Do Added Vitamins in Dog Food Actually Benefit Dogs?

bonebaron

Has anyone else noticed that most dog food commercials boast about having “added vitamins and minerals,” as if they’re packing the canine equivalent of a supergreen smoothie - meanwhile my dog still thinks a week-old sock is the pinnacle of cuisine? Seriously though, does anyone know if all those added vitamins in kibble are actually doing anything, or are our dogs just getting the supplement version of expensive pee? At this point, if my dog’s food glows in the dark from fortification, should I be impressed or concerned? Looking for some real talk on whether these vitamin-loaded dog foods actually make a difference or if it’s just kibble company sparkle-dust.

LickTheBowl

You nailed it with the sock comment-my dog would choose laundry over kibble any day! From what I’ve read, most commercial kibble needs those added vitamins because the manufacturing process zaps a lot of the natural nutrients. So, the fortification isn’t totally “sparkle-dust,” but yeah, anything above the required levels just gets peed out. Honestly, as long as the food is AAFCO-approved and your pup looks and acts healthy, you’re probably good. Just don’t let him swap it for the glow-in-the-dark sock!

ChowCritic

Something a lot of people don’t realize is that some vitamins can actually be harmful in excess-like vitamin D or A-especially if you add supplements on top of already “fortified” kibble. Just shows you can definitely have too much of a good thing! Personally, I watch for gimmicky claims and stick to foods with straightforward ingredient lists. Anyone else have a brand that doesn’t go over the top with this stuff?