Vitamin B3

What is vitamin B3?

Vitamin B3 is one of the water-soluble B vitamins that the body cannot store or can only store to a limited extent. Vitamin B3 must therefore be taken in regularly through food. Vitamin B3 is involved in many enzymatic reactions in the body that are important for the production of energy from carbohydrates, fats and proteins. Vitamin B3 is also involved in the formation of hormones, the regeneration of tissue and the maintenance of the nervous system.

What are the benefits of vitamin B3 for dogs?

Vitamin B3 has many positive effects on your dog's health. Here are some of them:

• Vitamin B3 promotes blood circulation and oxygen supply to cells, which improves your dog's performance and well-being.
• Vitamin B3 protects nerve cells from free radical damage that can occur during stress or illness. This can protect against neurological diseases such as dementia or epilepsy.
• Vitamin B3 supports your dog's muscles by improving the supply of energy and the contractility of muscle fibers. This can protect against muscle breakdown or weakness.
• Vitamin B3 cares for your dog's skin by promoting the formation of collagen and keratin. This can protect against skin problems such as dandruff, eczema or inflammation.

What are the disadvantages of vitamin B3 for dogs?

Vitamin B3 is generally well tolerated by dogs and has no negative effects at normal doses. However, an overdose of vitamin B3 can lead to side effects, such as

• Gastrointestinal complaints such as nausea, vomiting or diarrhea
• Reddening of the skin or itching
• Liver damage or jaundice
• Drop in blood pressure or palpitations

An overdose of vitamin B3 can be caused by too high an intake through food or supplements. You should therefore always make sure that you do not give your dog too much vitamin B3.

How can you provide your dog with an optimal supply of vitamin B3?

Your dog can produce some vitamin B3 itself in the intestine, but not in sufficient quantities. It is therefore important that you supply him with vitamin B3 through his food. The recommended daily dose for an adult dog is around 225 micrograms per kilogram of body weight. This amount can vary depending on your dog's age, health or activity level.

Vitamin B3 is found in many animal and some plant foods. The best natural sources of vitamin B3 include:

• Meat, especially offal such as heart, liver or kidney
• Fish, especially pollock
• eggs
• Milk and dairy products
• Whole grain cereals
• Vegetables such as potatoes, broccoli or cauliflower

If you feed your dog these foods, you should make sure that they are fresh and of high quality. You should also prepare them as gently as possible to avoid losing vitamin B3. For example, you can steam or boil the meat or fish and offer the vegetables steamed or raw.

If you feed your dog ready-made food, you should make sure that it is balanced and rich in vitamins. You can check the food by looking at the label. Vitamin B3 should be listed there as niacin or nicotinic acid. You should also adhere to the recommended feeding amount to avoid over- or undersupply.