Are you wanting to ensure that your dog is getting enough biotin?
You’ll be happy to hear that this type of deficiency, while entirely possible, is a rare occurrence.
It is almost certain that feeding your dog a healthy diet will provide all their needs in terms of biotin.
Make sure your pet’s regular meals are up to standard and there is no need to worry. Of course, there are always special situations.
Sometimes Dogs Do Require Extra Biotin
And, if need be, there would be significant benefits.
Biotin, also known as Vitamin B7 and vitamin-H, can greatly improve the quality of your dog’s nails, skin and hair ie. a healthier fur coat.
What The Data Shows
A clinical study of 119 dogs found that most of them (91%) benefited from Biotin. The results, “confirm the favorable effect of biotin for treatment of fur and skin conditions in dogs”.
Skin conditions or fur problems were either totally cured (60%) or improved (31%).
So a biotin supplement may be worth trying, but it really depends on your dog’s situation.
Sometimes even serious conditions such as diabetes and depression respond (though these benefits are less proven).
FYI: Worth looking into is a canine-formulated concentrated Biotin supplement.
Signs of a Biotin Deficiency
It is not easy to confirm a lack of Biotin, but there are a few signs you can look for.
Does your dog have a dull or dry coat, anemia, lesions, pruritus, dry or scaly skin?
Other indications include a lack of energy or depression.
Of course, none of these observations would confirm a low biotin scenario.
There could be an entirely different deficiency or medical condition at play. The problem could even be genetic. Sometimes a solution is as simple as a tailored diet and healthier lifestyle.
Have your dog checked out if you are truly concerned!
Standard Dog Dosing of Biotin
Follow the manufacturer’s directions for a Biotin supplement that’s designed for pets.
Otherwise, there’s a general rule of thumb:
5mg of biotin daily for every 20 pounds of your dog’s body weight.
This is actually the approximate amount used in the previously-mentioned clinical study.
Again, get your vet’s diagnosis before you do anything!
Be Selective With Supplements
To be very clear:
Extra biotin does not make much sense unless there is a good reason to provide it.
Try to keep your dog as bound to nature as possible. This way you’ll reduce a possibility of unintended consequences.
Topping Up Biotin From Food
It cannot be stressed enough:
This important vitamin is in a very wide variety of foods including pretty much all meats, innards (internal organs) as well as quality canine chow.
So you really should not have to worry about Biotin supplementation.
Of course, get premium dog food rather than the cheap stuff. In any case, supplementing afterwards is the wrong approach!
The Bottom Line
A Biotin supplement could help your dog in several ways. Improvement in their coat or skin would be the most obvious benefit.
But you should get a diagnosis first!
For now, do an evaluation of your dog’s food. Perhaps it lacks natural Biotin.
In other words, find out if a deficiency is really an issue! Providing extra could be unnecessary and unhelpful.
What would the dosage be for a 5 pound Chihuahua?
What Biotin dose is safe for my dog? I can only find 1,000mg. Is that OK?
5mg of biotin daily for every 20 pounds of your dog’s body weight is what the article says above.
Are you sure you don’t mean 1,000 micrograms? That would be equivalent to 1mg.
My dog was severely wounded, down to the bone. The dosage was 5mg for every 20 pounds of her weight. Are you sure you are reading you bottle correctly? 5000mcg=5mg. My dog weighs 80 pounds so she gets 4 tablets a day. WalMart sells Biotin in 5000mcg capsules. You would give your dog one 5000mcg tablet/capsule for every 20 pounds of her weight. If you have only 1000mcg capsules/tabs, you would give 1 capsule/tablet for every 4 pounds of her weight. I hope this helps.
My dog ate half a bottle of my mum’s Hair – Skin – Nail – Body & Beauty tablets. Should I be worried?
My vet recommended Biotin for my dog due to the many allergies she has. Within just 6 or 7 weeks we saw a remarkable difference in her. The environmental issues also affect dogs and cats these days.
What dose did you give your dog?
I see you didn’t get a reply to your question. Did you, by any chance, get an answer from other sources? My Blue Chihuahua has a skin problem called Alopecia. This is a very common condition in the Blue ones.
My poor thing suffers a lot with it since it comes with skin rash and she itches if I don’t bathe her every two days. I’ve read somewhere that giving Biotin produces results in about a month or so. I would appreciate any feedback on your dog’s condition. Thanks in advance!
Chihuahuas are sensitive breeds and known for skin issues. Biotin is only a piece of what needs to be done from a dietary standpoint. Nutrition is so critical for dogs with immune/skin issues.
I wonder if your dog suffers from yeast overgrowth. Does your dog develop a Frito-like smell, have brittle fur, get really red on her skin and develop little sores? If this is the case please consider the herb Pau d’arco which is amazing for this condition.
But also make sure her diet contains as little sugar as possible (even healthy sugars found in carrots and fruit). You can consider Purina ProPlan Salmon for sensitive skin. All these things have helped my dog immensely. I wish you all the best for your baby!
What brand did you buy your dog?