Also called · retinol · beta-carotene · carrot
What it is
Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin involved in vision, maintenance of epithelium and immune function. Its active form is retinol.
Plants contain no retinol. They contain a precursor, β-carotene, which humans and dogs convert into retinol internally. That is where the idea that carrots are good for the eyes comes from.
What it does
Dogs can make the conversion
Dogs do convert β-carotene into retinol. The efficiency is not high, so foods normally include retinol itself as well.
A shortage shows in the eyes and skin first
Night blindness, dry cornea, and abnormal keratinisation of skin and mucous membranes are documented. It is rare in an animal fed a complete diet.
How to feed it
If you are feeding a complete diet, no supplementation is needed.
The principle is to meet it daily through the main diet.
What to watch for
It is fat-soluble, so it accumulates. Liver is extremely high in retinol, and giving it often as a treat causes hypervitaminosis. In cats this is known to produce deforming spondylosis — bone overgrowth on the cervical vertebrae that leaves the animal unable to turn its neck.
Common questions
It does no harm. It is simply meaningless as a source of vitamin A — it adds calories and nothing else.
We would not suggest it. Being fat-soluble it accumulates, and excess is harder to reverse than deficiency.
Concerns this ingredient relates to
General nutrition information. It does not replace a diagnosis or a prescription. If your animal has a medical condition or is on medication, talk to your veterinarian first.