A dog is man's best friend, so it's only natural that man return the favor by supplying their favorite dog or pup with biotin, a vitamin commonly associated with skin care and hair care products for people. Biotin also works well for the canines, so, if you have a dog (or two or more), consider buying biotin as a food additive as it can also provide your loyal pet(s) with a healthy skin and coat to make their lives that much better.
What Is Biotin?
Biotin belongs to the family of B complex vitamins – more specifically, it's known as B7 – although it is more popularly referred to as vitamin H, per vetinfo.com. For dogs, it contributes to the processes of digestion, growth, and the formation of muscles. Biotin is also water soluble in that it's not stored in fatty tissue, and its excess is expelled from the body through urination. It has also been shown to be useful in treating allergic reactions and other skin conditions. Apparently, this stuff really works. Per dogsnaturallymagazine.com, a study of more than 100 dogs with skin conditions such as dull coat, brittle hair, hair loss, scaly skin, pruritis, and/or dermatitis were treated with nothing but biotin for three to five weeks. The results: all symptoms were cured in 60 percent of the cases, and improvement was shown in another 31 percent.Biotin Deficiency in Dogs
Just like humans, dogs can also experience various unwanted symptoms when deficient in any particular vitamin or mineral deemed essential to the body. For dogs, a biotin deficiency can lead to conditions such as anemia, dry haircoat, lathery, and skin lesions, per vetinfo.com. However, just to be sure, if your dog is experiencing any of these symptoms, take it to your veterinarian to be checked out just to be sure of what the cause is. Other conditions in dogs related to a biotin deficiency include lethargy, alopecia, reduced growth rate, diarrhea and anorexia, per dogsnaturallymagazine.com.Biotin's Other Benefits for Dogs
- Supports the nervous system. Although biotin is available in shampoos and other products useful in supporting dog health, it is recommended that it be ingested by the dog as an ingredient in dog foods, per wagwalking.com.
- Processes and metabolizes fatty acids and proteins. Yes, some dogs could stand to lose a little of that excess tonnage.
- Supports connective tissue growth. Biotin's role in this regard is especially evident in support of the dog's nervous system, which relies heavily on fibers and nerve cells for the transmission of nerve impulses throughout the body, per wagwalking.com.