There is much disagreement on the internet about the source of vitamin D for cats
Cats get it from prey/food
Example How Much Vitamin D Should My Pet Receive?
Dogs and cats cannot synthesize vitamin D-3; in the wild they would obtain it by eating prey so it is added to all their complete commercial pet foods.
Cats get it from their fur if they get time in the sun
ExampleAutogrooming by cats
- A cat acquires the essential vitamin D by licking its fur after exposing itself to the sun.
- Self-grooming also stimulates the glands at the base of each hair. The secretions of these glands will keep the fur weatherproofed.
Example Feline Nutrtion
Cats cannot manufacture vitamin D or its precursor 7-dehydrocholesterol. Cats appear to have an extremely low dietary requirement for vitamin D provided that they have exposure to some sunlight and are otherwise well nourished.
Metabolic bone disease in lion cubs at the London Zoo in 1889: the original animal model of rickets
Cats like UV
Two of my friends have cats which are now enjoying a UV lamp similar to the low cost one which I use in the winter.
Cat and Dog distemper
WikiPedia
Vitamin D Council Oct 2011 mentions one cat owner who used vitamin D to treat the cat distemper.
Vitamin D does prevent and perhaps treat virus infections in humans (flu, etc.) Overview Influenza and vitamin D
Zimbio July 2011
In an animal with distemper, demyelination causes the lingin of the nervous tissue to be destroyed.
Subsequently, the dog`s body attempts to fight this by using its own immune cells.
The result is encephalitis, inflammation of the brain, which leads to seizures.
Phenobarbital is thought to be a good way to help fight against and limit your pet`s seizures.
It might also be wise to supplement this with a Chinese herbal formula that will aid in healing the damage already done.
On top of that, hemp oil, vitamin D and B, kelp, supplemental magnesium, and vitamin C can all have a positive effect on this condition.
28+ VitaminDWiki pages have CATS OR DOGS OR PETS in the title
This list is automatically updated
Items found: 32
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Dogs health increased by Vitamin D |
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23 Apr, 2025 |
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Gut problems associated with low vitamin D (dogs in this case) – Sept 2024 |
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26 Sep, 2024 |
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Cats 8.2X more likely to die in 30 days if low vitamin D when enter hospital – May 2015 |
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25 Sep, 2024 |
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Vitamin D is great for dogs and cats too |
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24 May, 2024 |
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Cats often have similar range of Vitamin D as humans - 10 to 30 ng - Jan 2024 |
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26 Jan, 2024 |
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Senior pets rejuvenated with vitamin D |
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08 Feb, 2022 |
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Dental implants 10 percent better with topical vitamin D (in dogs) – Sept 2015 |
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31 Jan, 2022 |
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450,000 IU of Vitamin D daily too much for a cat - Aug 2021 |
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18 Aug, 2021 |
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Dogs and Cats still need vitamin D – July 2021 |
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29 Jul, 2021 |
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Calcidiol increased blood levels of Vitamin D in one month (dogs) – Feb 2021 |
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10 Jun, 2021 |
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Poor immune system associated with low Vitamin D (dogs in this case) – June 2020 |
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05 Aug, 2020 |
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Many non-bone diseases associated with low Vitamin D (dog and cats in this study) – Dec 2019 |
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06 Dec, 2019 |
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Some Dog food had excess vitamin D, first dry food, then canned – Speculation Feb 2019 |
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03 Feb, 2019 |
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Acute pancreatitis in dogs is associated with low vitamin D (lowest D equals death) – Aug 2017 |
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18 Sep, 2018 |
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Half of dogs now get cancer, it used to be just 1 percent (probably low Vitamin D) |
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08 May, 2018 |
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Critically ill dogs with good levels of vitamin D have much better outcomes (humans too) – March 2018 |
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29 Mar, 2018 |
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Companion animals (dog, cats) need vitamin D too – March 2016 |
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19 Mar, 2018 |
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Vitamin D Lethal Dose in Dogs – 1934 |
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05 Mar, 2018 |
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Dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, pet birds, etc need Vitamin D |
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18 Feb, 2018 |
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Atopic dermatitis treated by Vitamin D (in dogs too) - RCT Feb 2018 |
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04 Feb, 2018 |
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Dogs, like humans, need vitamin D for many reasons – Jan 2018 |
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23 Jan, 2018 |
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Dogs with Cancer have low vitamin D, same as humans – Sept 2017 |
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24 Sep, 2017 |
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Cancer 4 times more likely if low vitamin D (in dogs) – 2016 |
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18 Apr, 2017 |
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Cats with feline HIV and hospitalized cats have low levels of vitamin D – Nov 2015 |
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28 Nov, 2015 |
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Dog Cancer 4X more likely if low Vitamin D – Nov 2015 |
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22 Nov, 2015 |
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Dog Cancer (hemangiosarcoma) is rare if more than 100 ng of vitamin D – July 2014 |
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22 Nov, 2015 |
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Rickets increasing in dogs |
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17 Oct, 2015 |
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Hospitalized cats 8X more likely to die if low vitamin D (Vit. D helps humans too) – May 2015 |
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11 Sep, 2015 |
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Controversy cats and vitamin D |
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19 Jan, 2014 |
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Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Lymphoma – associated with low vitamin D in cats too – Jan 2014 |
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19 Jan, 2014 |
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UVB better than vitamin D supplements for pet reptiles – March 2010 |
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20 Aug, 2012 |
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Dogs – like humans – with IBD were low on vitamin D – July 2011 |
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14 Mar, 2012 |
See also VitaminDWiki