NRC Essential Nutrients: Water-Soluble Vitamins, Part 2

There are eight essential water-soluble vitamins for dogs and cats. Vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B7, B9, and B12 are essential water-soluble vitamins. Additionally, choline is a vitamin-like compound essential to healthy function. The body cannot synthesize these nutrients in adequate amounts and they must be supplied in the diet.

In Essential Nutrients: Water-Soluble Vitamins Part 1, we covered Vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5, and B6. Now, for Essential Nutrients: Water-Soluble Vitamins Part 2, we will focus on Vitamins B7, B9, and B12. The information provided below is based on a healthy pet and recommended allowances (RA) will vary on physiological state. Requirements for essential water-soluble vitamins depend on growth, lactation, pregnancy, medical conditions, and nutrient interactions within the diet.

Vitamin B7 (Biotin)

Biotin is a water-soluble vitamin required to convert carbohydrates into glucose to be used as energy, produce amino acids and fatty acids, and the metabolism of proteins.

The National Research Council (NRC) for dogs and cats provides recommended amounts for Vitamin B7 per 1000kcal:

About half of biotin requirements are created by gut microbes and the remaining requirements are supplied by the diet. Diets that include raw egg whites and antibiotics have a higher requirement for biotin.

Many nutritional analyses do not include biotin levels. However, it is found in a wide variety of foods. Oxidation, canning, heat, and solvent extraction are common processing methods, which result in the reduction of biotin in foodstuffs.

Vitamin B9  (Folate & Folic acid)

Folate plays a major role in DNA synthesization, the growth of cells, and the function of cells. Additionally, folate is required for amino acid metabolism, the formation of creatinine, and has a symbiotic relationship with Vitamin B12 to produce methionine from homocysteine.

The National Research Council (NRC) for dogs and cats provides recommended amounts for Vitamin B9 per 1000kcal:

Folate is found in many foods. However, liver, eggs, and leafy greens contain higher concentrations.

Folate is unstable in a variety of storage conditions and is destroyed by heat, prolonged freezing time, and storage in water.

Vitamin B12  (Cobalamin)

Cobalamin plays a major role in brain and nerve function as well as the creation of DNA, RNA, and red blood cells.

The National Research Council (NRC) for dogs and cats provides recommended amounts for Vitamin B12 per 1000kcal:

Cobalamin is only synthesized by specific microorganisms. Therefore, Vitamin B12 must be supplied in the diet. Plant ingredients contain very little cobalamin which is primarily found in meat-based foods.

White muscle meat, such as chicken and turkey, provides Vitamin B12 in lesser amounts in comparison to red meat. A raw diet using red muscle meat, liver, and fish will provide essential cobalamin.

Medical conditions, such as Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI), due to malabsorption of the vitamin are at risk of vitamin B12 deficiency. Therefore, pets with EPI have higher requirements for Vitamin B12.

Choline

The National Research Council (NRC) for dogs and cats provides recommended amounts for Choline per 1000kcal:

Choline is synthesized in the liver with the presence of Vitamin B12 and folic acid. However, this is not to suggest feeding foods with choline is not beneficial.

Nonessential, Water-Soluble Vitamins

Vitamin C is considered a non-essential water-soluble vitamin. The body can synthesize Vitamin C in adequate amounts and is not considered necessary to be supplied in the diet for a healthy canine or feline.

Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid)

The two main functions of Vitamin C are as an antioxidant and as a free radical scavenger. There are no recommended allowances for Vitamin C for dogs or cats.