Natural or Synthetic Vitamins for Dogs

Natural vitamins are extracted from natural food sources such as plants, herbs, and animal products. In contrast, synthetic vitamins are manufactured in laboratories and designed to structurally mimic natural vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients such as amino acids and antioxidants.

More than 98 per cent of dietary supplements are made from synthetic nutrients. Not only are these products less effective, but they may also increase the risk of side effects, nutrient deficiencies, and even cancer.

Natural nutrients are essential vitamins or minerals, antioxidants, and other health-promoting compounds that occur naturally in whole foods. 

They are typically extracted by grinding or juicing a food source, followed by dehydrating, which leaves a powdered form that can be incorporated into a pill or capsule. 

Synthetic nutrient is produced in a laboratory via chemical reactions to manufacture artificial compounds that mimic the chemical structure of naturally occurring nutrients. 

Synthetic nutrients are generally poorly absorbed and less effective than their natural counterparts. They also may pose health concerns and can have side effects if taken for prolonged periods. 

Here are three reasons why natural vitamins are better than synthetic ones:

1. More effective – easily absorbed and utilized by the body than synthetic nutrients.
2. Free of contaminants and artificial preservatives – don’t contain synthetic additives and have a significantly lower risk of contamination from heavy metals, dioxides, or petroleum.
3. Lower risk of side effects – free of artificial colouring and preservatives, which, in some individuals, can trigger symptoms of sensitivities and allergic reactions such as hives, rashes, nausea, and gastrointestinal issues. 

Synthetic vitamins. are not recognizable to the body and are more difficult to absorb and excrete, thus creating havoc with the kidneys (Kidney disease has, in fact, become the second leading cause of death in dogs.). They also can build up in the body over time, simply because the body doesn’t know what to do with them. And, like with any other toxins in the system, serious diseases can develop over time.

In fact, there have been many recalls of dog foods that contain toxic levels of synthetic additives. The most famous of these came after dogs started dying of vitamin D toxicity.