does anyone know what the function of "Vitamin K Supplement" seen on labels of dry foods is?

thanks! :)

Don't know but will be very interested to see what people say because my daughter was injected with Vit K as a baby and I thought it was something to do with thickening blood (coagulant)

Vitamin K, like Vitamin B, is not just one vitamin.

It is essential for correct coagulation of the blood and is generally well provided for in dogs by bacteria in the gut.

Vit K can be stripped by digestive problems or long term antibiotic use.

For those of us that feed raw it there is plenty in green leafy vegetables and eggs.

that's what i thought too but apparently there are 3 forms of vitamin k, k1, k2 and k3 respectively.  The type used in dry foods are said to be k3 which is known as menadione - something thats not good i suppose as a friend has warned me about it and its found in many quality brands, check it out: http://www.mordanna.com/dogfood/index.php?page=menadione

it is listed in both of the dry foods we give our dogs now but they are doing well on them, really do not know if we should change or not :( beginning of another nightmare....

Any vitamin/mineral or nutrient (including water) can be toxic if given to excess.  The side effects that are described here would occur if the amounts put in Commercial dog food were excessive, which they are not.

You can find the same information with regard to ALL vitamins, they are ALL extremely toxic if overdosed, especially Vitamins A and D.

I think this is a case of a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.

IMHO I would be more concerned about the salt levels in commercial food which are all WAY above nutritional requirements.............

this issue has been mentioned to me a few weeks ago and i have been having my doubts on whether it is as severe as the article i've linked to says it is, thanks for clearing this up for me as i really do not want to be changing their food again. :)

If I used salt, I'd take a pinch of it with that article! ;) :D

:D :D :D

Cavaliergirl it's up to you who you believe,someone who has done the research,or people who would rather leave sarcastic,unhelpful comments to a very important question!