Can dogs have Zinc Proteinate?

Overview

Caution. Zinc proteinate is a safe, absorbable zinc supplement for dogs. It promotes healthy skin, coat, immune defence, and metabolic function. High doses of zinc can be toxic over time, so always follow your vet’s dosage recommendation based on your dog’s size and dietary needs

Benefits

Zinc proteinate functions as a chelated zinc compound which binds to amino acids for better absorption. The bioavailability of zinc proteinate exceeds that of inorganic zinc compounds including zinc oxide and zinc sulfate.
Zinc proteinate supports skin health, immune function, wound healing, and enzyme activation.
It serves as an effective treatment for zinc-responsive dermatosis which primarily affects Siberian Huskies and Alaskan Malamutes due to their natural zinc deficiency.

Risks

Giving excessive zinc supplements can lead to zinc toxicity in dogs.
The long-term use of excessive zinc amounts interferes with copper absorption, which can result in copper deficiency.
Zinc proteinate requires lower doses because of its high absorption rate which makes accidental overdose more likely when measurements are not precise.

Servings

Zinc proteinate is typically added to commercial dog food or used in dietary supplements in small, regulated amounts.
The recommended zinc intake for adult dogs is 120 mg/kg of dry matter for adult dogs.
The maximum limit for zinc supplement in dog foods is 200 mg/kg dry matter. Most pet foods contain zinc within the 100–200 mg/kg range.