Vitamin A for dogs

Vitamin A – not only an eye vitamin

Vitamin A is one of the fat-soluble vitamins. Its precursors, including provitamin A (β-carotene), belong to the carotenoids (β-carotene is also considered an antioxidant), as well as the retinyl ester. They can be converted into vitamin A in the body.

Vitamin A is an essential micronutrient for canine health. It plays an important role in maintaining vision, growth and maintenance of epithelial tissue, and regulation of the immune system. A deficiency of vitamin A can lead to several health problems, including eye problems, poor wound healing and increased susceptibility to infection. Therefore, it is important to ensure that dogs get enough vitamin A.

• Vision problems, such as night blindness
• thickened, dry conjunctiva
• Corneal ulcers
• Damage to skin and mucous membranes (epithelial protection vitamin)
• Disorders of bone metabolism
• Stunted growth
• Fertility disorders
• Gland Disorders
• Vulnerability to infection
• Weakening of the immune system
• disordered blood formation & wound healing

If the deficit remains untreated over a longer period of time, the consequences can be even more serious, because an extreme vitamin A deficiency can lead to blindness.

Vitamin A in the organism

Vitamin A is a group designation of various micronutrients such as retinol, retinyl ester and retinoic acid. They have a parallel biological activity. Retinol is responsible for transport. If the feed has a sufficient fat content, vitamin A can be absorbed by the body to a large extent. Vitamin A is not excreted as quickly as water-soluble vitamins (e.g. the B vitamins), but is stored in the liver. Therefore, it is only necessary to pay attention to a deficiency, but also to an excessive proportion.

The positive effect on health

Vitamin A is a so-called antioxidant and is good at counteracting damage to cells caused by free radicals. First and foremost, vitamin A (retinol – retina) benefits vision. Vitamin A is necessary for the formation and maintenance of rhodopsin, a light-sensitive pigment found in the rods of the retina that helps to see in low light conditions. A deficiency of vitamin A can cause night blindness and affect vision overall.

Vitamin A is also involved in many other metabolic processes. In pregnant bitches it supports the healthy development of the embryo, it promotes the function of the thyroid gland, blood formation, wound healing, fertility and the immune system. It is also needed for the formation of skin cells and, together with vitamin D, supports bone metabolism.