What’s in Your Pet’s Bowl? Part I
​A Quick Guide to Vitamins and Minerals They Really Need

Today, I want to talk to you about how...

Proper nutrition is vital for the health, happiness, and longevity of your pet.

Just like us, our furry friends need a whole bunch of vitamins and minerals to stay healthy and vibrant—to keep their tails wagging and their purrs loud. Knowing what these nutrients are, and their benefits, can help you make informed decisions about your pet's diet.

Providing a balanced and complete species-appropriate diet, and consulting with a veterinarian when necessary, is crucial to ensure your beloved companion receives the nutritional support it needs.

Your furriest of friends will thank you!

Let’s break down the menu:

Vitamins are essential organic compounds that play critical roles in the bodily functions of your furry kid. Dogs and cats cannot synthesize them on their own and must get the vitamins their bodies need to stay healthy through their diet.

The Big 5:​
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• The A-team: Vitamin A is a biggie—it keeps their eyes sparkly and their coat glossy. And don’t forget about immune function, keeping your furry friend able to fight off the baddies when they come knockin’ on their body’s defenses door.
  • Signs that might indicate your pet's suffering from a deficiency in this important vitamin include:
    • Poor vision, especially night blindness
    • Dry eyes
    • Dry, dull coat and skin issues

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• The B-complex: B Vitamins like B-12 and niacin are superheroes for skin health, brain power, and turning all those yummy bites into usable energy. This team of vitamins also help in metabolism regulation and energy production from food. No sluggish friends here!
  • B-vitamin deficiency can express itself like:
    • Loss of appetite
    • Lethargy
    • Nervous system disorders, such as dementia or loss of coordination

• The C-suite: Vitamin C is a powerhouse antioxidant, helping to clean up pesky free-radicals. It also helps with wound healing and supports the immune system in fending off unwanted invaders.
  • If you see your furry friend experiencing any of these symptoms, it may be a deficiency in this bedrock vitamin:
    • Bloody gums, bad breath, tooth loss
    • Slow wound healing
    • Skin infections

• Big Daddy D: While your pet can’t soak up Vitamin D from the sun lounging on the windowsill or back porch, it is essential for keeping their bones tough and teeth strong.
  • If sufficient levels of Big Daddy D are missing from your furry friend’s diet, it can result in:
    • Allergies
    • Weak bones
    • Congestive heart failure
• Easy E: Vitamin E rounds out the big 5 for an antioxidant boost to fend off those aforementioned sneaky free radicals. This fat-soluble vitamin supports heart health and protects cells from damage.
  • While this one is rare, because E is a fat-soluble vitamin malabsorption can be the main cause. Early warning signs your pet's suffering from a deficiency in this vital vitamin include:
    • Vision loss
    • Muscle breakdown
    • Reproductive challenges

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When it comes to minerals, it’s important to know they are inorganic elements that are crucial for various physiological processes happening every day in your pet’s body.

The Big 7:

• Crucial Calcium: Vital for building strong bones and teeth in your fluffy friends. Calcium also plays a starring role in muscle function, and nerve messaging between the brain and other body systems.
  • When it comes to a calcium deficiency in your beloved companion, be on the lookout for:
    • Poor bone health, and skeletal deformities
    • Dental problems
    • Muscle spasms, and in severe cases, seizures

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• Partner Phosphorus: Works in conjunction with many other vitamins and minerals to help your pet's body balance and use them efficiently, like when working with calcium for bone and tooth development.
  • See above, because what calcium does, phosphorus shadows, as they work in tandem—in a blanched ratio—in most processes in the body.

• Pivotal Potassium: Vital for proper muscle function, and essential for metabolizing carbohydrates and synthesizing protein. It’s also an electrolyte that helps regulate your furry friend's heartbeat, muscles, and nerves.
  • There are several signs pet parents might keep an eye out for that could indicate the need for adjustment regarding this mineral in your pet’s diet:
    • Diarrhea, or frequent urination
    • Excessive thirst, decrease in appetite
    • Listlessness, trouble breathing

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• Master Magnesium: Aids in the absorption of other vitamins and minerals throughout the body, and is important for a volume of processes including regulating muscle and nerve function, blood sugar levels, and blood pressure and making protein, bone, and DNA .
  • Signs that could indicate your furry friend may be experiencing a deficiency in this master mineral are:
    • Fatigue
    • Muscle weakness, pain, spasms, or tremors
    • Changes in personality and behavior, depression

• Indispensable Iron: Necessary for the production of hemoglobin, which carries oxygen in the blood from the lungs to the other parts of the body, giving your pet a pep in their step.
  • Guardians can be on the lookout for an iron deficiency when seeing:
    • Lethargy, rapid breathing
    • Pale gums (can indicate anemia)
    • Prone to infection

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• Zippy Zinc: Boosts the immune system, and supports skin health and wound healing, as well as taste and smell function.
  • Not enough of this zing-infused mineral can be seen in signs that include:
    • Poor wound healing
    • Poor growth, hair loss, and skin lesions
    • Decreased or lack of appetite

• Cardinal Copper: Aids in the formation of red blood cells and the development of the nervous system.
  • This one is a rare breed, but when it shows up, it can express as:
    • Loss of color to your pet’s coat, rough coat
    • Reduced growth rate
    • Anemia

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So, you can see why making sure your furry friend regularly gets a wide range of vitamins and minerals in their diet is so important!
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Because vitamins and minerals all work together in a playful but organized dance throughout your pet’s body, it’s important to be sure what’s in their bowl is providing a species-appropriate and balanced meal every time.

Deficiencies can lead to all kinds of health issues, such as skin problems, a weakened immune system, developmental issues, and even organ dysfunction. Your pet can become deficient due to an imbalanced diet, malabsorption, or increased nutritional requirements during certain life stages or health conditions.

Supplementing can be beneficial, especially for aging pets, those with specific health conditions, or when feeding a homemade diet—depending on the nutritional profile. It's essential, however, to consult with a veterinarian before introducing any supplements to ensure the appropriate dosage and avoid further potential imbalances.

Choosing the right food that covers all these bases means your pet gets everything they need to stay healthy and happy.

This can prevent numerous health issues. As a pet guardian, you should seek species-appropriate foods that offer a balanced mix of these vitamins and minerals, and consider supplements if recommended by your vet. With the right nutrition, your beloved companion can enjoy a robust, active, long life.

After all, a balanced diet isn’t just good advice—it’s a way to show your furry kid you love them as much as they love you!

In the next Family Edition issue, we'll talk about ways to help our furry friends eat fresher, species-appropriate meals and keep those deficiency-induced ailments at bay.

Thanks for reading this issue of The Pawsitive Pathfinder: Family Edition. If there are other topics you'd like to talk about, or have thoughts you'd like to share, please hit REPLY on this email and let me know. 🤓

Until next time...

🐾Fido Friendly Digs🐾

Here's today's fun place to take your best friend: ​
Park 9 Dog Bar

In Boston, MA, there's a great place to have a cold drink with some friends, both two-legged and four, because you can bring your pup, too! Park 9 Dog Bar. ...Think fun neighborhood bar + indoor dog park + doggy day care + furry event venue. If you're in the bean town area, go have a pawsome time!

A Bit Of Furry Fun:

This Week's Pets Poll

What size dog suits you? If it fits in my purse, it sits. Small dogs are my cup of tea. A Medium breed is what I need. I like a Big dog, and I cannot lie. The furry Giant is my friend.

Hey there! I'm StacyLynn. The Furry Kidz Call Me 'AuntieMom.' After a decade of professional pet sitting, I've been adopted by many furry friends. They've helped me to grow, taught me a lot about what makes our four-legged companions happy and healthy, and enriched my life in countless ways. I've become a fierce advocate for their health and well-being, on a mission to help more pet parents support their furry kidz in living longer and healthier lives. I'm the OG Pawsitive Pathfinder.

🤓 Thanks for reading! This is one of the few places we can connect and share knowledge without the constant onslaught of social media distractions, so I truly appreciate you and your time and attention! 🧡

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