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Controversy cats and vitamin D


There is much disagreement on the internet about the source of vitamin D for cats

Cats get it from prey/food

Example How Much Vitamin D Should My Pet Receive?
Dogs and cats cannot synthesize vitamin D-3; in the wild they would obtain it by eating prey so it is added to all their complete commercial pet foods.


Cats get it from their fur if they get time in the sun

ExampleAutogrooming by cats

  • A cat acquires the essential vitamin D by licking its fur after exposing itself to the sun.
  • Self-grooming also stimulates the glands at the base of each hair. The secretions of these glands will keep the fur weatherproofed.


Example Feline Nutrtion
Cats cannot manufacture vitamin D or its precursor 7-dehydrocholesterol. Cats appear to have an extremely low dietary requirement for vitamin D provided that they have exposure to some sunlight and are otherwise well nourished.

Metabolic bone disease in lion cubs at the London Zoo in 1889: the original animal model of rickets


Cats like UV

Two of my friends have cats which are now enjoying a UV lamp similar to the low cost one which I use in the winter.


Cat and Dog distemper

WikiPedia
Vitamin D Council Oct 2011 mentions one cat owner who used vitamin D to treat the cat distemper.
Vitamin D does prevent and perhaps treat virus infections in humans (flu, etc.) Overview Influenza and vitamin D
Zimbio July 2011
In an animal with distemper, demyelination causes the lingin of the nervous tissue to be destroyed.
Subsequently, the dog`s body attempts to fight this by using its own immune cells.
The result is encephalitis, inflammation of the brain, which leads to seizures.

Phenobarbital is thought to be a good way to help fight against and limit your pet`s seizures.
It might also be wise to supplement this with a Chinese herbal formula that will aid in healing the damage already done.
On top of that, hemp oil, vitamin D and B, kelp, supplemental magnesium, and vitamin C can all have a positive effect on this condition.


28+ VitaminDWiki pages have CATS OR DOGS OR PETS in the title

This list is automatically updated

Items found: 29
Title Modified
Cats often have similar range of Vitamin D as humans - 10 to 30 ng - Jan 2024 26 Jan, 2024
Senior pets rejuvenated with vitamin D 08 Feb, 2022
Dental implants 10 percent better with topical vitamin D (in dogs) – Sept 2015 31 Jan, 2022
450,000 IU of Vitamin D daily too much for a cat - Aug 2021 18 Aug, 2021
Dogs and Cats still need vitamin D – July 2021 29 Jul, 2021
Calcidiol increased blood levels of Vitamin D in one month (dogs) – Feb 2021 10 Jun, 2021
Poor immune system associated with low Vitamin D (dogs in this case) – June 2020 05 Aug, 2020
Many non-bone diseases associated with low Vitamin D (dog and cats in this study) – Dec 2019 06 Dec, 2019
Some Dog food had excess vitamin D, first dry food, then canned – Speculation Feb 2019 03 Feb, 2019
Acute pancreatitis in dogs is associated with low vitamin D (lowest D equals death) – Aug 2017 18 Sep, 2018
Half of dogs now get cancer, it used to be just 1 percent (probably low Vitamin D) 08 May, 2018
Critically ill dogs with good levels of vitamin D have much better outcomes (humans too) – March 2018 29 Mar, 2018
Companion animals (dog, cats) need vitamin D too – March 2016 19 Mar, 2018
Vitamin D Lethal Dose in Dogs – 1934 05 Mar, 2018
Dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, pet birds, etc need Vitamin D 18 Feb, 2018
Atopic dermatitis treated by Vitamin D (in dogs too) - RCT Feb 2018 04 Feb, 2018
Dogs, like humans, need vitamin D for many reasons – Jan 2018 23 Jan, 2018
Dogs with Cancer have low vitamin D, same as humans – Sept 2017 24 Sep, 2017
Cancer 4 times more likely if low vitamin D (in dogs) – 2016 18 Apr, 2017
Cats with feline HIV and hospitalized cats have low levels of vitamin D – Nov 2015 28 Nov, 2015
Dog Cancer 4X more likely if low Vitamin D – Nov 2015 22 Nov, 2015
Vitamin D is great for dogs too 22 Nov, 2015
Dog Cancer (hemangiosarcoma) is rare if more than 100 ng of vitamin D – July 2014 22 Nov, 2015
Rickets increasing in dogs 17 Oct, 2015
Hospitalized cats 8X more likely to die if low vitamin D (Vit. D helps humans too) – May 2015 11 Sep, 2015
Controversy cats and vitamin D 19 Jan, 2014
Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Lymphoma – associated with low vitamin D in cats too – Jan 2014 19 Jan, 2014
UVB better than vitamin D supplements for pet reptiles – March 2010 20 Aug, 2012
Dogs – like humans – with IBD were low on vitamin D – July 2011 14 Mar, 2012

See also VitaminDWiki