B-group vitamins (B12, biotin)

The B-group vitamins are a family of water-soluble vitamins that act as cofactors in energy metabolism; because they are poorly stored, they must be supplied regularly through the diet. Two members illustrate why they matter. Vitamin B12, or cobalamin, is essential for DNA synthesis, amino-acid metabolism, nerve function and red-blood-cell formation. Dogs and cats cannot make it and rely on animal-source foods such as meat, liver and fish, and its absorption depends on a healthy pancreas and small intestine, which is why cobalamin deficiency is common in chronic digestive disease, pancreatitis or inflammatory bowel disease and is routinely checked by blood test. Biotin, also called vitamin B8 or vitamin H, is involved in fat metabolism and supports skin and coat quality, and it is partly produced by the gut flora. A memorable quirk concerns raw egg white: it contains avidin, a protein that binds biotin tightly, so eating large amounts of raw egg white can actually induce a biotin deficiency, shown as a dull coat and skin lesions. The wider B group, including niacin where cats have a notably higher requirement than dogs, supports the same energy-metabolism machinery. A complete food normally covers all these needs, with added B vitamins listed among the additives. See the [Petipedia glossary](/glossary) for related water-soluble vitamins.

Petipedia · Editorial team

General documentary information. For an individual animal, a veterinarian's advice takes precedence over any online content.