
• Experiencing or recovering from illness.
• Pregnant or lactating.

Vitamin Supplements for Dogs

Here are some common ways your canine pal may benefit from vitamin supplements for dogs.

Underweight

A fussy dog, loss of appetite after an illness, a highly active lifestyle… these are just a few reasons why your dog may be struggling to keep weight on despite eating a complete and balanced food. High-calorie dog supplements can help, providing your dog with the extra calories they need in an appealing, nutrient-dense format.

Pregnancy

A pregnant dog needs extra vitamins and minerals to support her growing pups, so her nutritional needs will change during this time. In addition to feeding her appropriate food, ask your vet if additional vitamins or minerals (like calcium) for pregnant dogs would be helpful.

Health problems

Many pet owners choose vitamin supplements for dogs to help with specific health issues. For example:

• Loss of appetite.
• Recovery from illness or surgery.
• Weight loss as a result of illness.
• Digestive issues.
• Skin, coat or joint problems.

If you think these could be helpful for your dog, check in with your vet about adding them to your dog’s health management plan.

Vitamin Supplements for Cats

Here are some common ways your canine pal may benefit from vitamin supplements for dogs.

Underweight

A fussy dog, loss of appetite after an illness, a highly active lifestyle… these are just a few reasons why your dog may be struggling to keep weight on despite eating a complete and balanced food. High-calorie dog supplements can help, providing your dog with th

Pregnancy

A pregnant dog needs extra vitamins and minerals to support her growing pups, so her nutritional needs will change during this time. In addition to feeding her appropriate food, ask your vet if additional vitamins or minerals (like calcium) for pregnant dogs would be helpful.

Health problems

Many pet owners choose vitamin supplements for dogs to help with specific health issues. For example:

• Loss of appetite.
• Recovery from illness or surgery.
• Weight loss as a result of illness.
• Digestive issues.
• Skin, coat or joint problems.

If you think these could be helpful for your dog, check in with your vet about adding them to your dog’s health management plan.

Vitamin Supplements for Cats

Here are some common reasons vitamins and supplements for cats may be helpful to your feline friend.

Pregnancy

Like dogs, cats have changing nutritional needs throughout pregnancy. If you’re wondering what to feed a pregnant cat, this will usually consist of switching to kitten food from the first month and adapting the quantity given as the pregnancy progresses. Check in with your vet, and ask about which additional vitamins and minerals your cat may benefit from, too. B vitamins are especially important for the developing kittens.

Loss of appetite

For a cat, loss of appetite is very common during illness or infection. And that can mean they’re not getting the vitamins and other nutrients they need to help them recover. It’s hard to know how and what to feed a sick cat to help them during this time, but you can try the following tips:

• Try specifically designed recovery food.
• Try liquid cat foods or puree to your cat’s usual food.
• Make sure there’s lots of fresh water available for your cat.
• Add a multivitamin supplement to your cat’s food.

Choosing the Right Supplements

When choosing vitamin supplements for dogs and cats, you will of course be looking for the highest-quality product for your beloved pet. Unfortunately, pet supplements are an under-regulated industry, so it’s important to go with an established, trusted brand. This will ensure that your supplement contains only what’s advertised on the label, in the right amounts, with nothing else that might be harmful to your pet. If in doubt, ask your vet for a recommendation.

Keep in mind that when it comes to certain vitamins and minerals, too little cannot be as harmful as too much. Your dog or cat may already be getting the required amounts from their diet, so adding a particular vitamin supplement may leave them vulnerable to health problems. It’s also important to make sure that vitamin supplements are safe for pets with certain health conditions and compatible with any medications your pet may take.

For these reasons, we always urge you to work with your vet when choosing vitamin supplements for cats or dogs. Your vet can help you to choose supplements that are safest and most effective for your pet’s unique needs. They can also advise you on the right dosage for best results.

Integrating Supplements into Your Pet's Diet

Vitamin supplements for pets come in various forms, such as tablets, liquids and gels. As any pet owner knows, tablets are not always very well-received! So if you opt for tablet-based vitamin supplements for dogs or cat, you may need to try:

• Hiding it in their food.
• Crushing and mixing it in their food (check the label, though, as some supplements need to be taken whole.)
• Making it enticing by wrapping it in their favorite treat.

Alternatively, liquid-based vitamins can be added to your pet’s water or mixed in with wet food. For our more discerning pets, these are typically easier to disguise than pills.

Finally, you can also consider a gel vitamin supplement for cats and dogs, such as Virbac’s Nutri-Plus Gel. It features a broad mix of essential vitamins and minerals to support pets during intense physical effort (agility, racing, hunting and working dogs) or in case of special physiological situations needing higher energy (growing young animals, pregnant and lactating females…). And with its appealing texture and palatable flavor, it’s perfect for tempting fussy pets or those with low appetites, too.

Supporting Your Pet’s Health with the Right Supplements

Vitamin supplements for dogs and cats can be a great way to support their health and wellbeing, especially during stressful times like appetite loss or pregnancy. If you’re considering vitamin supplements for cats or dogs, work with your vet to develop a safe and effective supplement plan tailored to your beloved companion’s needs.