FAT SOLUBLE VITAMINS

A

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Function: vision, skeletal growth, maintenance of skin & coat.

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Deficiency: impaired growth, reproductive failure, loss of epithelial integrity, dermatosis.

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Excess: skeletal abnormalities, sensitivity to stimuli.

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Sources: fish liver oils, milk, liver, egg yolk.

D

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Function: regulates calcium absorption & metabolism, promotes normal bone calcification.

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Deficiency: rickets, osteomalacia, nutritional secondary hyperthyroidism.

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Excess: hypercalcemia, bone resorption, soft tissue calcification.

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Sources: liver, some fish, egg yolk, sunlight.

E

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Function: biological antioxidant that protects cells & tissues from oxidative damage.

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Deficiency: reproductive failure

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Excess: nontoxic, may increase vitamins A & D requirements.

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Sources: vegetable oils, leafy greens, fish.

 K

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Function: normal blood clotting, wound healing, bone health

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Deficiency: increased clotting time, hemorrhage.

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Excess: none recorded.

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Sources: liver, leafy greens, broccoli, some fish meals.

WATER-SOLUBLE VITAMINS

B₁

(thiamine)

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Function: required for nervous system function & energy utilization. Deficiency: central nervous system dysfunction, anorexia, weight loss.

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Excess: nontoxic

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Sources: whole grains, eggs, beef, pork, salmon, liver, legumes.

B₂

(riboflavin)

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Function: required for oxidative reactions & cellular use of nutrients. Deficiency: central nervous dysfunction, dermatitis.

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Excess: nontoxic.

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Sources: organ meat, meat, salmon, sardines, cruciferous vegetables.

B₃

(niacin)

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Function: required for normal nutrient metabolism & energy utilization.

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Deficiency: black tongue disease (chronic deficiency), indigestion, bad breath, weight loss, fatigue, swollen mouth, tongue

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Excess: nontoxic.

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Sources: meat, organ meat, fish, poultry, legumes, grains.

B₅

(pantothenic acid)

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Function: required for nutrient (carbs, fat, amino acids) metabolism.  Deficiency: anorexia, weight loss, hormone imbalance, weakened immune system.

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Excess: none recorded.

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Sources: liver, kidneys, dairy products, legumes.

B₆

(pyridoxine)

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Function: involved with protein and amino acids metabolism.

Deficiency: anemia, skin irritation, impaired immune function.

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Excess: none recorded.

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Sources: organ meats, fish, starchy vegetables

B₇

(biotin)

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Function: metabolism of fats and amino acids, healthy skin & coat. Deficiency: dermatitis, hair loss, brittle nails, lethargy.

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Excess: non-toxic.

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Sources: eggs, liver, salmon, sardines, oysters, meat, legumes.

B12

(cobalamin)

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Function: essential for red blood cell formation

Deficiency: anemia, gastrointestinal issues, lethargy, neurological symptoms, poor growth in puppies.

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Excess: non-toxic.

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Sources: lean meats, poultry, eggs, sardines, liver, kidneys, legumes.

ESSENTIAL MINERALS

Calcium

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Function: necessary for skeletal growth and maintenance, blood clotting, nerve and muscle function.

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Deficiency: rickets, osteomalacia, nutritional secondary hyperthyroidism

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Excess: impaired skeletal development, contributes to other mineral deficiencies. 

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Sources: dairy, poultry, meat meals, bone

Phosphorus

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Function: necessary for skeletal growth, muscle formation, nutrient metabolism, energy production, reproduction.

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Deficiency: pica, decreased growth, dull coat rickets, spontaneous bone fractures, infertility.

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Excess: bone loss, calcification of soft tissues, secondary hyperthyroidism, decreased weight gain.

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Sources: meat, poultry, fish, seafood, legumes, whole grains

Magnesium

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Function:  component of the skeleton, necessary for muscle contraction and nerve impulse transmission.

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Deficiency: soft tissue calcification, enlargement of long bone metaphysis, neuromuscular irritability.

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Excess: unlikely, absorption is regulated according to needs.

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Sources: bone meal, fish, poultry, beef, grains, green leafy vegetables

 Sulfur

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Function: needed for maintaining healthy cartilage, required for synthesis of the hormone insulin and the blood clotting agent heparin.

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Deficiency: not reported

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Excess: not reported

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Sources: meat, poultry, fish, cruciferous vegetables, eggs.

Iron

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Function: component of the oxygen-carrying proteins, hemoglobin and myoglobin; component of enzymes involved in cellular use of energy.

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Deficiency: hypochromic microcytic anemia, lethargy, increased heart rate, rapid breathing, bruising of skin, pale gums, dark stools.

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Excess: unlikely, absorption is regulated according to needs.

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Sources: organ meats, red meat, poultry, seafood, dark leafy greens

Copper

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Function: needed for formation and activity of red blood cells, required for normal pigmentation of skin and coat.

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Deficiency: hypochromic microcytic anemia, impaired skeletal growth.

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Excess: inherited disorder of copper metabolism causes liver disease.

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Sources: organ meats, shellfish, whole grains, chickpeas, dark leafy greens.

Zinc

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Function: acts as co-factor in many enzymes and is necessary for normal nutrient metabolism, needed for healthy skin and coat growth.

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Deficiency: dermatoses, hair depigmentation, growth retardation, reproductive failure.

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Excess: causes calcium and copper deficiency.

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Sources: beef liver, dark poultry meat, dairy, egg yolk, legumes.

ESSENTIAL TRACE MINERALS

Cobalt

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Function: a component of B₁₂. 

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Deficiency: dietary deficiency unlikely, vitamin B₁₂ deficiency, anemia.

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Excess: none reported.

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Sources: fish, dairy, red meat, oysters, cabbage, broccoli, spinach

Iodine

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Function: essential component of thyroid hormones.

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Deficiency: dietary deficiency unlikely, goiter, growth retardation, reproductive failure.

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Excess: dietary excess unlikely, goiter.

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Sources: fish, beef, seafood, liver, seaweed.

Manganese

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Function: needed for nutrient metabolism and cartilage formation.

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Deficiency:  dietary deficiency unlikely, impaired skeletal growth, reproductive failure.

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Excess:  dietary excess unlikely.

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Sources: meat, poultry, fish, shellfish, whole grains, legumes, leafy green vegetables, black pepper.

Selenium

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Function: necessary to protect cells from oxidation damage.

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Deficiency: dietary deficiency unlikely, skeletal and cardiac myopathies.

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Excess: dietary excess unlikely, necrotizing myocarditis, toxic hepatitis, nephritis.

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Sources: grains, seafood, lean meats, poultry, organ meats, eggs.

ESSENTIAL ELECTROLYTES

Sodium and Chloride

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Function: regulates body fluids and acid-based balance, necessary for nerve transmission, muscle function and energy metabolism. Deficiency: inability to maintain water balance, decreased growth, anorexia, fatigue, exhaustion, hair loss.

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Excess: occurs only if there is inadequate good quality water available, thirst, constipation, pruritus, seizures, death.

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Sources: 

Potassium

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Function: muscle contraction, transmission of nerve impulses, acid-based balance, osmotic balance, enzyme co-factor (energy transfer).

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Deficiency: anorexia, decreased growth, lethargy, locomotive problems, hypokalemia, heart and kidney lesions, emaciation.

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Excess: rare. Paresis, brachy cardia.

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Sources: leafy green vegetables, root vegetables, legumes, dairy, meat, chicken, fish.