Top 10 Best Dog Food with Vitamins and Minerals

By
Edward Hollon
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Table of Contents

Top 10 Best Dog Food with Vitamins and Minerals

Dogs need to consume vitamins and minerals just like humans do, but their owners often overlook these needs. There are plenty of vitamins and minerals that can benefit your dog which we will be looking at today.

You can get a number of different supplements for your dog that is fortified with these vitamins and minerals, but some owners have their doubts about these products due to the lack of research on them. We’re here to tell you that you don’t actually need to use a supplement unless your veterinarian advises it – you can simply opt for dog food with vitamins and minerals.

There are not many dog foods on the market that explicitly state that they have include vitamins and minerals, but that doesn’t mean that they’re not in the food at all. In fact, many natural dog foods include plenty of vitamins for your dog to benefit from.

We’ve done the research and found the best five dog foods with vitamins and minerals on the market right now. We’ve also included a list of the vitamins and minerals that can benefit your dog in our buyer’s guide below so that you can compare it to different dog foods that you’re considering.

Can my dog eat table scraps?

Giving big chunks of steak fat, poultry skin, and other greasy leftovers isn’t a great idea. A sudden change in diet can cause weight gain and other health conditions. Your dog deserves a healthy diet with essential vitamins and minerals.

What vitamins and minerals are bad for dogs?

Some vitamins and minerals can be toxic when ingested in larger amounts. These include vitamin D, iron, and calcium. If you want your dog to stay healthy, avoid excessive use of nutritional supplements.

What are the six major minerals?

They include calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, potassium, and chloride.

What is a good source of calcium for dogs?

The best sources of calcium for dogs include yogurt, cheese, chicken, and fish.

What is a dietary source of vitamin B12 for dogs?

Most dogs get plenty of vitamin B12 from their food. Good sources of vitamin B12 include meat, seafood, poultry, eggs, and dairy products.

What are prescription diets for dogs?

Prescription or veterinary diets help treat pets with diseases such as allergies, heart disease, or diabetes. You can’t buy a prescription diet without your vet’s recommendation.

Does my dog need supplements?

If your dog eats a complete and balanced diet, he does not need supplements.

Should my dog eat raw meat?

Raw meat contains harmful bacteria like Salmonella, Listeria, E. coli, and more. Cooking raw meat to a safe temperature kills off those harmful bacteria. There’s a higher risk your dog will develop a bacterial infection by eating raw meat.

What is a toxic vitamin D level for dogs?

A toxic vitamin D level can be as low as 0.1mg/kg, and a lethal dose can be as low as 2mg/kg in adult dogs.

How often should an adult dog eat?

Most pet owners prefer feeding adult dogs twice a day. Giving two meals a day makes it easier for the dog to digest the food and helps control hunger.

What healthy treats can I give my dog?

Vegetables make excellent treats for dogs. They are healthy and highly digestible. You can also find treats for your dog in pet food stores.

What are the best vitamin supplements for dogs?

Most dogs don’t need vitamin supplements, and you may want to consult your vet for recommendations. If your vet prescribes vitamin supplements, you can choose Buddy & Lola Multivitamins for Dogs. These chicken-liver vitamin supplements taste great and contain a perfect balance of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients.

Should dogs eat regular multivitamins?

You should never give over-the-counter multivitamins to your dogs. Always follow your vet’s dietary recommendations and avoid giving regular vitamins to your dog.

Are there any safe human vitamins for dogs?

Water-soluble vitamins like vitamin C and folic acid are the safest for dogs.

How much protein and fat does my adult dog need?

An adult dog needs at least 12% of its daily calories from protein and 5.5% from fats.

Can I add supplements to homemade dog food?

Yes. You can add supplements to homemade dog food including multivitamins, protein supplements, calcium supplements, and omega fatty acids.

Best Dog Food with Vitamins and Minerals

Instinct by Nature’s Variety — Raw Boost Grain-Free Recipe with Real Chicken Dry Dog Food

 

This grain-free, raw recipe by Instinct contains real chicken and other amazing ingredients. It provides your dog with essential vitamins and minerals for strong immune health.

The delicious recipe is ideal for growth and maintenance at all life stages. If you want to enhance your dog’s wellbeing, this recipe is the way to go. It unlocks your dog’s potential to thrive and stay healthy.

Primal — Chicken Formula Nuggets Grain-Free Raw Freeze-Dried Dog Food

The Primal freeze-dried recipe contains high-quality fresh chicken for optimal levels of essential fatty acids, amino acids, and calcium. The raw formula mimics your dog’s ancestral diet for health and vitality. It relies on organic products to extract vitamins and minerals for your dog. This special diet has no grains, soy, wheat, and corn. It’s one of the best dog foods for your furry friend!

Purina—Pro Plan Focus Adult Sensitive Skin & Stomach Salmon & Rice Formula

This recipe is ideal for sensitive dogs and contains essential vitamins and minerals for a healthy immune system. It also has a high amount of zinc for healthy skin and is one of the best options for zinc-deficient pets suffering from any skin conditions.

The formula contains salmon as the primary meat source. It helps your dog develop lean muscles and enhances cognitive function. Finally, this formula is free from harmful fillers and additives.

Zignature—Kangaroo Limited Ingredient Formula Grain-Free Dry Dog Food

 

This formula contains twice as much vitamin B12 as other dog foods. It features novel protein from real kangaroo and is a great option for dogs. Other wholesome ingredients include chickpeas, flaxseed, dehydrated alfalfa meal, and sunflower oil. These ingredients are healthy sources of antioxidants and omega fatty acids.

It is a grain-free formula that contains essential vitamins and minerals. You get plenty of zinc and balanced nutrition for your little pooch. You don’t need to buy nutritional supplements for your dog because this formula has it all.

Blue Buffalo—Wilderness Rocky Mountain Recipe with Bison Grain-Free

 

Blue Buffalo Wilderness  Rocky Mountain Recipe is loaded with vitamins and minerals. It contains deboned bison, which is a rich and novel source of high-quality protein and zinc.

This nutritious, grain-free recipe is easy on the stomach. It contains patented LifeSource Bits for added vitality. Plus, it has a healthy blend of antioxidants and essential fatty acids to support whole-body health. The high level of nutrients in this recipe can help your dog thrive. It’s an excellent choice for dogs with vitamin and mineral deficiencies.

Nutro—Ultra Senior Dry Dog Food

 

Many dogs develop vitamin deficiency in their senior years, so it’s a good idea to choose nutrient-rich senior dog food, especially for large breed seniors. This recipe contains three lean protein sources, including free-range chicken, salmon, and pasture-fed lamb. All three protein sources are rich in vitamins and minerals.

This recipe contains high-quality natural ingredients to ensure optimal amino acid levels. It has tasty fruits, vegetables, and healthy oils for your dog. Overall, it is a perfect recipe for large and giant breed seniors.

Wellness CORE Grain-Free Original Deboned Turkey, Turkey Meal & Chicken Meal Recipe Dry Dog Food

Wellness Core Grain-Free recipe is one of the most popular dog foods out there. It provides quality nourishment for your dog’s muscular development and immune health.

The recipe features deboned turkey as the primary protein source. It has a significantly higher vitamin content sourced from salmon and flaxseed oils to meet your dog’s needs. It also contains supplements like glucosamine and chondroitin for bone and joint health.

Taste of the Wild — High Prairie Grain-Free Dry Dog Food

 

Taste of the Wild provides complete and balanced nutrition. The High Prairie formula is rich in animal proteins and fatty acids and features a good balance of vitamins and minerals. It’s a great source of vitamin D and calcium for strong bones and teeth.

This grain-free recipe contains peas and sweet potatoes that provide highly digestible energy. It also offers natural antioxidant support from real fruits and vegetables. Finally, it has dried chicory root for better absorption of nutrients.

Hill’s Science Diet Puppy Large Breed Chicken Meal & Oat Recipe Dry Dog Food

 

This Hill’s Science Puppy Dog food has high levels of vitamins and minerals for your dog’s nutritional needs. It contains proteins like chicken meal to provide all the necessary nutrition for muscle and bone growth.

The recipe also contains fatty acids and antioxidants important for the brain, eye, and immune health. Plus, the glucosamine and chondroitin supplements ensure proper joint and bone health for growing puppies.

VICTOR Senior Healthy Weight Dry Dog Food

 

This dry dog food is a great choice if you have a senior dog. It has a variety of minerals and vitamins for balanced nutrition.

The recipe contains beef and chicken meal and offers essential amino acids for muscle growth. It’s a nutrient-rich recipe with glucosamine for joint health. Your dog will get all the nutrition it needs for a happy, healthy life.

Buyer’s Guide – How to Choose Dog Food

Read Dog Food Labels

The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) regulates dog nutrition. Their standards are reflected on commercial dog food labels. This information will give pet owners an idea of the food’s quality and content.

Look for dog food companies that exceed AAFCO guidelines and use quality ingredients. Choose foods with meat-based items listed as the primary ingredients. Avoid foods that have chemical preservatives and high amounts of fillers like corn, wheat, and soy.

Important Features to Consider

Protein

Dogs are obligate carnivores and need protein for good health. Choose high-quality meat sources for your dog and give them a variety of proteins for balanced nutrition. If your dog has high energy levels, you need to provide additional protein for muscle development and maintenance.

We recommend bison, beef, chicken, and fish as quality protein sources for dogs. Additionally, you can also offer them ground-up meat meals.

Beware: You should avoid by-products because they contain additives and fillers. Always pick dog food with ingredients that you can understand.

Carbohydrates

  • Carbohydrates stimulate metabolism and provide your dog with energy for daily activities. Some pet owners stray away from healthy carbs, but they’re essential to a dog’s diet. Choose quality carbs derived from limited ingredients in whole foods. The best dog food will include sweet potatoes, peas, oatmeal, barley, brown rice, and more.
  • Dogs need adequate carbohydrates in their diet, but this macro-nutrient should be given moderately. Ensure that you keep dogs away from simple carbohydrates such as corn and soy. These carbs burn out faster and weaken your dog’s digestive system.

Fats

  • Dogs require healthy fats in their staple food. These fats provide usable energy and help your dog absorb vitamins. Plus, they help keep your dog’s coat shiny and healthy. Look for high-quality fats such as fish oils, fish oils, canola oil, olive oil, chicken fat, Omega-3, and Omega-6.
  • DHA (or omega-3 fatty acids) helps dogs if they have vision problems and improve their brain health. To help dogs retain their cognitive function as they get older, you can include other oil types, including coconut or flaxseed oil. These oils have medium-chain essential fatty acids.

Fiber

Dogs need fiber to support digestive health and prevent gastrointestinal problems. Look for fiber sources like brown rice in dog food.

What Are Vitamins?

Vitamins are organic compounds that are important to sustain life. Dogs need vitamins for growth and maintenance.

You may be familiar with most of the vitamins animal bodies need:

  • Vitamin A
  • B vitamins (biotin, folate, niacin, pantothenic acid, riboflavin, thiamine, vitamin B-6, and vitamin B-12)
  • Vitamin C
  • Vitamin D
  • Vitamin E
  • Vitamin K
  • Choline

Vitamin A for Dogs

Vitamin A is responsible for good vision health. This fat-soluble vitamin is also responsible for immune function, cell function, growth, and fetal development. There are eye care diets for dogs that include Vitamin A.

Vitamins B for Dogs

  • Vitamins B are a group of essential vitamins that play a massive role in your dog’s health.
  • Thiamine and Pantothenic acid helps regulate carbohydrate metabolism for energy and activates ion channels in neural tissue. Riboflavin, B12, and niacin facilitate enzyme function.
  • Vitamin B6 is also vital. This vitamin is responsible for hormone regulation, red blood cell and nervous system function, glucose generation, immune response, niacin synthesis, and gene activation.
  • Finally, folic acid facilitates amino acid metabolism and protein synthesis.

 

Vitamin E for Dogs

Vitamin E helps protect your dog against oxidative damage. This fat-soluble vitamin is essential for cell function and fat metabolism. Deficiencies can lead to muscle degeneration and reproductive problems.

Vitamin D for Dogs

Vitamin D allows your dog’s body to balance minerals like calcium and phosphorous for healthy bone growth.

Vitamin C for Dogs

Vitamin C is a great antioxidant. It scavenges harmful free radicals in the body and reduces inflammation and cognitive aging.

Choline for Dogs

Choline is a component of the phospholipid cell membrane. It supports healthy liver and brain function and can also help pets with epilepsy.

What Are the Risks Associated with Dog Vitamins and Minerals?

Vitamins and minerals are vital to life. But they can be potentially dangerous in large quantities.

Here are some examples:

  • Excessive calcium can cause skeletal problems in large breed puppies.
  • Excessive vitamin A can cause dehydration, joint pain and can harm your dog’s blood vessels.

You can avoid these risks by discussing a nutritional plan with your veterinarian.

Does My Dog Need Vitamin and Mineral Supplements?

  • Your dog gets his vitamins and minerals from dog food. Commercial products labeled “complete and balanced” contain all of the vitamins, minerals, and nutrients your dog needs.
  • Foods for different life stages, like puppy food, adult dog food, and senior dog food, contain vitamins specific to the needs of that life stage.
  • Dogs fed an appropriate commercial diet don’t require vitamin and mineral supplements. On the other hand, dogs fed a homemade diet may need supplements to ensure that they get enough vitamins and minerals with their meals.

How to Choose a Dog Vitamin Supplement?

  • The best way to choose dog vitamins is to talk to your veterinarian about your dog’s nutritional needs.
  • If your dog needs vitamins to complement a homemade diet or because of a deficiency, then you want to make sure that your dog gets the right vitamins.
  • Talk to your veterinarian about the vitamin dosage for your dog. Human vitamins have different concentrations of vitamins and may contain additives that are harmful to dogs, so you should stick with prescription vitamin supplements for your dog’s health.
  • Your vet may also recommend supplementing your dog’s diet with specific fruits and vegetables. Sometimes the best dog food with vitamins and minerals is all your dog needs. Vitamins are the building blocks of dog health, and feeding quality dog food is the best way to ensure your dog is getting the right vitamins. But if you have any questions about vitamin supplements, you can consult your veterinarian.

What are Minerals?

Your dog’s nutritional needs are important, and minerals help maintain full-body health.

Here are some benefits of minerals:

  • Zinc: This mineral boosts the immune system and the quality of your dog’s coat.
  • Selenium: An antioxidant that prevents oxidative damage, premature aging, cancer, and inflammatory diseases.
  • Iron: This is important for bodily function and helps provide oxygen to muscles and organs.
  • Manganese: This mineral is important for bone growth and thyroid hormone production. It enhances the quality of bone and cartilage and supports the mitochondria function.
  • Copper: This helps absorb iron, which participates in the melanin synthesis and helps prevent anemia.

Mineral Deficiencies in Dogs

Here’s what mineral deficiencies can do to dogs:

Selenium deficiency
  • Low immunity
  • Muscle cramping
  • Low-stress tolerance
Copper deficiency
  • Bone and joint disease
  • Poor coat color
  • Ligament and tendon issues
Manganese deficiency
  • Reproductive issues
  • Skin and hair abnormalities
  • Bone and joint development issues
Zinc deficiency
  • Fertility issues
  • Bone and joint problems
  • Decreased healing of wounds
Iron deficiency
  • Poor growth
  • Anemia
Edward Hollon
https://petdii.com
Edward Hollon is an avid dog lover and writer, knowing all there is to know about our furry friends. Edward has been writing for petdii for three years now, wanting to use her knowledge for good and share everything she can with new dog owners. Edward has two dogs herself - a German shepherd called Banjo and a chocolate labrador called Buttons. Edward knows more than anyone how adjusting to new life with a puppy can turn your life upside down, and she wants to ease some of the burdens through her articles.

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