What It Does
Carries oxygen in your pet's blood via hemoglobin. Without enough iron, tissues are starved of oxygen, causing anemia — one of the most common nutritional deficiencies in pets. Growing puppies and kittens have especially high iron needs during their rapid development phase.
What You’ll Notice
An iron-deficient pet becomes tired quickly, sleeps more than usual, and has pale gums (check the inside of the lip — it should be pink, not white). In severe cases, breathing becomes rapid even at rest, and the pet loses interest in play.
Pink gums
Good stamina
Pale gums
Fatigue
Sources & Notes
Red meat, liver (richest source), poultry, legumes. Iron deficiency in adult pets often signals chronic blood loss — always consult a vet if gums appear pale.