| Antioxidants for dogs, are they really necessary? | | | | Vitamin C is an extremely powerful antioxidant, and it |
| Every living entity needs antioxidants to survive, and | | | | is a water soluble vitamin which means it is virtually |
| your dog is no different. Oxygen is the mainstay in | | | | impossible to ever be toxic to your dog. Any |
| your dogs life, but it can, believe it or not, actually | | | | excessive is very easily removed from your dogs |
| behave so aggressively that it may act to shorten | | | | body by their urine. Even though your dog can |
| your dogs life though free radicals. Free radical | | | | synthesize this antioxidant, it is still required in a vast |
| damage can happen to your dog in the same way | | | | majority of dogs in some type of supplement. |
| that it happens to you. | | | | If your dog is active at all, they need it to prevent |
| Free radicals are molecules with unpaired electrons. | | | | against oxidative stress. But if your dog is a working |
| Normal compounds in your dogs body are composed | | | | dog, a dog that likes to run a lot, or any type of a |
| of atoms that are bound together by sharing | | | | rescue dog, it is critical to them. However, it does not |
| electrons from an atom. However, if they become | | | | end there. This antioxidant also helps the healing |
| unpaired for some reason, they become extremely | | | | process as well the glandular and circulatory |
| energetic and will by nature seek out companionship | | | | processes. It is also plays a major factor in the |
| of another electron. When this occurs, they can very | | | | formation of bones and tissues, as well as helping |
| easily steal electrons from any normal compound, and | | | | with their gums and teeth. But it has a few more |
| in most cases, it will be your dogs oxygen. | | | | benefits, as it helps with hip dysplasia in younger |
| However, it does even more damage when this | | | | dogs as well as arthritis in older dogs. |
| process occurs; it alters the stability of other | | | | Vitamin E: |
| electrons, and as a result, creates yet another free | | | | This form of antioxidants for dogs is often referred |
| radical. Once this process gets out of control, it | | | | to as the wonder drug as it is essential for the |
| begins to cause all kinds of problems in your dogs | | | | proper function of the reproductive system, the |
| cells. Although free radicals are part of the normal | | | | muscular system, as well as the nervous system. |
| metabolism in your dogs, they can very easily start a | | | | This vitamin can not be synthesized by your dog and |
| destructive chain of events that may be caused by | | | | it is considered the most essential antioxidant needed |
| as injury or a disease that has attacked your dog. | | | | for protecting your dogs cells from radical damages. |
| Once this occurs, it can very easily over power your | | | | It helps to reinforce Vitamin C as well as beta |
| dogs natural defense system that protects against | | | | carotene, but it also helps with the synthesizing of |
| this type of attack. This is referred to as oxidative | | | | taurine and selenium. |
| stress and results in both cellular as well as tissue | | | | However, it also helps in dissolving tumors, especially |
| damage in your dog. Just like the lack of natural | | | | breast tumors in dogs. It also oxygenates your dogs |
| oxygen browns fruit, this process does more | | | | blood, and as a result, improves the functions in all of |
| intensive damage as it can actually shorten your dogs | | | | your dogs organs. It is especially effective in |
| life dramatically. | | | | oxygenating the lungs of your pet. |
| There is a lot of hype in advertising that dog food is | | | | Carotenoids: |
| supplemented with antioxidants to help in the stability | | | | These forms of antioxidants for dogs are fat soluble |
| of dog food, which is absolutely true. However, what | | | | pigments that are found in several plants, including |
| they do not advertise is that dry dog food is still | | | | carrots and tomatoes. Even though your dog is |
| extremely susceptible to both fat rancidity as well as | | | | carnivorous, they still need these very important |
| deterioration. Premium dog foods are much safer, as | | | | antioxidants. Additional benefits of these antioxidants |
| they provide natural antioxidants which include | | | | are enhanced every year with further research as |
| tocopherols, Vitamin C, citric acid, and rosemary | | | | they are also believed to fight degenerative diseases, |
| extract. | | | | cancer, and aging. |
| However, even these can break down over time and | | | | Taurine and Minerals: |
| they are the best of the best. | | | | This antioxidant is an amino acid, and helps your dog |
| But how long are they actually on the shelf, in | | | | with their vision and heart functions. It also helps to |
| storage, and is the date coding process totally | | | | protect cells from being damaged. The minerals zinc, |
| accurate? Not to mention the lesser brands that | | | | copper, and selenium are also essential antioxidants |
| does not have the same preservatives and are used | | | | for dogs. All three of them are essential components |
| by the majority of the owners world wide. | | | | in the various enzymes in your dogs body. However, |
| So what exactly is the answer to providing enough | | | | of the three, selenium is perhaps the most important, |
| antioxidants in dogs? | | | | as it helps with protecting your dogs immune system, |
| Antioxidants: | | | | helps with muscular weakness, as well as with several |
| Antioxidants in dog foods may be enough, but they | | | | skin problems. |
| are your pets only major defense against this | | | | Summary: |
| possible onslaught of both free radical damage as well | | | | Free radical damage will always be part of the natural |
| as oxidative stress. Antioxidants are also found in the | | | | cell metabolism in your dog, but can be exasperated |
| food that we eat, but will still add them in our diet. | | | | by several factors including UV radiation, smog, and |
| Your dog should be no different as they desperately | | | | especially cigarette smoke. Antioxidants in dogs in |
| need these agents to protect against the potential | | | | both their food as well in supplement form can help |
| cell and tissue damage that can be caused. | | | | with the oxidative stress that your dog will face. Ask |
| Antioxidants for dogs include Vitamins E and C, | | | | yourself how long is dog food really protected |
| taurine, and well as the carotenoids and some trace | | | | before it loses these valuable nutrients despite all of |
| minerals. | | | | the claims. |
| Vitamin C: | | | | |