Riboflavin/ Vitamin B2: How it Affects Your Dog’s Health
If there is a vitamin that should never lack in your dog’s diet, it is riboflavin. It exists as a coenzyme in both the human and animal body and is responsible for a number of body functions. In addition, Vitamin B2 for dogs is readily found in most foods you will feed your dog so you never have to worry about a deficiency.
However, there are certain situations where your pooch may have a deficiency of the vitamin. One is when he falls sick and the ailment affects his appetite or ability to absorb nutrients. Secondly, a riboflavin deficiency may also happen if the dog is not being fed with high nutrition food.
Sources of Riboflavin
If you are feeding your dog a raw diet, ensure he is getting lots of muscle and organ meat which are rich in the vitamin. Examples of organ meat include liver, kidney, and heart of domesticated animals. Riboflavin is also found in egg yolk, poultry meat, fish, beef, and pork.
There are certain herbs and plants that are rich in vitamin B12 as well. They include chickweed, chamomile, ginseng, mullein, peppermint, raspberry leaves, and red clover. You can also find the same vitamin in rose hips, yellow dock, hops, and sage. Your pooch may not be willing to be a vegetarian yet, however, you can mix these herbs with his favorite meal and he won’t even notice it.
Benefits of Riboflavin
Your canine friend has a lot to gain by having his daily consumption of riboflavin-rich meals. As a coenzyme in the body, vitamin B2 is responsible for the metabolism of fats and carbohydrates into energy which is transferred to the cells as ATP. In addition, riboflavin is heavily involved in the production of red blood cells which transport oxygen and nutrients to all parts of the body.
Vitamin B12 combines with other minerals to trigger the production of antibodies that fight diseases. This gives your dog’s immune system a boost and also ensures there are fewer visits to the vet. The same riboflavin is also crucial in the metabolism of proteins and amino acids which are converted into niacin.
Interestingly, the presence of vitamin B2 is required for some minerals to be absorbed in the body. These minerals include Vitamin B6 and Iron. In addition, riboflavin triggers the release of vitamin B6 and folic acid from the food consumed by your dog. Another important benefit of Vitamin B2 is forming the mucous membranes that line the digestive tract of your dog.
Riboflavin Deficiency
Some of the first signs of riboflavin deficiency are general body weakness, hair loss, dermatitis, and anorexia. If the problem escalates, your dog may start having sores in his mucous membrane and a tendency to pass out a lot. Only in severe cases will a lack of vitamin B2 lead to death or blindness.
Conclusion
Vitamin B2 for dogs is crucial because it plays a major role in their physiology. Luckily, riboflavin is one of the minerals that are abundant in both meat and plants. Feeding a healthy dog with a quality raw diet should be enough to ensure he gets his vitamins. Alternatively, professional vets may recommend a supplement with vitamin B2 supplements for dogs.
