Dr. Cynthia Malo
Several years ago, I began testing vitamin D levels in the serum of my canine and feline patients. I was surprised by what I found in pets that were fed a “balanced” commercial diet.
Over 65% of my canine patients and over 55% of my feline patients were tested as having insufficient or deficient vitamin D.
Many pet owners who are informed that their pets have low vitamin levels quickly jump to the conclusion that their pet’s vitamin D is primarily produced through exposure to sunlight. The same is true for humans. However, it turns out that our pet dogs and cats get their vitamin D through their diet, as their thick coats prevent them from absorbing sunlight.
Foods such as beef, liver, eggs, salmon, and mushrooms contain vitamin D.
A healthy diet for dogs and cats should include plenty of organ meats that are rich in vitamin D, but even when vitamin D is included in the diet, the gastrointestinal microbiome (the microorganisms in the intestines) and yeast) and digestive enzymes. It exists to aid in the absorption of nutrients.
Unfortunately for pets (and us), the gut microbiome is negatively impacted by toxins, herbicides, insecticides, insecticides, heavy metals, and many other chemicals. They influence the health of the gastrointestinal lining, the microbiome, and the nutritional status of all nutrients. Just because a vitamin is present doesn’t mean our bodies or our pets’ bodies are absorbing and utilizing that nutrient.
Misconceptions about vitamin D
About 10 years after I started measuring vitamin D and regularly supplementing my pets with vitamin D, I attended a national veterinary conference. A veterinary nutritionist from a prominent university spoke about nutritional deficiencies in pets. When another attendee asked about vitamin D measurements and supplements, the speaker laughed and said, “There are no pets in this country that are low in vitamin D, so we don’t test vitamin D or take supplements.” .
Many members of the veterinary community, including nutrition experts, do not realize that vitamin D testing is important and, as a result, do not identify the real problem in your pet. And what these nutrition experts say creates misleading and inaccurate information that gets spread on the internet and among pet owners.
IThe importance of vitamin D for health
Vitamin D plays many roles in the body and is involved in over 300 metabolic pathways that support immune function, bone, teeth, and skin health, hormonal balance, and anti-cancer pathways (when working with the mineral magnesium). Masu.
Vitamin D is essential in its role in helping absorb calcium and phosphorus through the gastrointestinal tract. Without enough vitamin D, your bones and teeth lose calcium and phosphorus, which help your body function. You won’t know your pet is losing these levels because blood tests won’t show mineral loss. Your pet’s body (and ours) will continue to maintain mineral levels in the blood even when severe osteoporosis occurs. Pets can suffer from mineral loss from their bones, tendons, and ligaments.
Although there are mineral analysis tests that can determine calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium levels, most veterinary clinics do not offer this test.
In addition to vitamin D testing, I also perform mineral analysis testing. They found that more than 90% of all pets have alarmingly low levels of calcium and magnesium in their tissues, even though their blood levels are normal.
Vitamin D is also involved in immune health and musculoskeletal function, as well as body regulation of inflammation, pain, immune function, and anti-cancer monitoring.
With so many pets testing low, is it wise to supplement with vitamin D?
It is not wise to supplement your pet with vitamin D without knowing their vitamin D levels. Excessive intake or high concentrations of vitamin D can have a very negative effect on your pet’s kidney health, and vitamin D toxicity is dangerous.
We are now finding that more pets than ever before are testing for high vitamin D levels. This has been happening since the time of COVID-19. My theory is that many pet food manufacturers are trying to maintain high protein levels and reduce the cost of muscle meat by adding too much organ meat, or by adding an additional source of vitamin D to their pet food. I wonder if there are. Regulators don’t require pet food companies to test the vitamin levels in individual batches of pet food, so monitoring doesn’t occur unless pets start dying from toxicity.
How can pet owners know their pet’s vitamin D levels?
A simple blood test can be performed to monitor D levels in the serum. A follow-up blood test is recommended 8 to 10 weeks after starting therapeutic supplements. I recommend liquid oral pet supplements.
If levels remain low, we recommend adding magnesium and digestive enzymes. I frequently perform abdominal ultrasounds to assess the health of the intestinal wall in pets with persistent vitamin D deficiency. In some cases, other hormone tests, such as parathyroid tests, are also recommended.
