Puppy Vitamins: Laying the Foundation for a Healthy Life

Puppies may be tiny, wrinkly balls of joy when they’re born, but they grow up faster than we notice. By six months old, some smaller dogs have already reached their final size and, by two years, nearly every breed has entered full adulthood.¹

During that short time, puppies will grow exponentially. Some puppies that fit in the palms of your hands at birth can grow to well over 200 pounds once they’re filled out.²

Young dogs need proper nutrition—including a whole host of essential dog vitamins—to develop into healthy, robust, fully-grown adults. In this guide, we’ll go over the key puppy vitamins you should give your growing dog and how they’ll benefit from maintaining a nutrient-rich, balanced diet.

Vitamins for Building Hearty Bones

Strong skeletons are the base for puppies’ budding bodies, and they need healthy bones to run and jump about without injuring themselves. We all know how playful dogs can be—even as they age. So, it’s important to give them every opportunity to develop into fit, fun-loving adults.

Thus, it’s essential to provide puppies with the right dog vitamins in sufficient quantities for their bones to develop fully. Funny enough, if you’ve ever perused a Food Pyramid or read up on the supplements supporting human bone development, you might already know what most of these vitamins are.

To keep your pup’s bones growing strong, ensure they’re getting enough:

• Calcium – Similar to humans, puppies will initially obtain calcium straight from their mother’s milk. Also, like us, they’ll need to get this calcium from other sources once they’re weaned. Calcium is imperative—for sustaining your pup’s appetite and encouraging proper bone development, to say nothing of ongoing bone health and optimal, overall vibrancy.³
• Vitamin D – Vitamin D and calcium go together like peanut butter and a KONG toy. To properly absorb and utilize calcium and other vitamins such as phosphorus, mammals need a sufficient supply of vitamin D in their bodies. And, while we can get our vitamin D from the sun (or sun-colored juice packets), puppies need proper supplementation to ensure they get the right dose.⁴
• Magnesium – Magnesium is frequently referred to as a “mighty” mineral for good reason: It has a hand in over 300 biochemical processes throughout the body and influences everything from immune function to bone health, both of which are paramount to sustaining your pup’s well-being and energy levels.^5,6

Vitamins to Support Your Puppy’s Development of Strong Muscles, Ligaments, and Tendons

Strong bones are essential, but fully developed muscles, ligaments, and tendons are the key to confident movement. This trio of connective tissues lets dogs move their bodies to their maximum potential. Each full-on sprint or gravity-defying leap they pull off is only possible because their muscles, ligaments, and tendons have the strength to push them through without becoming injured.

To make sure they have all the power they’ll need for every run and roll as they grow, optimize your puppy’s vitamin routine with:

• Collagen – If you’ve ever boiled a luscious stock out of beef, chicken, or other bones, you’re familiar with the gelatinous properties of collagen. Collagen doesn’t just thicken soups and stews, however. It also supports joints and connective tissues. Puppies who receive sufficient collagen supplementation may, in turn, experience optimal mobility and joint comfort.⁷
• Glycine – Glycine is a neutral amino acid that supports overall muscle growth and function in both developing and older dogs while also promoting ideal fluid levels and tissue health.⁸
• Proline – Proline is an essential organic acid that facilitates protein synthesis, metabolism, and adequate nutrition in animals. Particularly, sufficient proline is necessary to successfully convert the variety of different protein compounds puppies consume in their diet into useful muscle. It also plays a key role in developing dog’s immune system.⁹

Essential Vitamins for Promoting a Shiny Coat and Smooth Skin

Whether it’s stark white, black as midnight, or anywhere in between, a dog’s fur is usually their defining feature. A thick coat is often a sign of a healthy puppy who’s well on their way to becoming a lively, fully-grown adult.

On the other hand, fur and skin issues are immediately noticeable and often uncomfortable for our canine friends. To avoid scaly skin, shedding, and other unwanted dermal issues, feed your pooch a diet high in:

• Biotin – Biotin belongs to the B family of vitamins and is a key component of caring for canines’ coats. This essential vitamin naturally encourages strong, shiny coats and hydrated, supple skin.¹⁰
• Fish oil – The benefits of this well-known omega-3 fatty acid have been evident to humans for quite some time now, but fish oil can be just as effective for puppies as it can be for their owners. Along with helping them grow a silky coat, fish oil also promotes heart and joint health.¹¹
• Vitamin E – Vitamin E is a crucial antioxidant that can help maintain a dog’s overall health throughout their lifetime. Furthermore, as dogs age, getting enough vitamin E is an essential precaution to help them protect their joint and cartilage function and health.¹²

At this point, you’re probably excited to watch your puppy grow healthy and strong, but also slightly concerned about tracking down all these different vitamins. Not to mention, once you do, there’s the inevitable struggle of getting your buddy to actually swallow them (there are only so many cheese slices in the fridge).

Luckily, there’s no need to visit ten different nutritionists to find the right dog vitamin supplement or make a gourmet dinner to hide them from Rover. Vetericyn’s ALL-IN supplement contains all these healthy components and more within a singular, protein-based pellet that your pup won’t be able to tell is any different from any other bit of kibble.

ALL-IN Supports Your Puppy’s Heart, Immune System, Gut, and Neurological Health

It’s what’s on the inside that matters most—and that goes for both puppies and the supplements we give them. ALL-IN is Vetericyn’s newest and most nutritionally advanced dog vitamin supplement to date and it supports your puppy’s holistic health—from their hair to their heart.

Alongside ingredients for healthy skeletal, muscular, and dermal development, ALL-IN dog multivitamin is packed with other nutrients that help support their:

• Cardiovascular health – Your heart beats for your puppy, so make sure their heart keeps beating healthily for years to come with amla powder, beetroot, and egg yolk lecithin. These natural yet powerful compounds are rich in antioxidants that help counter dangerous free radicals and support cardiovascular function.
• Immune system – Just like humans, puppies’ health rests in part on the resilience of their immune system.¹³ To bolster their immunity  ALL-IN features Vitamins A, D3, B, and E, Zinc, and CoQ10, a coenzyme that helps convert food into energy.¹⁴
• Gut biome – When a puppy’s digestive tract is working at full capacity, they’re able to extract more nutrients from their food and grow stronger. ALL-IN combines digestive enzymes with probiotic and prebiotic blends to promote gut health and the rewards (like greater vitality) that come with it.
• Neurological development – They may not be able to tell you directly, but dogs are intelligent and aware. Their brains are switched on and, amongst some breeds, can recognize over 150 words, outsmart other dogs to steal their treats, and even understand basic arithmetic.¹⁵ To help support their highest level of cognitive function, feed your puppy brain-boosting vitamins such as ashwagandha, lecithin, and our neurologically stimulating 5-mushroom blend.

Plus, from their weaning days to their twilight years, Vetericyn has a specially formulated ALL-IN dog multivitamin for any dog.

Go All In on ALL-IN, the Only Multivitamin Your Dog Will Ever Need

Our ALL-IN multivitamin for puppies features a variety of compounds that are scientifically proven to support your dog’s healthy development. While nothing beats mother’s milk for the first little while, puppies soon grow to crave more nutritionally-packed meals—and that’s when you should start giving them ALL-IN.

From ashwagandha to zinc, ALL-IN has the vitamins growing puppies need to support the development of healthy bodies, bones, and brains. And, as your companion grows alongside you, Vetericyn has their back with other ALL-IN supplements specially crafted for older dogs with age-specific vitamins such as:

• Creatine
• Glucosamine
• Chondroitin
• Curcumin

Browse our full line of ALL-IN formulas to find the perfect supplement for your dog as they find their full potential.

 

Reviewed by C. Scott Van Winkle

Scott has been with Innovacyn for the past 11 years and has been working within the Burlingame portfolio of companies for the past 23 years. Scott brings a diverse background to Innovacyn. With an upbringing as the 5th generation on his families cattle ranch, Scott has a passion for animal health and the continuous improvement surrounding agricultural practices. Scott earned marketing and business management degrees from the University of Idaho and holds an Executive MBA from Pepperdine University.
 

Sources:

1. American Kennel Club. When does my puppy finish growing?. https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/when-does-my-puppy-finish-growing/
2. American Kennel Club. Mastiff. https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/mastiff/
3. VCA Animal Hospitals. Hypocalcemia (low calcium levels) in dogs. https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/hypocalcemia
4. United States Food and Drug Administration. Vitamin D toxicity in dogs. https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/animal-health-literacy/vitamin-d-toxicity-dogs
5. Medline Plus. Magnesium in diet. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002423.htm
6. ScienceDirect. Hypomagnesemia – an overview. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/veterinary-science-and-veterinary-medicine/hypomagnesemia
7. National Library of Medicine. Efficacy of chondroprotective food supplements based on collagen hydrolysate and compounds isolated from marine organisms. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8541357/
8. National Library of Medicine. Glycine preserves function and decreases necrosis in skeletal muscle undergoing ischemia and reperfusion injury. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11174716/
9. National Library of Medicine. Proline and hydroxyproline metabolism: implications for animal and human nutrition. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3773366/
10. National Library of Medicine. Clinical study on the effect of biotin on skin conditions in dogs. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2602924/
11. American Kennel Club. Fish oil for dogs. https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/nutrition/fish-oil-for-dogs/
12. National Library of Medicine. Anti-inflammatory response of dietary vitamin E and its effects on pain and joint structures during early stages of surgically induced osteoarthritis in dogs. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3700444/
13. American Kennel Club. 5 common dog illnesses that are impacted by nutrition. https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/5-common-dog-illnesses/
14. Mount Sinai Medical Center. Coenzyme Q10. https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/supplement/coenzyme-q10.
15. American Psychological Association. Canine researcher puts dogs’ intelligence on par with 2-year-old human, https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2009/08/dogs-think