Pet Health: The B Vitamins

There are 13 vitamins, 8 of which are water-soluble B Vitamins. B Vitamins are flushed through your pet’s system in urine and need to replenished every day from food.

The eight B Vitamins have numbers which are slightly confusing because these vitamins were not named in order. They also have names. The following chart lists B Vitamins by name and number:

The B Vitamins

B1

Thiamine

B2

Riboflavin

B3

Niacin

B5

Pantothenic acid

B6

Pyridoxine

B7

Biotin

B9

Folic acid

B12

Cyanocobalamin

What amount of B Vitamins does your pet need?

When considering vitamins, many pet guardians assume more is better, but this is not correct. In fact, too high a concentration of any vitamin or supplement creates significant health problems just as too low a concentration does. Always use moderate amounts of vitamins and supplements.

Sources and benefits of B Vitamins

To provide vitamins, it is better to supplement with whole foods than to give vitamin pills. Whole foods create a balanced intake of vitamins and other nutrients, and prevent illnesses caused by over supplementing. In addition, whole foods seldom interact with drugs. This is not to say that vitamins are not helpful. They are. For most pets, though, whole food sources of vitamins are superior to vitamin tablets.

Brewers yeast--Not an ideal vitamin source

Brewers yeast is one source of B Vitamins added to supplements and pet foods because it is inexpensive. Many veterinarians consider brewers yeast to be a waste product of the brewing industry and a poor source of nutrients. What is more significant is that many pets are allergic to brewers yeast. Fortunately, there are many other, and better, sources of B Vitamins.

The following foods can boost your pet’s B Vitamins:

  • avocado
  • banana
  • beef
  • black-eyed peas
  • chicken liver
  • eggs
  • garbanzo beans
  • green beans
  • lentils
  • liver
  • milk
  • pinto beans
  • potato with skin
  • salmon
  • shellfish
  • spinach
  • turnip greens
  • wheat germ

Tomorrow, the blog will discuss one of the B Vitamins—Folate or Vitamin B9.


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