Vitamin D for Pets
Vitamin D had long been known to be beneficial for humans. We enrich our milk with it, and put it in out multi vitamins, but in the end, most of our vitamin D comes from the sun rays. When the sun shines on our skin, a chemical reaction occurs creating the vitamin in our skin.
All the same, by domesticating animals we have increased their life span often two fold. Many conditions that may only rarely exist in wild animals often come to the surface in a domestic animal’s later years. Some of these conditions involve the coat and skin of an animal and may also affect the animal’s ability to secrete the vitamin D oil.
Let’s pause for a moment and take a look at what Vitamin D is and what it does for the body of a human or an animal.
Vitamin D is what is known as a fat-soluble vitamin, meaning that it often occurs and is metabolized with fatty foods like meat or eggs. After entering the body (or being produced with sun exposure) it makes its way to the liver where it is turned into a more bio-active form.
Recent research has indicated that Vitamin D (specifically in its D3 form) offers far broader benefits for wellness. While this research has primarily been done on humans, laboratory test involving animals have shown the same results and it is biologically reasonable that vitamin D could be equally beneficial for many animals. Some of the more impressive studies have shown that the vitamin boosts immune system responses by enhancing the activity of cells already in the body. Other studies have shown that vitamin D is essential for regulating the natural life cycle of cells, which has important implications for cancer treatment. By regulating cells, out-of-control cancer cells are forced back into their natural cycles leading to the death of cancer cells.
The important thing to consider is that it is possible to overdose on vitamin D. Your pet’s weight, size, breed, and age may all play a roll in determining the amount of vitamin D your pet requires. The only way to know is to speak with your veterinarian if you are concerned that your pet may have a vitamin D deficiency.
All the same, by domesticating animals we have increased their life span often two fold. Many conditions that may only rarely exist in wild animals often come to the surface in a domestic animal’s later years. Some of these conditions involve the coat and skin of an animal and may also affect the animal’s ability to secrete the vitamin D oil.
Let’s pause for a moment and take a look at what Vitamin D is and what it does for the body of a human or an animal.
Vitamin D is what is known as a fat-soluble vitamin, meaning that it often occurs and is metabolized with fatty foods like meat or eggs. After entering the body (or being produced with sun exposure) it makes its way to the liver where it is turned into a more bio-active form.
Recent research has indicated that Vitamin D (specifically in its D3 form) offers far broader benefits for wellness. While this research has primarily been done on humans, laboratory test involving animals have shown the same results and it is biologically reasonable that vitamin D could be equally beneficial for many animals. Some of the more impressive studies have shown that the vitamin boosts immune system responses by enhancing the activity of cells already in the body. Other studies have shown that vitamin D is essential for regulating the natural life cycle of cells, which has important implications for cancer treatment. By regulating cells, out-of-control cancer cells are forced back into their natural cycles leading to the death of cancer cells.
The important thing to consider is that it is possible to overdose on vitamin D. Your pet’s weight, size, breed, and age may all play a roll in determining the amount of vitamin D your pet requires. The only way to know is to speak with your veterinarian if you are concerned that your pet may have a vitamin D deficiency.
Maggie May
I. A Beagle’s Happy Days as found on vitamindwiki.
We have had three dogs during our thirty plus years of marriage. Our second dog was a beagle named Maggie (Maggie May or Sister Mary Margaret or Flange). She was a wonderful spirit, and was hard headed as most beagles. She loved to howl at almost anything and took great pride in scaring off the mailman and all delivery trucks. At the age of four, she had a ruptured disc. During the early nineties, this was considered a death penalty for a dog. We took her to the veterinary school at NC State University. There she had one of the first back surgeries for dogs ever. Of course now it is common practice to do surgery on dogs with a ruptured disc.
She did very well after the surgery and made a great companion for our daughters. However, when she reached the age of ten, she started to have a lot of pain and did not display any joy in life. Our vet suggested that we should put her down. I had just discovered the benefits of vitamin D at the time and so we started to supplement with vitamin D3.
We have had three dogs during our thirty plus years of marriage. Our second dog was a beagle named Maggie (Maggie May or Sister Mary Margaret or Flange). She was a wonderful spirit, and was hard headed as most beagles. She loved to howl at almost anything and took great pride in scaring off the mailman and all delivery trucks. At the age of four, she had a ruptured disc. During the early nineties, this was considered a death penalty for a dog. We took her to the veterinary school at NC State University. There she had one of the first back surgeries for dogs ever. Of course now it is common practice to do surgery on dogs with a ruptured disc.
She did very well after the surgery and made a great companion for our daughters. However, when she reached the age of ten, she started to have a lot of pain and did not display any joy in life. Our vet suggested that we should put her down. I had just discovered the benefits of vitamin D at the time and so we started to supplement with vitamin D3.
Sophie May
We also had gotten a mixed breed dog that we named Sophie (Sophie May, Sophia Maria, black and spotty pretty princess puppy, or Peggy Sue). It was a rebirth for Maggie as she played like she was a puppy again. She lived with great joy for another five good years after we started the supplementation.
Her heart failed suddenly as she was flying across the yard to see my wife that just returned home. It was like one of the chambers of the heart just stopped functioning. We had to put her down, but she did enjoy five years because of the vitamins. Old age comes to everyone and eventually death, regardless of how healthy we live. Dogs, just like their human companions have learned to live inside without sunshine. This is a problem as we do not get enough vitamin D. We either have to supplement or determine a course of action that will allow us to get enough UVB rays. So how much vitamin D is enough for dogs. We treated Maggie just like she had a human physiology and gave her between 20 to 40 IU per pound of body weight per day (at twenty pounds this was 400 to 800 IU per day). She thrived at this level of supplementation.
Her heart failed suddenly as she was flying across the yard to see my wife that just returned home. It was like one of the chambers of the heart just stopped functioning. We had to put her down, but she did enjoy five years because of the vitamins. Old age comes to everyone and eventually death, regardless of how healthy we live. Dogs, just like their human companions have learned to live inside without sunshine. This is a problem as we do not get enough vitamin D. We either have to supplement or determine a course of action that will allow us to get enough UVB rays. So how much vitamin D is enough for dogs. We treated Maggie just like she had a human physiology and gave her between 20 to 40 IU per pound of body weight per day (at twenty pounds this was 400 to 800 IU per day). She thrived at this level of supplementation.
Beau Powrie
II. The following is a story of an old dog benefiting from 4000 IU of vitamin D Beau’s Story
This is a report on how we have managed Beau’s asthma attacks since 2008. Beau is a Border Collie Cross, 17 years old, weighing in at 20kg.
He is living in Iligan City, Philippines where I was a service volunteer for 8 years. Unfortunately he can never leave there, government regulations.
In 2008, I Robert Powrie, Beaus owner was helping the local university reduce their power consumption. We were also improving air quality using Ionizers. These were normally fitted to out-flowing air on A/C, however we fitted units to fans in our house to clean our air up.
The first thing we noticed was Beau, who was showing signs of respiratory difficulty, was always near the fan that had an ioniser fitted. Any problems he had were non-existent when it was on, the ioniser certainly helped his breathing. However as time progressed his breathing progressively got worse with the ioniser being of a minor help.
When I came back to the Philippines in April 2011, his condition was much worse. I had bought whilst in NZ, a supplement to assist his breathing. It was no help, but I had used Vitamin D to help local asthmatics. The city vet had diagnosed Beaus condition as asthma & suggested I get him an inhaler, but seeing you have to hold your breath to make an inhaler work properly, I considered that was impossible to administer one effectively. Plus he still had big teeth & I am always wary of any dogs bite, different things can set them off. I had with me some VitD3 that I was personally using & sharing with others nearby. I decided to try the VitD.
Initially the tablets didn’t work, mainly thru the capsules not dissolving in his stomach. I then released the powder into his bowl, mixing a little milk so he could drink it. I found that too actually work, 4000 iu had to be administered. Any less and the attack did not stop. 4000 iu provided him with nearly 24 hours protection. The attacks normally came at about 8pm, when temperatures had dropped about 5-6 deg C. Sometimes the attack came after midnight when I was asleep & Beau would wake me seeking help. Every time 4000iu improved his breathing.
Without the Vitamin D assistance I’m sure he would be dead. The attacks stop almost as soon as he has finished drinking the mix, it is truly amazing.
We have continued a Vitamin D supplement of 4000iu per day. I approached a New York company & they made me a water soluble VitD3 mix to my specs which he is given daily, sprayed onto his food. We monitor him closely, he truly is a family friend.
Other things had happened to him. He was becoming very lazy, getting him outside to the toilet was very difficult, he slept nearly all the time. His hearing & sense of smell was non-existent. He was already blind from cataracts & his coat looked like a worn out rug. It was time, we thought to put him down.
But things slowly changed with the Vit D treatment used for his asthma. His coat started to look good again, he can hear again & his sense of smell is back.
We know about his ability to sniff things out, he knows where cats are. He has regained his energy, he’s first to the kitchen when food is about. He wants my nephews to take him for walks, it’s like he’s a new dog. His coat is all lush now, no-one believes he is over 18 years old, 19 in August (2012).
He died in March 2013 aged 19.5years. He’s sadly missed but the supplements meant he lived at least 5 years more.
This is a report on how we have managed Beau’s asthma attacks since 2008. Beau is a Border Collie Cross, 17 years old, weighing in at 20kg.
He is living in Iligan City, Philippines where I was a service volunteer for 8 years. Unfortunately he can never leave there, government regulations.
In 2008, I Robert Powrie, Beaus owner was helping the local university reduce their power consumption. We were also improving air quality using Ionizers. These were normally fitted to out-flowing air on A/C, however we fitted units to fans in our house to clean our air up.
The first thing we noticed was Beau, who was showing signs of respiratory difficulty, was always near the fan that had an ioniser fitted. Any problems he had were non-existent when it was on, the ioniser certainly helped his breathing. However as time progressed his breathing progressively got worse with the ioniser being of a minor help.
When I came back to the Philippines in April 2011, his condition was much worse. I had bought whilst in NZ, a supplement to assist his breathing. It was no help, but I had used Vitamin D to help local asthmatics. The city vet had diagnosed Beaus condition as asthma & suggested I get him an inhaler, but seeing you have to hold your breath to make an inhaler work properly, I considered that was impossible to administer one effectively. Plus he still had big teeth & I am always wary of any dogs bite, different things can set them off. I had with me some VitD3 that I was personally using & sharing with others nearby. I decided to try the VitD.
Initially the tablets didn’t work, mainly thru the capsules not dissolving in his stomach. I then released the powder into his bowl, mixing a little milk so he could drink it. I found that too actually work, 4000 iu had to be administered. Any less and the attack did not stop. 4000 iu provided him with nearly 24 hours protection. The attacks normally came at about 8pm, when temperatures had dropped about 5-6 deg C. Sometimes the attack came after midnight when I was asleep & Beau would wake me seeking help. Every time 4000iu improved his breathing.
Without the Vitamin D assistance I’m sure he would be dead. The attacks stop almost as soon as he has finished drinking the mix, it is truly amazing.
We have continued a Vitamin D supplement of 4000iu per day. I approached a New York company & they made me a water soluble VitD3 mix to my specs which he is given daily, sprayed onto his food. We monitor him closely, he truly is a family friend.
Other things had happened to him. He was becoming very lazy, getting him outside to the toilet was very difficult, he slept nearly all the time. His hearing & sense of smell was non-existent. He was already blind from cataracts & his coat looked like a worn out rug. It was time, we thought to put him down.
But things slowly changed with the Vit D treatment used for his asthma. His coat started to look good again, he can hear again & his sense of smell is back.
We know about his ability to sniff things out, he knows where cats are. He has regained his energy, he’s first to the kitchen when food is about. He wants my nephews to take him for walks, it’s like he’s a new dog. His coat is all lush now, no-one believes he is over 18 years old, 19 in August (2012).
He died in March 2013 aged 19.5years. He’s sadly missed but the supplements meant he lived at least 5 years more.
Vitamin D3 Magic
The study of Vitamin D3 is huge industry, concentrating on humans & other animals are mostly neglected. The good news is our pets metabolisms are so similar to ours & it appears the many benefits below will ultimately be proven to be applicable to all animals.
Give your pet the benefits of a rapid, effective response and recovery that Vitamin D3 ingredients in the PetLIFE Intraoral Spray provides:
Why a Sublingual (Intraoral) Spray? It is scientifically proven that the most effective way to take supplements, is by intraoral delivery (under the tongue). It's not how much you take but how much your body tissues absorb that is important. Intraoral spray is rated at a 95% absorption rate. The other benefit is having your pet take it when sprayed onto their food or into their drinks.
Give your pet the benefits of a rapid, effective response and recovery that Vitamin D3 ingredients in the PetLIFE Intraoral Spray provides:
- increased activation of anti-aging and longevity benefits.
- Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)
- super antioxidant abilities to boost and strengthen the immune system (without a strong, healthy immune system all life can easily be attacked by environmental toxins).
- increased metabolism and increased endurance.
- helps maintain healthy weight and the building of new lean muscle tissue.
- provides a much needed, deeper, rejuvenated night's sleep (extremely important as a good night's sleep offers many health benefits).
- supports joint, mobility and cardiovascular functions and a healthy heart.
- heals and repairs the body, providing rapid recovery after exercise or operations
- Rejuvenation of skin & hair.
- Autoimmune Diseases
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Heart Disease
- Cancers
- Much more energy.
- Diabetes
Why a Sublingual (Intraoral) Spray? It is scientifically proven that the most effective way to take supplements, is by intraoral delivery (under the tongue). It's not how much you take but how much your body tissues absorb that is important. Intraoral spray is rated at a 95% absorption rate. The other benefit is having your pet take it when sprayed onto their food or into their drinks.
PetLIFE 400 D3 Spray:
I like to think of PetLIFE 400, as a form of "supplemental health insurance" for pets, providing whatever extra nutrients your dog or cat needs to maintain optimum health.
Pet Food is the only industry that is allowed to lie to consumers. Current regulations allow 'direct unqualified claims' on pet food labels and pet food advertising. What are the symptoms would be for dogs and cats suffering from Vitamin D deficiency…
“Most common signs of vitamin D deficiency are lameness and poor mineralization of bone, especially in pups and kits. Signs of the classical disease, rickets, are most obvious in fast-growing, thus larger breed dogs. Affected animals will be lethargic, lose muscle mass (probably due to lethargy and presumably pain) and run slower than other dogs. While the taste may appeal to your dog the vitamin content is negligible.
Therefore, the average vitamin or mineral supplement for dog's contain large quantities of nutritional yeast and powdered liver to improve their flavor and small if not negligible quantities of vitamins and minerals. It is also a fact that pet vitamins usually come from poor quality sources. If a few inexpensive components are placed in a flavored mix, your pet is getting flavor and not a complete formula. Vitamins and minerals provide the body with the correct tools to stay healthy investigate. The allegations are concerning Chinese Vitamin D supplements in animal foods.
Vitamin D bio-availability; resulting problems have been a large number of reports of Vitamin D deficiency problems in animals fed supplements with the Chinese Vitamin D.
Lesson #1 to learn about Pet Food...
Do not purchase a dog food or cat food based on 'claims' stated on the label or in any advertising.
Remember, they are allowed to make direct unqualified claims! (lies).
Pet Food is the only industry that is allowed to lie to consumers. Current regulations allow 'direct unqualified claims' on pet food labels and pet food advertising. What are the symptoms would be for dogs and cats suffering from Vitamin D deficiency…
“Most common signs of vitamin D deficiency are lameness and poor mineralization of bone, especially in pups and kits. Signs of the classical disease, rickets, are most obvious in fast-growing, thus larger breed dogs. Affected animals will be lethargic, lose muscle mass (probably due to lethargy and presumably pain) and run slower than other dogs. While the taste may appeal to your dog the vitamin content is negligible.
Therefore, the average vitamin or mineral supplement for dog's contain large quantities of nutritional yeast and powdered liver to improve their flavor and small if not negligible quantities of vitamins and minerals. It is also a fact that pet vitamins usually come from poor quality sources. If a few inexpensive components are placed in a flavored mix, your pet is getting flavor and not a complete formula. Vitamins and minerals provide the body with the correct tools to stay healthy investigate. The allegations are concerning Chinese Vitamin D supplements in animal foods.
Vitamin D bio-availability; resulting problems have been a large number of reports of Vitamin D deficiency problems in animals fed supplements with the Chinese Vitamin D.
Lesson #1 to learn about Pet Food...
Do not purchase a dog food or cat food based on 'claims' stated on the label or in any advertising.
Remember, they are allowed to make direct unqualified claims! (lies).
SUNLIGHT, CANCER and VITAMIN D
Cancer rates are spiralling out of control in dogs. Bone and joint deformities plague breeders. Every time you turn around there's a new genetic disease in dogs. It is not because veterinary research is discovering new diseases - it is because our dogs are getting sicker!
All mammals require sunlight. We must turn to nature to protect our health, starting with the sun. Avoidance of sunlight to prevent cancer is a serious misconception which, like low-fat diets that encourage people to eat chemical-laden fake food, has seriously bad effects on reproduction, growth, and the immune system. We adversely affect our dog's health and reproductive ability by keeping them indoors, in fact, "house dogs" - our closest friends, are the most affected by sunlight deprivation. Lack of sunlight prevents absorption of vitamin D but it doesn't stop there. Cancer is on the rise in dogs as well as humans. What we now know is that vitamin D may also help prevent a variety of cancers! Could that explain the higher cancer rate among pampered pets and show dogs? Could it be that they spend more time indoors than the street mutt or hunting dog? Even so, sunlight's beneficial biological effect seems to have been lost to modern medicine and those who keep animals. The SUN is healthy.
We have pioneered a mix of spray Vitamins D & E & MgT.
Why: In 2009 I was a service volunteer in the Philippines & many children needed Vitamin D to stabilise asthma attacks. Then my dog, Beau (below) caught asthma & the same therapy was used with him. It was an exact formula to stop his attacks & it worked every time. Vitamin E & Mg are also a forgotten miracles so we them added for pets. The benefits are outlined in the adjacent column.
Knowing the ratios to prevent attacks in children & my dog, & in consultation with experts we formulated PetLIFE spray that will improve you dogs health so much, Vets bills will be a reduced 70% or more & so far life expectancy will increase by 30%. Beau, my Border Collie just ticked over 19y/o, & he’s still healthy if not a little slow. You wont know your dog after a month using PetLIFE. And the bonus of keeping him alive much longer makes it seem all worth while.
How much: It is a ratio of the dogs weight, their age & activity levels. One thing we are sure of, unless he lies in the sun & is outside a lot he will be vitamin D deficient. A quick spray of the required volume onto his food or into his bowl is all it takes. Our website will soon give you access to the PetLIFE calculator & you’re all set up. He died at nearly 20y/o. We miss him terribly.
All mammals require sunlight. We must turn to nature to protect our health, starting with the sun. Avoidance of sunlight to prevent cancer is a serious misconception which, like low-fat diets that encourage people to eat chemical-laden fake food, has seriously bad effects on reproduction, growth, and the immune system. We adversely affect our dog's health and reproductive ability by keeping them indoors, in fact, "house dogs" - our closest friends, are the most affected by sunlight deprivation. Lack of sunlight prevents absorption of vitamin D but it doesn't stop there. Cancer is on the rise in dogs as well as humans. What we now know is that vitamin D may also help prevent a variety of cancers! Could that explain the higher cancer rate among pampered pets and show dogs? Could it be that they spend more time indoors than the street mutt or hunting dog? Even so, sunlight's beneficial biological effect seems to have been lost to modern medicine and those who keep animals. The SUN is healthy.
We have pioneered a mix of spray Vitamins D & E & MgT.
Why: In 2009 I was a service volunteer in the Philippines & many children needed Vitamin D to stabilise asthma attacks. Then my dog, Beau (below) caught asthma & the same therapy was used with him. It was an exact formula to stop his attacks & it worked every time. Vitamin E & Mg are also a forgotten miracles so we them added for pets. The benefits are outlined in the adjacent column.
Knowing the ratios to prevent attacks in children & my dog, & in consultation with experts we formulated PetLIFE spray that will improve you dogs health so much, Vets bills will be a reduced 70% or more & so far life expectancy will increase by 30%. Beau, my Border Collie just ticked over 19y/o, & he’s still healthy if not a little slow. You wont know your dog after a month using PetLIFE. And the bonus of keeping him alive much longer makes it seem all worth while.
How much: It is a ratio of the dogs weight, their age & activity levels. One thing we are sure of, unless he lies in the sun & is outside a lot he will be vitamin D deficient. A quick spray of the required volume onto his food or into his bowl is all it takes. Our website will soon give you access to the PetLIFE calculator & you’re all set up. He died at nearly 20y/o. We miss him terribly.
Vitamin E for Dogs
Provides Powerful Antioxidant Benefits
Many different vitamins, minerals and other nutrients are essential for your dog's overall health, but vitamin E for dogs is one of the most important of all.
For one thing, vitamin E is an absolutely indispensable antioxidant. In fact, it's one of the most powerful antioxidants nature has to offer.
Benefits Of This Supplement Can…
Magnesium Deficiency in Dogs
As a co-factor of VitD, magnesium is the best way to maximise vitamin D supplementation.
A deficiency in magnesium (also known as hypomagnesemia) is a serious health concern. As magnesium deficiencies worsen, numbness, tingling, muscle contractions and cramps, seizures, personality changes, abnormal heart rhythms, and coronary spasms can occur. Hip & joint problems together with kidney stones occur from lack of magnesium keeping the calcium liquid.
Impact of Cooking, Storage and Processing
The impact of cooking and processing of food on magnesium levels can vary greatly from food to food, since magnesium is found in different forms in different types of food. In some foods, where a greater % of magnesium is found in water-soluble form, blanching (boiling or steaming for 1-4 minutes), steaming, or boiling of these foods can result in a substantial loss of magnesium. MgT as used in PetLIFE is easily absorbed & is the only magnesium to cross the blood brain barrier to preserve brain functions. Keeping your dog sane….
For one thing, vitamin E is an absolutely indispensable antioxidant. In fact, it's one of the most powerful antioxidants nature has to offer.
Benefits Of This Supplement Can…
- Reduce the number of free radicals that are formed in your dog's body, which in turn helps prevent the damage that can be caused by those free radicals
- Delay the onset of signs of aging, and slow the aging process
- Invigorate your dog's immune system and provide important support to keep it healthy and strong
- Improve cardiac health and promote a strong cardiovascular system by improving the circulation
- Support cellular health by maintaining the integrity of cell membranes
- Support respiratory health
- Promote a healthy nervous system
- Promote a healthy coat
- Prevent or delay the formation of cataracts
- Regulate digestion
- Reduce the redness and itchiness caused by certain allergies through anti-inflammatory properties
- This supplement is a fat-soluble antioxidant that's incredibly healthy for your dog.
Magnesium Deficiency in Dogs
As a co-factor of VitD, magnesium is the best way to maximise vitamin D supplementation.
A deficiency in magnesium (also known as hypomagnesemia) is a serious health concern. As magnesium deficiencies worsen, numbness, tingling, muscle contractions and cramps, seizures, personality changes, abnormal heart rhythms, and coronary spasms can occur. Hip & joint problems together with kidney stones occur from lack of magnesium keeping the calcium liquid.
Impact of Cooking, Storage and Processing
The impact of cooking and processing of food on magnesium levels can vary greatly from food to food, since magnesium is found in different forms in different types of food. In some foods, where a greater % of magnesium is found in water-soluble form, blanching (boiling or steaming for 1-4 minutes), steaming, or boiling of these foods can result in a substantial loss of magnesium. MgT as used in PetLIFE is easily absorbed & is the only magnesium to cross the blood brain barrier to preserve brain functions. Keeping your dog sane….