| A brief description of the role and importance of some of the minerals and vitamins is shown below. Calcium:Critically involved in bone growth, development and maintenance.Should be maintained in an appropriate balance to phosphorus.Deficiencies result in bone deformities/skeletal weakness,joint problems, may lead to muscle weakness and conditions such as tying up,and the thumps in heavily dehydrated, exhausted Canine. Phosphorus: A deficiency in phosphorus can result in retarded bone formation, retarded growth, poor appetite, infertility and poor conception and lowered milk production. Sodium:Essential for normal growth. Key electrolyte in all performance animals.
Critically involved in normal nerve and muscle function, and carbohydrate digestion. Magnesium:Important electrolyte in muscle contraction, body fluids and metabolic enzymes.
Potassium:Involved in nerve and muscular function. Deficiencies can result in a reduced appetite, retarded growth, weight loss, and dehydration. Sulfur: Essential for healthy hair, skin and Pads.Involved in oxygenation of the brain to maintain oxygen balance and works closely with B vitamins for many basic metabolic functions.Is part of many essential amino acids. Iodine: Incorporated into the hormone thyroxin in the thyroid gland with regulate the metabolic rate.
Deficiency can reduce metabolic rate and exercise tolerance. Zinc:Essential in bone, cartilage and pad formation.Deficiency can result in reduced appetite, retarded growth, dry thickened skin and hair loss in severe deficiencies. Copper: Required for the development of bone, joint cartilage, elastic connective tissue, uptake and utilization of iron and copper containing metabolic and tissue anti-inflammatory enzymes.
Deficiency can result in anaemia. Manganese: Contributes to carbohydrate and fat metabolism and formation of chondroitin sulfate in cartilage of joints. Cobalt:Integral in synthesis of the Vitamin B12 and is involved in the formation of the oxygen carrying component of red blood cells. A deficiency can result in anaemia. Selenium:Deficiency can result in poor muscle development and pale, weak muscles. Vitamin Role/Importance Vitamin A:Fat soluble natural vitamin essential for growth processes. It is required for visual pigments in eyes, bone remodelling, tendon strength, health of skin and mucus membranes.
(-carotene Retinol)Deficiency results in progressively poor night vision, loss of appetite, poor growth, infertility in Broodbitches (older bitches more affected),reduced tendon strength, and a higher risk of respiratory infections. Vitamin D:Critically concerned with the absorption, regulation, metabolism and excretion of calcium and phosphorus. Deficiency depresses calcium uptake and can lead to abnormal gait, lameness, weak bones and swollen joints.
(Ergocalciferol D2
Cholecalciferol D3) Vitamin E:Essential fat-soluble vitamin and has an antioxidant activity to protect against oxidation of compounds in food, and within fats in membranes of muscles and body tissue.
(α-Tocopherol) Has an antioxidant function and supplementation has been shown to improve track performance in racedogs.
It is recognized as a compound which dilates capillaries and preserves capillary walls. It is also known to increase cardiac efficiency significantly, and reduce lactic acid production. B Group Vitamins: B Group vitamins play a role in the release of energy, and are needed for numerous essential body functions.
Symptoms of deficiencies of B Group vitamins include loss of appetite, abnormal heart beat, muscle tremors, in coordination, stiffness in limbs and lung fluid build-up.
Injections do not elevate blood levels for very long and supplementation is best given in the feed.
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