Vitamins Overview Quiz

Study Notes

Vitamins

Vitamin A (retinol) is essential for vision, cell growth, reproduction, immune function, and healthy skin.
- Deficiency can lead to eye problems, reproductive failure, skin lesions, and a poor coat.
- Excess can cause joint abnormalities, poor reproductive performance, and weight loss.
- Good sources include liver, fish, carrots, cod liver oil, leafy greens, egg yolks, and dairy products.
Vitamin D (cholecalciferol) is critical for the absorption and utilization of calcium and phosphorus.
- Deficiency can result in bone disorders, weight loss.
- Excess can cause bone abnormalities, calcification of soft tissues, depression, anorexia, and lameness.
- Good sources include fatty fish, tinned salmon, eggs, cod liver oil, cheese, and yogurt.
Vitamin E (alpha tocopherol) acts as an antioxidant.
- Deficiency can lead to muscle weakness, sterility in males, dermatosis, and immunodeficiency.
- Excess is minimally toxic.
- Food sources are limited.
Vitamin K (menaquinone) plays a vital role in blood clotting.
- Deficiency can increase the tendency to bruise and bleed.
- Excess is minimally toxic.
- Good sources include liver, meat, leafy greens, and other vegetables.
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is an antioxidant.
- Deficiency is unlikely in healthy dogs.
- Excess has low toxicity.
- Good sources include fruits and vegetables.
Vitamin B Complex consists of multiple vitamins that work together and aid in healthy functions.
- Deficiency can cause inflammation of the nerves, heart failure, blood disorders, and contribute to DNA component issues.
- Excess has no known toxicity.
- Found in most foods.
Choline is essential for healthy liver function and neurotransmitter production.
- Deficiency can lead to fatty liver.
- Excess has no known toxicity.
- Good sources include beef liver and heart, red meats, and eggs.

Minerals

Calcium is vital for strong bones and teeth, muscle function, and nerve transmission.
- Deficiency can lead to bone disorders, lameness, decreased growth, and hyperparathyroidism.
- Excess can cause severe bone and joint abnormalities.
- Good sources include egg shells, dairy products, dark leafy greens, and bananas.
Phosphorus is essential for bone structure, the construction of cellular membranes, and energy production.
- Deficiency can lead to poor appetite, decreased growth, a dull coat, and bone disorders.
- Excess can lead to calcium deficiency and promote kidney damage.
- Found in most foods.
Potassium & Sodium are crucial for cellular functions, osmotic balance, and energy metabolism.
- Deficiency can lead to restlessness, muscle paralysis, poor growth, and heart and kidney lesions.
- Excess can occur only if there is inadequate good quality water available.
- Good sources include meat, fish, dairy, eggs, bananas, sweet potatoes, and broccoli.
Magnesium is important for a healthy heart, bone structure, and energy production.
- Deficiency can cause muscle weakness, convulsions, seizures, and heart conditions.
- Excess can cause diarrhea and gas.
- Good sources include red meat byproducts (RMBs), whole grains, leafy green vegetables, bananas, and beef heart.
Iron is vital for carrying oxygen to all parts of the body.
- Good sources include red meat, liver, and other sources.