Welche Vitamine braucht ein Hund?

Alle fettlöslichen Vitamine (A, D, E, K) und wasserlösliche B-Vitamine. Vitamin C können Hunde selbst synthetisieren — Supplementierung unnötig. AAFCO-konforme Komplettrationen decken den Bedarf vollständig ab.

Kann ich meinem Hund einfach ein Vitamin-Supplement geben?

Bei AAFCO-konformer Fütterung: in der Regel unnötig. Fettlösliche Vitamine (A, D) können bei Überversorgung toxisch sein. Vitamin-D-Supplementierung ohne Bluttest nicht empfohlen. Bei BARF: tierärztliche Bilanzierung empfohlen.

Woraus bezieht ein Hund am besten seine Vitamine?

Aus ausgewogener AAFCO/FEDIAF-konformer Ernährung. Bei Rohfütterung: vielfältige tierische Rohstoffe, Organe (Leber sparsam), ggf. Mineralvormischung. Sonnenexposition liefert Vitamin D beim Hund kaum — Futter ist die Hauptquelle.

Nutrition & Nutrients

Vitamins for Dogs: Requirements, Sources, and When Supplementation Is Recommended

Vitamins are essential organic micronutrients that dogs need in small quantities and cannot synthesize sufficiently or at all themselves – they must be obtained through their diet. They are involved in thousands of biochemical reactions: metabolism, immune function, bone formation, blood clotting, nerve conduction, and antioxidant defense.

Auf einen Blick

Vitamins are essential organic micronutrients that dogs need in small quantities and cannot synthesize sufficiently or at all themselves – they must be obtained through their diet. They are involved in thousands of biochemical reactions: metabolism, immune function, bone formation, blood clotting, nerve conduction, and antioxidant defense.
Risiko-Hinweis: low-moderate: Consider context and individual differences
Wissenschaftliche Einordnung: The NRC (2006, Nutrient Requirements of Dogs and Cats) defines requirements for all essential vitamins: dogs can synthesize vitamin C themselves (unlike humans) – supplementation is generally not necessary. Vitamin D is barely synthesized by dogs through sunlight (low efficiency due to fur) – it must primarily come from food. Vitamin A: dogs can absorb beta-carotene from plants, but the conversion efficiency is low; direct vitamin A from animal sources (liver) is more important.Fascetti and Delaney (2012, Applied Veterinary Clinical Nutrition) describe clinically relevant vitamin problems: Vitamin D toxicity is a serious problem – overdose (from supplements or rodenticides containing cholecalciferol) leads to hypercalcemia, kidney failure, and can be fatal. Vitamin A toxicity (from excessive liver feeding) leads to bone deformities. Vitamin B12 deficiency: common in pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) due to the lack of intrinsic factor for B12 absorption.Hooper and Buffington (2017, VCNA, PubMed 28162240) describe nutritional problems in pets: Excessive vitamin supplementation in already well-fed dogs is more common than deficiency. Commercial complete diets are typically vitamin-supplemented to AAFCO or FEDIAF standards – additional vitamin supplements are usually unnecessary and risky for fat-soluble vitamins. Exception: BARF diets without bone meal addition or careful balancing.

Vitamins for Dogs: Requirements, Sources, and When Supplementation Is Recommended

What are vitamins for dogs?

Vitamins are essential organic micronutrients that dogs need in small amounts and cannot synthesize on their own—or cannot synthesize in sufficient quantities—so they must be obtained through their diet. They play a role in thousands of biochemical reactions, including metabolism, immune function, bone formation, blood clotting, nerve transmission, and antioxidant defense.

Vitamins are divided into two main groups: fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K)—these are stored in the body and can become toxic if taken in excess. Water-soluble vitamins (B complex, vitamin C)—these are hardly stored at all; if taken in excess, they are usually excreted in the urine, but can also be toxic at extremely high doses.

Background + Scientific Context

The NRC (2006, *Nutrient Requirements of Dogs and Cats*) defines recommended intake levels for all essential vitamins: Dogs can synthesize vitamin C on their own (unlike humans)—supplementation is generally not necessary. Vitamin D is rarely synthesized in dogs via sunlight (low efficiency due to fur)—it must come primarily from the diet. Vitamin A: Dogs can absorb beta-carotene from plants, but the conversion efficiency is low; direct vitamin A from animal sources (liver) is more important.

Fascetti and Delaney (2012, *Applied Veterinary Clinical Nutrition*) describe clinically relevant vitamin-related issues: Vitamin D toxicity is a serious problem—overdose (from dietary supplements or rat poison baits containing cholecalciferol) leads to hypercalcemia, kidney failure, and can be fatal. Vitamin A toxicity (from excessive liver feeding) leads to bone deformities. Vitamin B12 deficiency: common in cases of pancreatic insufficiency (EPI), as the intrinsic factor required for B12 absorption is lacking.

Hooper and Buffington (2017, VCNA, PubMed 28162240) describe nutritional problems in companion animals: Excessive vitamin supplementation in dogs already on a balanced diet is more common than deficiency. Commercial complete diets are generally vitamin-fortified to AAFCO or FEDIAF standards—additional vitamin supplementation is usually unnecessary and, in the case of fat-soluble vitamins, carries risks. Exception: BARF diets without bone meal supplementation or careful nutritional balancing.

Vitomalia-Position

Adding vitamins "just because it can't hurt" is a mistake: With fat-soluble vitamins (A, D), an excess can be harmful. If you feed your dog a complete diet that meets AAFCO standards, you don't need to add any vitamins. If you feed a BARF diet or homemade food, you need to calculate the nutritional balance.

When do vitamins become important?

BARF diets without a complete nutritional analysis (risk of deficiency)
EPI or chronic intestinal diseases (B12 malabsorption)
An unbalanced diet or homemade food
Conditions that increase vitamin requirements (skin conditions → vitamin E)
Supplementation Errors: Vitamin D Toxicity Caused by Dietary Supplements

Practical application

Fat-soluble vitamins — Overview:

Vitamins	Function	Shortage	Oversupply
The	Vision, skin integrity, immune function	Night blindness, immune deficiency	Bone deformity, liver
The	Calcium/phosphorus homeostasis, bone mineralization	Rickets	Hypercalcemia, renal failure
And	Antioxidant, cell membrane protection	Muscle weakness, immune deficiency	Rarely toxic
K	Blood clotting, bone metabolism	Tendency to bleed	Rarely toxic

Water-soluble vitamins — critical: - B1 (thiamine): Deficiency associated with a diet high in raw fish (thiaminase) → neurological symptoms - B12 (cobalamin): Deficiency in EPI, chronic intestinal disease → malabsorption - C (ascorbic acid): Dogs produce it naturally — supplementation is unnecessary for healthy dogs

Common Mistakes & Myths

“More vitamins is better.” Fat-soluble vitamins are stored in the body—excess intake leads to toxicity. Vitamin D toxicity caused by dietary supplements is a clinically relevant problem. Standard multivitamins contain sufficient amounts of vitamins.
“My dog needs vitamin C every day.” Dogs can produce vitamin C on their own. Supplementation is unnecessary for healthy dogs. Excessive vitamin C intake can promote the formation of oxalate stones in susceptible dogs.
"Liver is a superfood—ideally, it should be fed daily." Liver is rich in vitamin A—feeding it in large quantities every day can cause vitamin A toxicity (especially for those who feed a raw diet). Liver is valuable, but should be used sparingly: no more than 5–10% of the diet.

Current State of Research (2026)

NRC dietary reference values for dogs are well documented and form the basis of AAFCO and FEDIAF standards. Current research focuses on vitamin D status in dogs (many dogs are in the suboptimal range despite a diet that meets nutritional standards, according to studies) and the role of vitamin D in immune modulation. Clinically relevant vitamin-related issues: the most common is vitamin D toxicity due to improper supplementation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What vitamins does a dog need?

Dogs need all fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K) and the water-soluble B vitamins (B1, B2, B3, B6, B12, folic acid, pantothenic acid, biotin). They can synthesize vitamin C on their own. AAFCO-compliant complete diets meet their nutritional needs.

Can I just give my dog a vitamin supplement?

For AAFCO-compliant diets: generally unnecessary. For fat-soluble vitamins (A, D): excessive intake carries risks. Vitamin D supplementation is not recommended without a blood test and a veterinarian’s recommendation. For BARF diets: a veterinary assessment is recommended.

What is the best source of vitamins for a dog?

From a balanced diet that complies with AAFCO/FEDIAF standards. For raw feeding: organs (liver in moderation), a variety of raw animal ingredients, supplemented as needed with commercial mineral premixes. Sun exposure provides very little vitamin D for dogs—food is the main source.

Related terms

Sources & Further Reading

National Research Council. (2006). Nutrient Requirements of Dogs and Cats. National Academies Press. ISBN 9780309086288.
Fascetti, A. J., & Delaney, S. J. (Eds.) (2012). Applied Veterinary Clinical Nutrition. Wiley-Blackwell. ISBN 9780813811741.
Hooper, S. E., & Buffington, C. A. (2017). Clinical nutrition and common nutritional issues in cats and dogs. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice, 47(2), 473–500. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28162240/

Wissenschaftliche Einordnung

The NRC (2006, Nutrient Requirements of Dogs and Cats) defines requirements for all essential vitamins: dogs can synthesize vitamin C themselves (unlike humans) – supplementation is generally not necessary. Vitamin D is barely synthesized by dogs through sunlight (low efficiency due to fur) – it must primarily come from food. Vitamin A: dogs can absorb beta-carotene from plants, but the conversion efficiency is low; direct vitamin A from animal sources (liver) is more important.

Fascetti and Delaney (2012, Applied Veterinary Clinical Nutrition) describe clinically relevant vitamin problems: Vitamin D toxicity is a serious problem – overdose (from supplements or rodenticides containing cholecalciferol) leads to hypercalcemia, kidney failure, and can be fatal. Vitamin A toxicity (from excessive liver feeding) leads to bone deformities. Vitamin B12 deficiency: common in pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) due to the lack of intrinsic factor for B12 absorption.

Hooper and Buffington (2017, VCNA, PubMed 28162240) describe nutritional problems in pets: Excessive vitamin supplementation in already well-fed dogs is more common than deficiency. Commercial complete diets are typically vitamin-supplemented to AAFCO or FEDIAF standards – additional vitamin supplements are usually unnecessary and risky for fat-soluble vitamins. Exception: BARF diets without bone meal addition or careful balancing.