Petco Text Logo
Petco Pet Logo

  • Two Easy Ways to Start Earning Rewards!

    rewards header
    Become a member today!
    Members-only pricing and offers, personalized care notifications, Vital Care points back on every purchase and more!
    Already a member? Sign in
    Petco Pay LogoBecome a credit card member today!

    Earn 2X Pals Rewards points at Petco
    when you use Petco Pay!

    APPLY NOW
    Learn More About Petco Pay Benefits

Is menadione sodium bisulphate in cat kibble safe for my cat?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Domestic Shorthair | Female | spayed | 9 years old | 9 lbs

Hi there! I read that menadione , found in many cat foods , can be toxic . Is this the same as manadione sodium bisulphate complex that's in my cats kibble ? Thank you

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Kevin Sanada, DVM

Answered By Kevin Sanada, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on January 31st, 2018

Yes, this is the same as menadione. I would not be too concerned about this ingredient though. Menadione is simply a synthetic form of Vitamin K. As with many topics surrounding nutrition, there has been quite a bit of misinformation and hype about manadione and it's potential for toxicity. This ingredient is an essential nutrient that is put in pet foods at small amounts to ensure the food is nutritionally balanced and is not known to be toxic. It has been shown to be toxic in laboratory animals at extremely high doses (more than could ever be attained from eating the food), which is not very remarkable, because everything is toxic at some point. This ingredient has been put in pet foods for many years and there is no evidence to show that is has any negative effects in small amounts over long periods of time. The concern that it is toxic at the amounts in pet foods is unfounded. I personally have no qualms feeding this to my pets.

For more information, I recommend you read the article at the link below.

http://skeptvet.com/Blog/2011/07/vitamin-k3-menadione-in-pet-food-is-it-safe/

I hope that helps and all is well with Kitty.
Vote Icon1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

  • Answered By Emily, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on June 18th, 2017

    As long as it is an approved pet food that is a very safe additive. If this was a homemade diet or something bought from a small distributor I would be slightly more concerned as those art as tightly regulated. However this is not an unusual additive to most cat food diets.

    Vote Icon

    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Smart Picks for Smart Questions

Food & Nutrition
Is Vitamin K3 (menadione) in dog food safe if dogs make it naturally?
Hello. There are 3 forms of Vit K. 2 are naturally occurring, the third ( this one ) is synthetic. It is added to feeds because Vit K is an essential nutrient used to prevent bleeding problems. It is approved to be used in many animal feeds & while there have been some internet chatter about this, there are no known adverse effects with the long term consumption of this vitamin. It is water soluble, so any excess is excreted from the body. The problem is, finding a food where the manufacturer does not add this. I personally, would not worry. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Food & Nutrition
Are Dicalcium Phosphate, Sodium Selenite, K3 in my pet's food safe?
Dicalcium phosphate and sodium selenite are additives to food products in order to increase the levels of both calcium and selenium. Both of these are minerals required in the diet of a dog in certain quantities in order to be healthy. I do not know enough about the Menadione to speak intelligently about it, other than it is some sort of vitamin K pre cursor. Vitamin K is a fat soluble vitamin that plays a large role in the clotting of blood in the body. Depending on the company of the food you use, I don't spend too much time looking at every ingredient on the label. I think it is great that you are being astute, but if you trust the company then I don't think you should be terribly worried. Additionally, if the company is reputable, you can always call up their veterinary nutrition department and ask for a detailed explanation as to the addition of the new stuff. Most of the time they are happy to talk to their clients. Hope this is helpful.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Food & Nutrition
Is human folic acid with fillers safe for my cat with low folate?
While I don't have concerns about those specific ingredients, supplementing folate is not typically necessary for an adult cat. Low folate is a sign that the bacterial flora in the intestinal tract is out of balance, often because of a disease like inflammatory bowel disease and the test is often run to look for this problem. Treatment usually focuses on treating the underlying disease which will correct the folate. I would recommend talking to your veterinarian before choosing to supplement orally.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Health & Wellness
My cat has kidney issues and no appetite. Can I give human B vitamins?
No it is not safe to give your cat Vitamin B human grade b/c this would overdose him. In fact Vitamin B12 is not absorbed readily by mouth and must be given by injection to pets. This also isn't much of an appetite stimulant, but mostly helps with intestinal malabsorption. I would suggest that you ask your vet for anti-nausea medication (Cerenia) which is actually labeled to use for cats with kidney problems that have decreased appetite. It also help with nausea, which in turn can increase his appetite. Also you can look into Azodyl supplements to help lower his kidney values, which in turn can help with the nausea as well and manage his kidney disease better. https://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=azodyl&tag=googhydr-20&index=aps&hvadid=241645664779&hvpos=1t1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=14854120277917394511&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=e&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9028263&hvtargid=kwd-3477607953&ref=pd_sl_7qkvgeqbgm_e Best of luck with your pet Tikvichko and I hope he manages his kidney disease well here moving forward! Take care.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Food & Nutrition
My cat has CKD. Do they need extra Vitamin B? Is it safe to give?
I don’t typically worry about Vitamin B deficiency in cats with CKD. It is common in cats with GI disease or diarrhea. B vitamins are safe in appropriate amounts, but I would recommend that you consult with your vet about any supplements. The kidneys are responsible for excreting excess b vitamins, and if they are severely impaired, there could be negative side effects.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Health & Wellness
Is it safe to give my new kitten vitamins, or are they unnecessary?
Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Many vitamins can be toxic to cats or kittens if given in the wrong dose. I would instead make sure the kitten is on a good quality kitten food or milk replacer if not nursing the mother.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Food & Nutrition
Is it safe for my cat to eat human foods like potatoes, beans, peas?
I recommend keeping table foods to 10% or less of the diet. All the foods you listed are not toxic and could be offered: onion, garlic, and fatty foods would be the main ones to avoid. I don’t think supplementing with KMR would be necessary for your other cat - you would be better off offering canned cat food mixed with water as it is nutritionally complete for an adult. While petroleum jelly would be okay you may have difficulty getting your cats to eat it.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Related Searches

Cat FoodCat SuppliesWet Cat FoodCanned Cat FoodCat Vitamins & SupplementsCat Multivitamins & SupplementsCat Food with GrainSenior Cat Vitamins & SupplementsDry Cat FoodGrain Free Cat FoodKitten FoodSkin & Coat Supplements for CatsSenior Cat FoodHigh Protein Cat FoodCat Health & WellnessVeterinary Diet Cat FoodElectrolytes for CatsCat Probiotics & Digestive AidsUTI Cat FoodFreeze Dried Cat Food
Have A Vet Question?

Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.

Book Now

Share

Styled arrow button