22 Important Vitamins and Minerals for Your Dog (2025)

Your pup needs their greens, too.

by Claudia Kawczynskaopens in a new tab

Updated

January 22, 2023

22 Important Vitamins and Minerals for Your Dog (1)

22 Important Vitamins and Minerals for Your Dog (2)

22 Important Vitamins and Minerals for Your Dog (3)

Share Article

We humans are obsessed with the latest superfoods — and rightfully so. Some of those snacks pack a major punch, and in a world of preservatives and confusing marketingopens in a new tab, there’s no harm in wanting to stick to the classics. But what are the vitamin and mineral equivalents of turmeric for dogs? Because we for sure want to be feeding them to our pups.

“Functional superfoods [have] the most beneficial effects on health,” Dr. W. Jean Dodds says. “They reduce chronic inflammation and promote healing; are powerfully antioxidant, antimicrobial and antitumor; and are even believed to delay aging.” Serving your dog the vitamins and minerals in these essential canine functional superfoods will help your dog fight disease, boost energy, and maintain good health and weightopens in a new tab in general.

Navigating life
with a new pet? Head to littleKin!

littleKin™ is Kinship’s home just for puppy and kitten parents. Bop over to check out expert advice, new pet tools, and special deals—all curated for your newest family member.

opens in a new tab

So, what vitamins do dogs need every day and what foods do they come from? For some pet parents, feeding dogs commercial food makes the most sense; it is not only convenient, but — if they select high-quality food made by companies with proven records of ingredient integrity — it provides their dogs with a generally wholesome dietopens in a new tab. But there are several ways to incorporate the vitamins your dog needs into their diet.

Related article

opens in a new tab

6 Mushroom Superfoods that Won’t Turn Your Dog Into a Zombieopens in a new tab

Nothing to fear here The Last of Us fans — ’shrooms are great immune-boosters.

Below are vitamins and minerals your pup needs, plus how you can add them to your dog’s diet with superfoods.

Vitamins

Vitamin A

Carrotsopens in a new tab, spinach, liver, pumpkinopens in a new tab, sweet potatoesopens in a new tab, fish oilopens in a new tab, eggs, and turnip greens.

Vitamin D

Marine fish oil, fatty fish, egg yolks, dairy products, liver, beef, and cottage cheese.

Vitamin E

Plant oils, leafy green vegetablesopens in a new tab, seeds, wheat germ, bran, whole grains, and liver.

Vitamin K

Liver, leafy green vegetables, milk, cabbage, and fish.

Related article

opens in a new tab

Gut Feelings: How to Balance Your Pet’s Microbiomeopens in a new tab

The mind-gut connection isn’t just for people. Your dog or cat’s gut microbiome plays a big role in their health and well-being.

Vitamin C

Fruits, vegetables, and organ meats.

Vitamin B

Whole grains, nutritional or brewers yeast, liver, beans, green vegetables, spirulina, nuts, and dairy products.

Macrominerals

Calcium

Milk, yogurt, tofu, sardines with bones, raw bones, bok choy, green beans, broccoli, and cauliflower.

Phosphorous

All animal tissues, eggs, fish, and milk.

Magnesium

Spinach, broccoli, green beans, tofu, tomato juice, beans, whole grains, and seafood.

Related article

opens in a new tab

The Scoop on Human-Grade Dog Foodopens in a new tab

For starters, yes, it’s good enough to eat.

Potassium, sodium and chloride

Fruits, vegetables, milk, and grain.

Microminerals

Zinc

Spinach, broccoli, yogurt, beef, poultry, whole grains, and vegetables.

Sulfur

All protein foods (meats, fish, poultry, eggs, legumes, and milk).

Iron

Red meats, fish, poultry, shellfish, eggs, and legumes.

Iodine

Iodized salt, seafood, dairy products, and kelp.

Selenium

Seafood, meat, whole grains, brown rice, and vegetables.

Related article

opens in a new tab

10 Superfoods You Should Share With Your New Dogopens in a new tab

From kale to quinoa, these nutrient-packed picks deserve a spot in your dog’s food bowl.

Copper

Seafood, nuts, whole grains, seeds, and legumes.

Manganese

Nuts, whole grains, and leafy vegetables.

Chromium

Lean meat, vegetable oils, and brewers yeast.

Cobalt

Liver, kidney, fruit, and vegetables.

Fluorine

Water.

Molybdenum

Legumes, cereals, and organ meats.

Silicon

Cereals, vegetables, beans, and peas.

  • dog healthopens in a new tab
  • dog nutritionopens in a new tab
  • dogopens in a new tab
  • new dogopens in a new tab

22 Important Vitamins and Minerals for Your Dog (19)

22 Important Vitamins and Minerals for Your Dog (20)

22 Important Vitamins and Minerals for Your Dog (21)

Claudia Kawczynska

Claudia Kawczynska was co-founder and editor-in-chief of The Bark for 20 years. She also edited the best-selling anthology Dog Is My Co-Pilot.

All articlesopens in a new tab

Related articles

  • Everything You Need to Know About the Raw-Food Diet For DogsThe feeding practice is popular —should you try it?opens in a new tab
  • What’s in a Cup?A dog food measurement by any other name would be confusing.opens in a new tab
  • Can Dogs Eat Yogurt?Yes, yogurt is a safe and healthy treat for dogs.opens in a new tab
  • How Many Treats Is Too Many?The key to curbing mindless snacking — this is for your dog.opens in a new tab
22 Important Vitamins and Minerals for Your Dog (2025)

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Jonah Leffler

Last Updated:

Views: 5549

Rating: 4.4 / 5 (65 voted)

Reviews: 80% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Jonah Leffler

Birthday: 1997-10-27

Address: 8987 Kieth Ports, Luettgenland, CT 54657-9808

Phone: +2611128251586

Job: Mining Supervisor

Hobby: Worldbuilding, Electronics, Amateur radio, Skiing, Cycling, Jogging, Taxidermy

Introduction: My name is Jonah Leffler, I am a determined, faithful, outstanding, inexpensive, cheerful, determined, smiling person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.