L-carnitine is a nutrient and dietary supplement.  It plays a crucial role in the production of energy by transporting fatty acids into your dog’s cells’ mitochondria (1, 2, 3).

The mitochondria act as engines within your dog’s cells, burning these fats to create usable energy.  Their body can produce L-carnitine out of the amino acids, lysine and methionine.  To produce it in sufficient amounts, your dog also needs plenty of vitamin C (4).

In addition to the L-carnitine produced in their body, they can also obtain small amounts by eating animal products like meat or fish (5).  Vegans or people with certain genetic issues may be unable to produce or obtain enough. This makes L-carnitine a conditionally essential nutrient (6).  Deficiency of this nutrient can cause a variety of health problems for animals; most significantly, the association with heart disease (cardiomyopathy) in dogs.

We use a vegan friendly, plant-based source of L-carnitine in our recipes to provide your dog with the significant health benefits and support that L-carnitine offers them.