Sunlight and your dog's health 陽光與狗隻健康

Vitamin D regulates the calcium:phosphorous balance in the body. It stimulates kidney retention of calcium and is vitally important to bone formation and nerve and muscle control.   

維生素 D可幫助調節在體內的 "鈣：磷"的2平衡。它刺激腎臟對鈣的保留.  而且對幫助骨生長和神經及肌肉的控制是非常重要的.
 
I met a 7 year old dog (a Terrier) had vitamin D deficiency.  It was very hard to diagnose and blood test was done overseas to find out what was wrong.  He was eating a lot, and very active but losing so much muscle mass and bone mass within a few short months and started to have symptoms of  chronic kidney disease.   Luckily for him, taking vitamin D supplements for a while should help.  

我曾遇過一隻7歲的男狗仔（史立沙）缺乏維生素 D症。這是非常難診斷的症, 要用血液測試及將報告寄到海外才知迫問題在在。他含很多，非常活躍，但在短短幾個月內失去很多的肌肉和骨重及開如有慢性腎臟病的症狀。幸運的他只要服用一段時間的維生素 D補充劑就應該有幫助。 
 
How to avoid Vitamin D deficiency and how to get Vitamin D? 如何避免缺乏維生素 D和如何吸取維生素 D？ 

• Some people will give vitamin D supplement for their dogs but we really have to avoid overdose and you might not want to give it to your dog if your dogs have renal disease or other diseases and speak to your vet before you give any to your dog.  
• 有些人會給他們的狗隻維生素 D的補充，但要小心及避免過量.  如果你的狗有腎臟或其他疾病, 你不應給你的狗及應先跟獸醫查詢。 

• Easier way to get Vitamin D for your dog  is sunlight.  Sunlight has a dramatic effect on active vitamin D levels in the blood. We are talking about direct sunshine a couple of times a week, about 10-20 minutes each time.  A word of caution: do not overheat your dog!! Long hair, short muzzles, breathing problems, obesity, and other issues can increase heat stroke chances. 
• 最容易及更簡單的方法去獲取維生素 D是陽光。陽光能將在血液中的維生素 D水平戲劇化地活躍起來。要有足夠維生素 D水平, 每只狗只需要每星期有幾日每次約10-20分鐘在陽光丁直射。一個忠告：小心你的狗隻會過熱。

Same for horses, see Sunlight for horses