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Ingredient file // Vitamin or mineral

Vitamin B1

An essential vitamin, not an energy boost

Vitamin B1, also called thiamine, is added so the finished food supplies enough after processing. Dogs need it to use food for energy and maintain normal nerve function. Extra B1 has not been shown to boost a healthy dog's energy.

Role in the food Supporting nutrient
What it is
An essential dietary vitamin added to dog food, usually as a synthesized thiamine salt.
Made from
Chemically synthesized thiamine salts
Main job
Meet the B1 requirement
Typical amount
Milligrams per kilogram of dry food
Watch for
Too little in the finished food
Not the same as
Vitamin B12

Straight answer

Is Vitamin B1 safe for dogs?

Check the complete food, not the vitamin line

Expect B1 near the end of the ingredient list because the recipe needs only a little. Read the nutritional adequacy statement for your dog's life stage, then judge the complete food. A B1 listing shows what was added, not how much survived processing or whether extra B1 improves health.

Why it is in the food
Meet the B1 requirement

Our read // In our catalog

In 1 of every 73 foods we track

Share of foods that list it

1%

44 of the 3,204 foods with an ingredient list on file, from 7 brands. 32 dry dog food, 8 frozen dog food, 3 wet dog food.

Each square is 1% of the catalog

Where it sits on the label

Median position 30.5. In the top five of 0 foods, so it is usually a minor ingredient.

Top five List position, heaviest first

Above the salt

0%

Usually listed after the salt, which caps it at roughly 1% of the recipe in 100% of foods.

Price per lb

Foods with it $2.34
All foods $3.25

Median of the cheapest bag price across 23 priced foods, 28% below the catalog. The price is the food's, not the ingredient's.

Who leans on it

39%

of the foods that list it are from Nulo. 7 brands use it in total.

What it is

How it is made

Added B1 comes from vitamin manufacturing. Suppliers synthesize thiamine hydrochloride or thiamine mononitrate as crystalline powders. Food makers measure a small amount into a recipe and allow for losses during processing.3,4

  1. 01 // Source Chemical feedstocks Vitamin suppliers start with chemicals for synthesis rather than extracting B1 from meat or grain.
  2. 02 // Process Synthesize thiamine The manufacturer produces thiamine hydrochloride or thiamine mononitrate for use as a nutritional feed additive.
  3. 03 // Process Prepare crystals The additive is supplied as a pale crystalline powder that food makers can measure into a recipe.
  4. 04 // Output Vitamin B1 powder The powder reaches the food plant for blending into the recipe before cooking.

What is in it

Composition, dry matter

99.7

% salt

The lowest measured purity of either thiamine salt in the tested batches. This describes the additive powder, not the B1 level in dog food.

Thiamine hydrochloride 99.7-100%4
Thiamine mononitrate 99.7-100%4
Mononitrate minimum purity specification 98%4

These are purity figures for dry additive powders, not the amount of B1 in finished kibble. That amount depends on the recipe and how much thiamine survives processing.4,5

Why it is in the bag

A tiny dose of a vitamin dogs need

  1. Main nutrition
  2. Supporting nutrient
  3. Does a job
  4. Mostly filler

Dogs must get thiamine from food, and cooking can destroy part of it, so makers add a measured dose of a synthetic thiamine salt to make sure the finished food meets its minimum. The powder is nearly pure, so a pinch does the job. That is why it sits near the end of a list that runs by weight. It adds no bulk or calories, and it is not filler.3,4,5,6

  1. 01

    Meets a dietary need

    Dogs need thiamine from food. A measured addition helps a recipe meet the B1 requirement when its other ingredients supply varying amounts.3,5

  2. 02

    Accounts for cooking loss

    Processing can break down thiamine. Makers allow for that loss when formulating so the finished food still supplies enough.3,5

  3. 03

    Works at tiny scale

    The requirement is measured in milligrams per kilogram of dry food. Concentrated crystalline salts let manufacturers add B1 without changing the recipe's bulk.4,5

How much The AAFCO dog food profile sets a finished-food minimum of 2.25 mg thiamine per kilogram on a dry matter basis.5

Our read // The claims

What the evidence supports

Strong: controlled studies in dogs agree. Some: small or mixed dog data. Thin: mechanism or lab work only. None: nothing, or the evidence points the other way.

  1. Vets say

    B1 is essential for nerves and energy use

    Evidence

    1. Strong
    2. Some
    3. Thin
    4. None

    Thiamine supports energy metabolism and normal nerve function. A dog fed an inadequate diet for 4 weeks developed seizures and poor coordination, then improved with treatment. The evidence supports meeting the need, not taking unlimited extra B1.1,3,5

  2. Brands say

    Cooking destroys B1, so makers add extra

    Evidence

    1. Strong
    2. Some
    3. Thin
    4. None

    AAFCO warns that processing may destroy up to 90% of dietary thiamine. That is an upper figure, not a loss measured in every kibble. Makers must allow for processing so the finished food meets its minimum.3,5

  3. Critics say

    High carbohydrate kibble requires extra B1

    Outruns the evidence

    Evidence

    1. Strong
    2. Some
    3. Thin
    4. None

    Thiamine is used in carbohydrate metabolism, but a veterinary review found no dog study testing how carbohydrate intake changes the requirement. The carbohydrate ingredients on a bag cannot tell you whether its finished food is short of B1.3

  4. Brands say

    More B1 gives healthy dogs more energy

    Outruns the evidence

    Evidence

    1. Strong
    2. Some
    3. Thin
    4. None

    In a study of 64 healthy dogs assigned diets with different vitamin intakes, blood thiamine status was unaffected after 122 days. The study did not measure energy or activity, so extra B1 has not been shown to boost either.2

Straight answers

What owners ask

  1. Q01

    Is it just filler?

    No

    B1 supplies a required nutrient at a tiny dose. It adds no useful bulk, protein or calories. Finding it near the end of an ingredient list is expected.4,5

  2. Q02

    Does synthetic B1 work?

    Yes

    Thiamine hydrochloride and thiamine mononitrate are used as nutritional feed additives. The practical question is whether the complete food supplies enough B1 after processing.3,4,5

  3. Q03

    Should I add a B1 supplement?

    Usually no

    A healthy dog eating complete and balanced food for its life stage generally needs no separate vitamin supplement. An incomplete homemade diet or suspected deficiency needs an individual assessment.1,6,7

Who uses it

Brands, best sellers and the company it keeps

Top brands, by foods that list it

  1. Nulo 17 / 117
  2. Blue Seal 13 / 19
  3. Wellness 7 / 118
  4. Earthborn Holistic 4 / 28
  5. Northwest Naturals 1 / 5
  6. Pedigree 1 / 42
  7. Iams 1 / 31

Foods that list it / all the brand's recipes we track.

Usually listed with, share of the foods that list it

  1. Flaxseed 64%
  2. Barley 55%
  3. Chicken Fat 52%
  4. Brown Rice 48%
  5. Dried Plain Beet Pulp 48%
  6. Chicken Meal 36%
  7. Rice Bran 30%
  8. Sweet Potatoes 27%
  9. Sunflower Oil 25%
  10. Fish Meal 25%
  11. Natural Flavor 25%
  12. Carrots 20%

On the shelf

Foods that list Vitamin B1

44 foods in our catalog list it, highest on the label first.

Earthborn Holistic Venture Turkey Meal & Pumpkin Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodEarthborn HolisticEarthborn Holistic Venture Turkey Meal & Pumpkin Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 14 on the labelPedigree Adult, Roasted Lamb & Vegetable Dry Dog FoodPedigreePedigree Adult, Roasted Lamb & Vegetable Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 17 on the labelEarthborn Holistic Meadow Feast Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodEarthborn HolisticEarthborn Holistic Meadow Feast Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 21 on the labelNulo FreeStyle Signature Stews Small Breed Beef, Beef Liver & Kale Recipe Grain-Free Wet Dog FoodNuloNulo FreeStyle Signature Stews Small Breed Beef, Beef Liver & Kale Recipe Grain-Free Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 22 on the labelNulo FreeStyle Signature Stews Small Breed Lamb & Pumpkin Recipe Grain-Free Wet Dog FoodNuloNulo FreeStyle Signature Stews Small Breed Lamb & Pumpkin Recipe Grain-Free Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 22 on the labelNorthwest Naturals Fruits & Veggies Dog Food TopperNorthwest NaturalsNorthwest Naturals Fruits & Veggies Dog Food TopperTopper // No. 24 on the labelIams Proactive Health Sensitive Skin & Stomach Adult Salmon Dry Dog FoodIamsIams Proactive Health Sensitive Skin & Stomach Adult Salmon Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 25 on the labelWellness CORE+ Wholesome Grains Sensitive Skin Stomach Salmon & Rice Dry Dog FoodWellnessWellness CORE+ Wholesome Grains Sensitive Skin Stomach Salmon & Rice Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 26 on the labelNulo Gently-Cooked Meals Beef & Sweet Potato Recipe Frozen Dog FoodNuloNulo Gently-Cooked Meals Beef & Sweet Potato Recipe Frozen Dog FoodFrozen // No. 27 on the labelNulo Gently-Cooked Meals Salmon & Brown Rice Recipe Frozen Dog FoodNuloNulo Gently-Cooked Meals Salmon & Brown Rice Recipe Frozen Dog FoodFrozen // No. 27 on the labelNulo Gently-Cooked Meals Chicken & Quinoa Recipe Frozen Dog FoodNuloNulo Gently-Cooked Meals Chicken & Quinoa Recipe Frozen Dog FoodFrozen // No. 28 on the labelNulo Culinary Harvest Puppy Chicken & Whitefish Recipe Dry Dog FoodNuloNulo Culinary Harvest Puppy Chicken & Whitefish Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 28 on the label
Show 32 more
Nulo FreeStyle Signature Stews Small Breed Tuna, Pollock & Salmon Recipe Grain-Free Wet Dog FoodNuloNulo FreeStyle Signature Stews Small Breed Tuna, Pollock & Salmon Recipe Grain-Free Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 23 on the labelEarthborn Holistic Primitive Natural Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodEarthborn HolisticEarthborn Holistic Primitive Natural Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 25 on the labelEarthborn Holistic Coastal Catch Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodEarthborn HolisticEarthborn Holistic Coastal Catch Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 27 on the labelNulo Culinary Harvest Chicken & Whitefish Recipe Dry Dog FoodNuloNulo Culinary Harvest Chicken & Whitefish Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 28 on the labelNulo Culinary Harvest Turkey & Herring Recipe Dry Dog FoodNuloNulo Culinary Harvest Turkey & Herring Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 29 on the labelWellness Core RawRev Wholesome Grains Ocean + 100% Raw Fish Dry Dog FoodWellnessWellness Core RawRev Wholesome Grains Ocean + 100% Raw Fish Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 29 on the labelNulo Gently-Cooked Meals Small Breed Beef & Sweet Potato Recipe Frozen Dog FoodNuloNulo Gently-Cooked Meals Small Breed Beef & Sweet Potato Recipe Frozen Dog FoodFrozen // No. 30 on the labelNulo Gently-Cooked Meals Lamb & Apple Recipe Frozen Dog FoodNuloNulo Gently-Cooked Meals Lamb & Apple Recipe Frozen Dog FoodFrozen // No. 30 on the labelNulo Culinary Harvest Beef, Pork & Lamb Recipe Dry Dog FoodNuloNulo Culinary Harvest Beef, Pork & Lamb Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 30 on the labelNulo Culinary Harvest Small Breed Beef, Pork & Lamb Recipe Dry Dog FoodNuloNulo Culinary Harvest Small Breed Beef, Pork & Lamb Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 30 on the labelNulo Gently-Cooked Meals Small Breed Salmon & Brown Rice Recipe Frozen Dog FoodNuloNulo Gently-Cooked Meals Small Breed Salmon & Brown Rice Recipe Frozen Dog FoodFrozen // No. 31 on the labelNulo Gently-Cooked Meals Small Breed Chicken & Quinoa Recipe Frozen Dog FoodNuloNulo Gently-Cooked Meals Small Breed Chicken & Quinoa Recipe Frozen Dog FoodFrozen // No. 31 on the labelNulo Gently-Cooked Meals Duck, Chicken & Quinoa Recipe Frozen Dog FoodNuloNulo Gently-Cooked Meals Duck, Chicken & Quinoa Recipe Frozen Dog FoodFrozen // No. 31 on the labelWellness Core Ocean Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodWellnessWellness Core Ocean Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 31 on the labelWellness Core RawRev Wholesome Grains Small Breed + 100% Raw Turkey Dry Dog FoodWellnessWellness Core RawRev Wholesome Grains Small Breed + 100% Raw Turkey Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 32 on the labelWellness Core RawRev Wholesome Grains Original + 100% Raw Turkey Dry Dog FoodWellnessWellness Core RawRev Wholesome Grains Original + 100% Raw Turkey Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 32 on the labelWellness Core Wholesome Grains Original Dry Dog FoodWellnessWellness Core Wholesome Grains Original Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 32 on the labelWellness Core Reduced Fat Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodWellnessWellness Core Reduced Fat Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 34 on the labelBlue Seal Native Level 3 Chicken Meal & Rice Dry Dog FoodBlue SealBlue Seal Native Level 3 Chicken Meal & Rice Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 36 on the labelBlue Seal Native Level 2.5 Dry Dog FoodBlue SealBlue Seal Native Level 2.5 Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 37 on the labelBlue Seal Native Level 2 Chicken Meal & Rice Dry Dog FoodBlue SealBlue Seal Native Level 2 Chicken Meal & Rice Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 38 on the labelBlue Seal Native Level 1 Lamb Meal & Rice Formula Dry Dog FoodBlue SealBlue Seal Native Level 1 Lamb Meal & Rice Formula Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 38 on the labelNulo MedalSeries Baked & Coated Salmon, Chicken & Turkey Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodNuloNulo MedalSeries Baked & Coated Salmon, Chicken & Turkey Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 40 on the labelBlue Seal EnTrust Healthy Weight Formula Dry Dog FoodBlue SealBlue Seal EnTrust Healthy Weight Formula Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 51 on the labelBlue Seal EnTrust Small Breed Formula Dry Dog FoodBlue SealBlue Seal EnTrust Small Breed Formula Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 51 on the labelBlue Seal EnTrust Healthy Adult Formula - Pork & Barley Recipe Dry Dog FoodBlue SealBlue Seal EnTrust Healthy Adult Formula - Pork & Barley Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 51 on the labelBlue Seal EnTrust Healthy Adult Formula - Lamb & Rice Recipe Dry Dog FoodBlue SealBlue Seal EnTrust Healthy Adult Formula - Lamb & Rice Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 53 on the labelBlue Seal Entrust Adult Chicken Meal & Barley Recipe Dry Dog FoodBlue SealBlue Seal Entrust Adult Chicken Meal & Barley Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 53 on the labelBlue Seal Entrust Large Breed Puppy Chicken Meal & Barley Recipe Dry Dog FoodBlue SealBlue Seal Entrust Large Breed Puppy Chicken Meal & Barley Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 53 on the labelBlue Seal Entrust Puppy Chicken Meal & Barley Recipe Dry Dog FoodBlue SealBlue Seal Entrust Puppy Chicken Meal & Barley Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 53 on the labelBlue Seal EnTrust Healthy Senior Formula Dry Dog FoodBlue SealBlue Seal EnTrust Healthy Senior Formula Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 54 on the labelBlue Seal EnTrust Sensitive Stomach & Skin Formula Dry Dog FoodBlue SealBlue Seal EnTrust Sensitive Stomach & Skin Formula Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 54 on the label

Sources

What we read

Checked October 1, 2026.

  1. 1 Thiamine deficiency in a dog associated with exclusive consumption of boiled sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas): Serial changes in clinical findings, magnetic resonance imaging findings and blood lactate and thiamine concentrations Veterinary Medicine and Science, 2021 // Journal
  2. 2 Blood vitamin concentrations in privately owned dogs fed non-standardized commercial diets and after intake of diets with specified vitamin concentrations Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition, 2007 // Journal
  3. 3 The Role of Thiamine and Effects of Deficiency in Dogs and Cats Veterinary Sciences, 2017 // Journal
  4. 4 Assessment of the feed additives thiamine hydrochloride (3a820) and thiamine mononitrate (3a821) (vitamin B1) for all animal species for the renewal of their authorisation (Kaesler Nutrition GmbH) EFSA Journal, 2025 // Regulator
  5. 5 AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles AAFCO, 2013 // Regulator
  6. 6 Reading Labels AAFCO, n.d. // Regulator
  7. 7 Supplements AAFCO, n.d. // Regulator
An ingredient on its own tells you very little. What matters is how much of it there is and where it sits in the list. That is why we weigh the top five rather than reacting to any single name further down. Back to the wiki

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