Vitamin A for dogs

Vitamin A – the 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) and the retinyl ester. They can be converted into vitamin A in the body.

What are the consequences of a vitamin E deficiency?

It is interesting to know that vitamin A deficiency is the most common vitamin deficiency worldwide. Feeding with industrially manufactured ready-made feed seems to be one of the main causes of a deficiency. With a species-appropriate, fresh and healthy diet, a deficiency only occurs very rarely and is then usually associated with an increased need.

Dogs can usually compensate for a short-term vitamin A deficiency with liver storage reserves. A prolonged vitamin A deficiency, e.g. due to inappropriate feeding, stress (e.g. pregnancy) or illness, can cause the following symptoms:

• 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 can counteract damage to cells caused by free radicals. First and foremost, vitamin A (retinol – retina (retina)) benefits vision. Vitamin A is also involved in many other metabolic processes. In pregnant bitches, it supports 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 required for the formation of skin cells and, together with vitamin D, supports bone metabolism.