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It is very important that your
dogs get fresh air and sunlight every day. This is were they
get the vitamin D, which is important for proper bone growth and
maintenance.
From Wikipedia:
Vitamin D is a group of
fat-soluble prohormones, the two major forms of which are
vitamin D2 (or ergocalciferol) and vitamin D3 (or
cholecalciferol)
Vitamin D plays an important role
in the maintenance of organ systems.[2]
Vitamin D regulates the calcium
and phosphorus levels in the blood by promoting their absorption
from food in the intestines, and by promoting re-absorption of
calcium in the kidneys.
It promotes bone formation and
mineralization and is essential in the development of an intact
and strong skeleton. Although, at very high levels it will
promote the resorption of bone.
It inhibits parathyroid hormone
secretion from the parathyroid gland.
Vitamin D affects the immune
system by promoting immunosuppression, phagocytosis, and
anti-tumor activity.
Vitamin D deficiency can result
from inadequate intake coupled with inadequate sunlight
exposure, disorders that limit its absorption, conditions that
impair conversion of vitamin D into active metabolites, such as
liver or kidney disorders, or, rarely, by a number of hereditary
disorders.[2] Deficiency results in impaired bone mineralization,
and leads to bone softening diseases, rickets in children and
osteomalacia in adults, and possibly contributes to
osteoporosis. Research has indicated that vitamin D deficiency
is linked to colon cancer; conflicting evidence links vitamin D
deficiency to other forms of cancer.
Vitamin D2 is
derived from
fungal and
plant
sources, and is not produced by the human body. Vitamin D3
is derived from animal sources and is made in the skin when
7-dehydrocholestero
This is especially important for
growing puppies. I don’t supplement Vitamin D, I just make sure
that everyone gets out in the sun when it is out. Of course,
this is no problem in the summer, but in the winter we have to
take advantage of sunny days.
cew
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