

Daily Recommended Intakeįor most dogs, enough Vitamin K is produced internally by their own gut bacteria, which means they require very little in dietary sources. Four of the thirteen coagulation factors require Vitamin K during their creation to be able to function properly, and without it, blood simply won’t be able to clot. When a blood vessel or tissue injury occurs, these proteins work with the platelets in the blood to form a clot that stops bleeding. But how does Vitamin K assist this important process?Ĭoagulation factors are proteins that are made in the liver. Without the ability to clot, blood would continue to flow out from wounds and injuries, making even minor ones fatal. This vitamin helps the blood to clot, a truly essential component of our bodies that allow us to recover from injuries. While it may help to prevent heart disease and keep calcium from remaining in the arteries that can contribute to plaque, Vitamin K has one hugely important function that mammals simply can’t live without. But first, let’s take a look at the functions of Vitamin K for dogs. In this guide, we’ll discuss why your dog needs Vitamin K, how much they should be consuming daily, and how to spot a deficiency of this much needed nutrient. There is also a synthetic version of Vitamin K called Vitamin K3, or menadione. Vitamin K2, or menaquinone, is synthesized by gut bacteria inside an animal’s body, and can also be found in some food sources.

Vitamin K1, or phylloquinone, is the primary dietary source of Vitamin K as it is synthesized in plants and can be consumed through food or supplements. Vitamin K is a fat-soluble nutrient for dogs that is essential for the synthesis of coagulation proteins needed for blood to clot.
