Can I Give My Dog Human Vitamins?

We get it. It’s not just a cute phrase you use when you say that your dog is your best friend. It’s a fact. Your dog is your favorite friend to curl up on the couch with while binge watching all of the avengers movies. Getting back to them is what gets you through the workday. You even wake up early to take them on walks on the weekends.

Because you love your dog, you want the best for them. You want your fluffy friend to be the healthiest and happiest they can possibly be. Perhaps you have opened your cabinet in the morning to take your iron giving multivitamin, and looked down at your dog’s big eyes and wondered, would it be beneficial to give one of these to that adorable face? 

We wondered the same. Can I give my dog human vitamins? Should I give my dog human vitamins?

The answer is maybe, but probably not. Let’s explain

First off, you should always consult a veterinarian. This is the main thing to remember when considering giving your dog any supplements or vitamins. If your dog is already receiving a complete and balanced diet then adding in a supplement, especially a human supplement, could lead to toxicity.  That is because human supplements are designed to giveus a complete dose of our daily vitamin requirements. The ingredients and amounts in the multivitamins we take are specific to what works well with our bodies, and while dogs can be our closest companions, the physiologies between human and pup are quite different. The chances are that if your vet deems it beneficial for your dog to take a supplement, that vitamin will have been produced specifically for canines, and their daily requirements.

There are cases that vitamin supplements may be necessary for your dog’s health. If you’ve decided to feed your pet a homemade diet, which is becoming more and more popular, most veterinarians would absolutely recommend that you supplement your dog’s diet with vitamins. Also, you should review the recipe that you are feeding your pooch with your vet. Are you sensing a theme yet? Vet = good. Only after your veterinarian has reviewed your dog’s daily food intake can he or she make an informed recommendation on which vitamin supplement best suits your dog and their needs.  

Another scenario that may deem supplementation is when your pet BFF is feeling the stress. Dogs can’t tell us when it is time for them to see a therapist, so it can be easy to forget that dogs are complex creatures, capable of complex emotions. Those emotions can affect the body. Dogs produce their own vitamin C, but emotional, and physical stress can cause a vitamin C deficiency. This vitamin is an essential antioxidant that protects their bodies against damaging free radicals and bolsters their immune systems. If your dog is showing signs of stress because of physical factors like illness or injury, or emotional factors like relocating or weaning off of mother’s milk, talk with your veterinarian about vitamin C supplements.

So, should we feed our dogs human vitamins? No. Always talk to a veterinarian first. While it is not likely that your vet will recommend human vitamins over dog vitamins, there are cases where the vet deems this the best choice. The bottom line? If the vet gives the ok, you are safe to do so. Hey, there’s that theme again.