possible to overdo vitamins?

[rij73]

Hi... My question is whether it is possible to overdo vitamins in feeding your dog. I currently feed Natural Balance Fish and Sweet Potato (I have another thread going on alternatives), but I also add Missing Link and a multivitamin/probiotic/digestive enzyme supplement. Anyone think this is overkill??? Is it possibly dangerous or detrimental? My dog came to me with demodectic mange, so I have been mainly concerned with boosting his immune system.

 

[dogstarsleddogs]

I think you may be overdoing it. I'd say either stop with the Missing Link, or stop the multivitamin. That would be equal to you taking 2 human vitamins, plus eating a very balanced diet. Not good.
Like the saying goes "Too much of a good thing..."

 

[Mordy]

Yes, if you feed a commercial food (kibble or canned), it's easy to go overboard, especially on those fat soluble vitamins of which excesses aren't washed out of the body.

The missing link is a food-based product that does not contain concentrated supplements though, so it's harmless.

I would continue the probiotic, but discontinue the multivitamin and also slowly taper off the digestive enzymes. Normal dogs produce sufficient amounts of those themselves to digest food peroperly.

 

[PaulasPets]

Yes its probably overkill, but I don't think its dangerous at all. Vitamins don't do any harm, if getting too much of them, the body simply will not absorb them.

Paula

 

[Mordy]

Vitamins don't do any harm, if getting too much of them, the body simply will not absorb them.

Paula

Paula, actually that is incorrect. Excesses of many vitamins will lead to toxicity, with consequences that are more serious for some than for others.

On the harmless side you can have diarrhea and severe itching, but overdoses of certain vitamins can lead to things like formation of kidney stones, liver damage, seizures, abnormal bone formation and remodeling, and interference with the absorption of other nutrients, which will lead to symptoms all of its own.