Vitamin B for Dogs: Effects and Side Effects

When it comes to a dog's healthy diet, it is not enough to just provide a suitable amount of food and animal proteins. In addition, it is also important that the four-legged friend is supplied with vitamins and minerals as required.

This also includes vitamins from the vitamin B complex, which the dog must regularly receive in sufficient quantities with the food. In the following we will explain exactly what vitamin B is and what effect it has.

The main points on the subject of vitamin B for dogs at a glance

• The term vitamin B stands for a group of eight water-soluble vitamins.
• Vitamins from the vitamin B complex are involved in many processes in the dog's body and are important for normal nerve function, among other things.
• A vitamin B deficiency can have serious consequences for dogs and increase the risk of various diseases.
• Adequate feeding with high-quality dog food usually ensures a sufficient supply.
• In certain situations, after consultation with the veterinarian, the administration of vitamin B supplements can be useful.

What is vitamin B?

There is not just one vitamin B, but several of them. For this reason, they are known as the so-called vitamin B – complex or vitamins of the B-group.

There are eight different B-vitamins in total:

1. Thiamin (or vitamin B1)
2. Riboflavin (or vitamin B2)
3. Niacin (or vitamin B3)
4. Pantothenic acid (or vitamin B5)
5. Pyridoxine (or vitamin B6)
6. Biotin (or vitamin B7)
7. Folic acid (or vitamin B9)
8. Cobalamin (or vitamin B12)

The individual B vitamins differ quite clearly from one another in chemical terms. However, they all serve as precursors for certain coenzymes.

Apart from vitamin B12, which is only found in significant amounts in animal source foods, vitamins from the B group are found in both plant based and animal source foods.

What is the effect of Vitamin B on dogs?

The vitamins of the B group are particularly important for the nerve function in dogs. They help the nerve cells to regenerate.

Apart from that, B vitamins also play a role in the dog's energy metabolism. This means that they are important for metabolising the fats, carbohydrates and proteins ingested with food.

In addition, the vitamins of the vitamin B complex are important for the following body processes:

• Healthy coat
• Healthy claws
• Regulating blood sugar
• Producing new erythrocytes
• Maintaining a healthy vision
• Healthy growth in puppies

Especially in old four-legged friends, an adequate supply of vitamin B can have many positive effects and help to counteract various age-related problems. But even for younger animals, a sufficient supply of vitamin B is of course indispensable.

Symptoms of a vitamin B deficiency in dogs 

A persistent lack of vitamin B can cause numerous complaints in dogs and negatively impact the four-legged friend's well-being.

Depending on the severity, a vitamin B deficiency in dogs can cause the following symptoms, just to mention a few:

• Hair loss
• Skin problems
• Anaemia
• Fatigue
• Exhaustion
• Weight loss
• Digestive problems
• Nervousness
• Susceptibility to stress
• Diarrhoea

How can a vitamin B deficiency in dogs be avoided?

If you choose a complete dog food of good quality, such as Bellfor's dry and wet food, you can usually assume that your dog is being supplied with sufficient amounts of B vitamins.

In this case, a deficiency is normally only to be expected if your four-legged friend suffers from a health problem that impairs the absorption of vitamin B.

Health problems that can be considered in this regard include chronic diseases of the intestinal tract which lead to persistent diarrhoea, such as IBD in dogs, as well as a severe infestation with parasites such as worms or giardia, or even an imbalanced intestinal flora.

In addition, pancreatic insufficiency in dogs, for example, can also cause a vitamin B12 deficiency. In this case the veterinarian may consider the administration of vitamin B12 to be necessary in addition to the usual treatment with enzyme preparations for pancreatic weakness.

Can vitamin B for dogs be overdosed?

Normally, the organism cannot store water-soluble vitamins and simply excretes excessive amounts with the urine.

However, vitamin B12 is an exception in this respect. In contrast to the other water-soluble vitamins, it can be stored in the dog's organism, particularly in the liver. A long-term supply that exceeds the animal's needs is therefore not without risks.

Irrespective of this, it is neither necessary nor recommended in view of possible side effects to provide dogs with high-dose vitamin B supplements without consulting a veterinarian.

Vitamin B for dogs – our conclusion

As you can see, an adequate supply of vitamins from the vitamin B complex is very important not only for humans but also for dogs. Vitamin B contributes in particular to normal nerve function.

A lack of B vitamins can cause various problems in dogs over the long term. It is therefore essential to ensure that your four-legged friend is optimally supplied with a balanced diet.

At the same time, make sure you avoid overdosing. Just like with other important micronutrients, excessive amounts of vitamin B are not beneficial for your dog.