Vitamin E is an essential fat-soluble vitamin for maintaining your dog's health. It acts as an antioxidant, protecting cells from damage caused by free radicals and oxidative stress. Vitamin E is also involved in immune function, skin health, and other biological processes.

Vitamin E can be found in many whole food sources commonly used in a fresh diet for dogs, including liver and other secreting organs from grass-fed animals, pasture-raised eggs, blackberries, broccoli, salmon, wheat germ, pumpkin seeds, and mango.

The antioxidant properties of vitamin E are essential to your dog’s health! Vitamin E helps neutralize free radicals and unstable molecules that can damage cells and contribute to aging and various health issues. Vitamin E supports cardiovascular health by preventing the oxidation of cholesterol.

Vitamin E supports the immune system, helping the body defend against infections and illnesses. It also supports reproductive health and fertility in breeding dogs.

Vitamin E promotes healthy skin and a shiny coat. Ensuring your dog gets ample vitamin E will benefit dogs with dry or flaky skin. 

Your dog’s muscles also benefit from vitamin E as it aids overall muscle health and recovery, especially in working or super active dogs.

A vitamin E deficiency in your dog can lead to serious health problems due to its crucial role in maintaining cellular health and protecting against oxidative damage. While vitamin E deficiency is relatively rare in dogs, certain conditions or factors can increase the risk. 

If your dog was born prematurely, she may not receive adequate vitamin E from her mother's milk. You need to monitor preemie puppies closely for clinical signs of vitamin E deficiency. 

If your dog is fed a poorly balanced or nutritionally deficient diet, you may need to supplement vitamin E. Kibble-fed dogs benefit from kibble toppers  that contain vitamin E, as kibble with synthetic preservatives such as butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) is often vitamin E deficient.  When preparing homemade meals for your dog, you must include ingredients known for high levels of vitamin E.

Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin, and dogs with conditions that impair fat absorption in the intestines (such as exocrine pancreatic insufficiency) may have trouble absorbing vitamin E. Liver disease can also affect the storage and release of vitamin E, leading to decreased levels in the body.

The clinical signs of vitamin E deficiency may vary depending on the severity and duration of the deficiency. Some common signs of vitamin E deficiency in dogs include:

Muscle Weakness: Dogs with vitamin E deficiency may exhibit muscle weakness and lack coordination (ataxia). They may struggle to stand or walk normally.

Neurological Issues: Vitamin E is crucial for maintaining the health of the nervous system. Deficiency can lead to neurological problems, including abnormal reflexes, tremors, and seizures.

Skin Problems: Vitamin E plays a role in maintaining healthy skin. Dogs with a deficiency may develop dry, flaky, or irritated skin. Skin lesions or dermatitis can also occur.

Reproductive Problems: In breeding dogs, vitamin E deficiency can lead to reproductive issues, such as decreased fertility or difficulty carrying pregnancies to term.

Compromised Immunity: Vitamin E is involved in supporting the immune system. A deficiency can weaken the dog's immune response, making them more susceptible to infections and illnesses.

Vision Impairment: In severe cases of vitamin E deficiency, dogs may develop vision problems due to retinal degeneration.

The clinical signs of vitamin E deficiency may not be specific to this deficiency alone and can overlap with other health conditions. Proper diagnosis of vitamin E deficiency requires a veterinary examination, blood tests to measure vitamin E levels, and consideration of your dog's diet and medical history.

Diagnosing and Treating Vitamin E Deficiency

Diagnosing a vitamin E deficiency in dogs involves a combination of clinical evaluation, blood tests, and consideration of the dog's diet and medical history. Your dog will need a complete veterinary workup if you suspect a vitamin E deficiency. 

Your veterinarian will conduct a thorough physical examination to gather information about your dog's medical history, including any previous health issues, medications, and diet. The vet will also look for any signs associated with vitamin E deficiency, such as muscle weakness, neurological issues, skin problems, or reproductive abnormalities.

A blood sample will be taken from your dog to be analyzed for alpha-tocopherol, the body's active form of vitamin E.  In some cases, your veterinarian may perform further tests such as a complete blood count (CBC), serum biochemistry panel, and possibly other specialized tests based on the clinical presentation to assess your dog's overall health and rule out other potential causes of the observed clinical signs. 

These tests may include Dietary Assessment: The veterinarian will inquire about your dog's diet to determine any potential nutritional deficiencies or imbalances that could contribute to a vitamin E deficiency.

In some cases, your veterinarian may conduct a therapeutic trial of vitamin E supplementation. If your dog shows improvement in clinical signs with supplementation, it can support the diagnosis of vitamin E deficiency.

Excessive intake of vitamin E can lead to vitamin E toxicity, also known as hypervitaminosis E. Vitamin E toxicity is relatively rare in dogs and is more commonly associated with the excessive consumption of vitamin E supplements or human-grade supplements unsuitable for dogs.

Clinical signs of vitamin E toxicity in dogs can vary depending on the body's excess vitamin E level. Common signs of vitamin E toxicity in dogs may include:

Gastrointestinal Upset: Dogs may experience clinical signs such as vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal discomfort.

Weakness: Excessive vitamin E can affect the dog's muscles and may lead to generalized weakness and loss of coordination.

Blindness: Vitamin E toxicity can impact the dog's vision, leading to vision problems or even temporary blindness.

Lethargy: Dogs affected by vitamin E toxicity may become lethargic or unusually tired.

Blood Clotting Abnormalities: Vitamin E is involved in blood clotting regulation. Toxicity can lead to clotting abnormalities, which may manifest as excessive bleeding or bruising.

Swelling or Edema: Excessive vitamin E can cause fluid retention, leading to swelling or edema in different body parts.

If you suspect your dog has ingested excessive vitamin E or are showing any signs of vitamin E toxicity, seeking immediate veterinary attention is essential. Treatment will depend on the severity of the toxicity and the signs exhibited by the dog.

In many cases, the veterinarian may induce vomiting or use other methods to prevent further absorption of vitamin E from the gastrointestinal tract. Supportive care, including intravenous fluids and monitoring of vital signs, may be provided to help your dog recover. In severe cases, specific treatments may be required to address specific manifestations, such as blood clotting abnormalities or vision problems.

The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) recommends that adult dog food provide 50 IU of Vitamin E per kilogram of food. However, this minimum requirement must be present in the food upon manufacturing. The actual amount that your dog receives could be considerably less due to the nature of vitamin E. 

Because Vitamin E is an antioxidant, it is susceptible to degradation when exposed to factors that promote oxidation, such as heat, light, and air. Commonly used forms of vitamin E in commercial dog foods are alpha-tocopherol and mixed tocopherols.

The factors that can affect the stability of vitamin E in kibble include the processing temperature, storage conditions, packaging, the use of antioxidants and preservatives, and the quality of the ingredients.

The high-temperature processing in creating kibble can cause some degree of vitamin E degradation. The higher the processing temperature and the longer the exposure to heat, the greater the potential for vitamin E loss. Kibble is exposed to high temperatures at least four times during manufacturing. 

Proper kibble storage is essential for maintaining the stability of its nutrients, including vitamin E. Exposure to light, heat, and humidity can accelerate vitamin E degradation over time. 

The packaging of the kibble can also impact vitamin E stability. Packaging that provides a sound barrier against light and air can help preserve the vitamin content. However, as soon as you open the bag of kibble, you expose the food to air and humidity, starting the oxidation process. Many people further the oxidation process by transferring the food to plastic containers.

Some pet food manufacturers add antioxidants and preservatives to kibble formulations to protect the nutrients, including vitamin E, from oxidation and degradation. Synthetic preservatives include butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), tert-butyl hydroquinone, and ethoxyquin. Although the preservative can help maintain the shelf-life of the food, it is not without consequences. Some studies showed these compounds promoted tumor growth, while others reported anticarcinogenic properties if used at low concentrations. 

Natural preservatives such as alpha-tocopherol or mixed tocopherols maintain vitamin E levels, but once the kibble is exposed to air, the oxidation process accelerates. The quality of the ingredients used in the kibble formulation can also influence the stability of vitamin E. Fres, and high-quality ingredients are more likely to retain their nutrient content.

When feeding your dog a fresh, whole-food diet, you need to include foods that are good vitamin E sources. High-quality protein in muscle meat from organically pasture-raised ruminants, cattle, elk, bison, goats, swine, or sheep is high in vitamin E. Grass-fed meats  have four times the amount of vitamin E as grain-fed or grain-finished meats. This is due to the increased quantities of vitamin E in the grass, which results in higher tissue levels of vitamin E. The color of grass-fed meat is red and vivid (associated with oxymyoglobin), whereas grain-fed meat is brown.

Organically, pasture-raised meats, eggs, spleen, liver, salmon, mango, pumpkin seeds, wheat germ, blackberries, and broccoli are all great sources of vitamin E. Whenever possible, feeding with whole foods rather than synthetic supplements is recommended. This is a healthier method of providing the supplements, and vitamins from whole foods are also often more bioavailable. 

Vitamin E can also help maintain your dog's heart. This essential vitamin aids in developing the heart muscle in puppies and maintaining normal heart function in adult dogs. A veterinarian may recommend vitamin E supplements in addition to medication for dogs with heart problems.

For minor burns or skin irritations, many holistic veterinarians recommend applying topical vitamin E. This means it would be applied directly to the skin rather than with an oral supplement. This could be in the form of a cream or found within a specialized shampoo. 

Raw-fed dogs should receive adequate vitamin E levels if fed muscle meat and organs from organically pasture-raised animals or other whole food sources.

Dogs who eat kibble are provided at least the minimum daily allowance of Vitamin E, which is generalized, so your dog could still consume too much or too little.

If you are unsure if your dog has the proper amount of Vitamin E, consult your veterinarian and request a blood test.

Vitamin E supplementation in canine atopic dermatitis: improvement of clinical signs and effects on oxidative stress markers 

Anti-inflammatory response of dietary vitamin E and its effects on pain and joint structures during early stages of surgically induced osteoarthritis in dogs 

Effects of Serum Vitamin E Levels on Skin Vitamin E Levels in Dogs and Cats 

Vitamin E is an essential fat-soluble nutrient that plays a critical role in maintaining your dog’s overall health. One of its primary functions is to act as an antioxidant, helping protect cells from damage caused by free radicals and oxidative stress. In addition to this protective role, vitamin E supports immune function, contributes to healthy skin and coat, and is involved in many important biological processes throughout the body.

Vitamin E for Raw Feeders

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