As a holistic veterinarian specializing in natural nutrition, I understand how important your dog’s eye health is to you. Today I’ll go over two specific vitamins that are essential for eye health in dogs and the one supplement that I use every day to help dogs heal their eyes naturally. These nutrients are specifically needed to restore and maintain ocular health.
Vitamin A for Eye Health In Dogs
Vitamin A is a crucial nutrient that can support and maintain healthy vision in your furry friend. This vitamin plays a key role in producing the pigments that help your dog see in dim light, and it also supports the health of their corneas and other eye tissues.
Also known as retinol, or beta-carotene, vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin that is essential for the maintenance of the retina and rhodopsin pigments. Without sufficient vitamin A, dogs can develop a condition similar to night blindness, which makes it difficult for them to see in low light conditions.
Additionally, vitamin A supports the health of the cornea, which is the clear outer layer of the eye that helps to focus light onto the retina. This nutrient is essential for the production of a molecule called mucin, which helps to keep the cornea moist and protected. Vitamin A also plays a role in the production of antioxidants that help protect the eye from damage caused by free radicals.
Natural Sources Of Vitamin A
- Liver
- Carrots
- Sweet potatoes
- Spinach
- Kale
- Squash
- Cod liver oil
What About Vitamin A Toxicity?
On many artificial foods and vitamins, you may see a warning label that says too much vitamin A is toxic. And that is true for artificially man-made “vitamin-A”. But luckily, this is not a problem with natural and whole-food sources.
Riboflavin (B2) for Eye Health In Dogs
Also known as B2, riboflavin is an important water-soluble vitamin that can help support your furry friend’s eye health. This vitamin plays a vital role in maintaining the health of the cornea, and it also supports the production of antioxidants that help protect the eye from damage.
This vitamin is important for the production of glutathione, an antioxidant that helps protect the eyes from damage caused by free radicals. Riboflavin is also essential for the maintenance of the cornea, which is the transparent outer layer of the eye that helps to focus light onto the retina.
Rebuilding A Strong Cornea
Riboflavin is essential for the maintenance of the cornea due to its role in collagen cross-linking. Collagen is a protein that provides structural support to tissues throughout the body, including the cornea. Cross-linking increases the strength and stability of the cornea. Riboflavin is necessary for collagen cross-linking to occur in the cornea, as it acts as a coenzyme in the process.
Skin Health
B2 is also important for skin health. A lot of cases that I see also have secondary damage to the eyelids and skin around the eyes. This could be from dogs rubbing their face on things or trying to paw at their eye for any reason.
Natural Sources
- Eggs
- Beef Liver
- Raw yogurt
- Spinach
- Brocolli
- Mushrooms
- Nutritional Yeast
Dr. Candy’s Top Recommended Holistic Eye Health Supplement
This supplement is made by Standard Process and is designed specifically for ocular health. It used to be known as “I-Plex” and was developed by nutrition pioneer Dr. Royal Lee in 1957. It has been supporting eye health in people and pets for over 65 years and is totally safe to give to dogs.
Benefits For Eye Health In Dogs
- Supports vision retention and healthy corneas
- Helps eliminate secondary infections
- Contains tons of antioxidants to calm inflammation
Ingredients
Arrowroot flour, inositol, phosphoric acid, calcium lactate, porcine eye PMG™ extract, organic buckwheat (aerial parts) juice powder, organic buckwheat flour, veal bone PMG™ extract, bovine liver, magnesium citrate, porcine stomach, nutritional yeast, organic carrot, organic sweet potato, bovine adrenal, organic alfalfa (aerial parts), bovine kidney, defatted wheat germ, organic alfalfa (aerial parts) juice powder, porcine brain, manganese glycerophosphate, bovine adrenal Cytosol™ extract, DL-methionine, organic oat flour, organic reishi mushroom powder, organic shiitake mushroom powder, bovine bone, veal bone, sunflower lecithin powder, rice bran, medium chain triglycerides, and carrot oil.
Highlighted Ingredients
Bovine Liver Excellent source of vitamin A, B-complex, and iron
Nutritional Yeast Lots of B vitamins and trace minerals like zinc, selenium, manganese, and chromium
Porcine eye PMG™ extract This is a proprietary extraction from cells of animal eyes. *
Canine Dosing Chart
Small dog (1-15) 1/4 capsule 2 x a day
Med dog (16-45) 1/2 capsule 2 x a day
Lrg dog (46 +) 1 capsule 2 x a day
*When starting this supplement, start with a half dose. Do this for 2 days and then bump it up to the full recommended dose for your dog. This will just prevent any tummy issues due to the richness of the supplement.
How to Administer
Most of my clients sprinkle it onto their dog’s meals. The two pieces of the capsule will pull apart, you can use what you need at that time and put the two capsule pieces back together. 95% of dogs will have no problem gobbling it up because it’s just real food. But a few families have had to mix it into food, or mix it in bone broth or water.
How Long Until I See Results?
Most of my clients see significant improvements within 2-4 weeks. But dogs with long-term or chronic eye diseases may take up to 4-8 weeks.
How Long Should I Give It To My Dog?
I usually start with 3-6 months of administration and then re-evaluate your pup’s eye health.
Are There Any Side Effects Of Eyeplex?
No, I don’t usually see any side effects except occasionally a soft stool when starting the supplement. This supplement is very dense and rich, so I recommend starting at half a dose and then tapering up to the recommended dose over 2-4 days. Eyeplex is mostly made with whole foods, so there are no risky side effects.
Conclusion
I hope this blog has been helpful in understanding the importance of two important vitamins, vitamin A and riboflavin, for maintaining healthy eyes in dogs. These vitamins play crucial roles in supporting healthy vision and maintaining the health of the eye tissues. Incorporating vitamin A and riboflavin-rich foods into your dog’s diet can be an easy and effective way to support their eye health. With proper care, attention, and nutrition, you can help your furry friend enjoy a lifetime of health.
Grab a bottle of Eyeplex today to keep your dog’s eye healthy and happy!