Do dogs need vitamin C? The answer may surprise you

It’s only natural for dog owners to be concerned about whether their dogs are getting enough nutrients, including vitamin C. And there are many vitamin C supplements for dogs on the market. But unlike humans, dogs don’t need a daily dose of vitamin C to stay healthy. Why? They make it themselves!

We talked to Allyson Jacobi, DVMveterinarian at the Merle Hay Animal Medical Clinic in Des Moines, IA, on the latest research on vitamin C for dogs and whether dogs need vitamin C supplementation.

How Dogs Make Vitamin C

Humans (and guinea pigs) need a daily dose of vitamin C to stay in top shape and prevent scurvy, but vitamin C is not a necessary part of any dog’s diet.

“There is no set daily dose of vitamin C for dogs,” says Jacobi. “That’s because dogs make their own vitamin C.”

No, dogs don’t cook vitamin C on the stove when you’re not home. The dog’s liver synthesizes enough vitamin C that dogs do not need a certain amount from their diet.

Benefits of Vitamin C for Dogs

Although dogs don’t need our help to get their fill of vitamin C, that doesn’t mean the nutrient isn’t beneficial for dogs.

A few benefits of vitamin C for dogs include:

• It helps in the synthesis of collagen, which helps to strengthen and hydrate the skin of a dog
• It acts as an antioxidant, which protects or delays cells from damage

Jacobi notes that there is research that suggests vitamin C helps treat sepsis in dogs, but overall, vitamin C is not widely used as a treatment in veterinary medicine.

Does my dog ​​need a vitamin C supplement?

It’s unlikely that your dog is deficient in vitamin C, which means he probably doesn’t need a vitamin C supplement. In fact, vitamin C deficiency is so little concern to veterinarians that there aren’t even well-documented signs and symptoms of vitamin C deficiency.

“No signs of deficiency have been described in normal cats and dogs,” says Jacobi. “There is no simple test that can be performed to determine vitamin C levels.”

Since vitamin C is synthesized in the liver, an unhealthy liver can affect a dog’s ability to produce the vitamin, but despite liver problemsvitamin C production would be less of a problem, notes Jacobi.

“There are other critical health issues that arise with an unhealthy liver,” says Jacobi.

Risks of Too Much Vitamin C for Dogs

Is There Too Much Vitamin C for Dogs? Vitamin C overdose is “extremely rare,” Jacobi notes, because dogs get rid of excess vitamin C through their urine. But if your dog is prone to urinary problems, extra vitamin C may not help.

“If your pet is prone to crystals or stones in the urine, vitamin C supplementation can cause the pH of the urine to decrease (make it more acidic) and therefore can make your dog more prone to a certain type of crystal or stone!” says Jacobi.

The last word on vitamin C for dogs

Dogs produce vitamin C through their liver, which means you can be sure your dog is getting enough of the vitamin without your help. But that doesn’t mean you can’t share the occasional one a slice of orange with his dog. After all, their puppy dog ​​eyes are too hard to resist!

If you’re ready to give your dog a vitamin C supplement, just check with yours veterinarian first, as you would with any changes to your dog nutrition.