Vitamin
Beta-Carotene
An orange plant pigment that dogs turn into vitamin A, and that cats use far less.
Beta-carotene is the pigment that makes carrots and sweet potatoes orange. Dogs convert it into vitamin A. Cats were long thought unable to do so at all; a study using labeled beta-carotene found they do convert a little, but they still need ready-made vitamin A.
In a feeding study, dogs given beta-carotene showed changes in immune markers. That doesn’t show a health benefit in a pet at the amounts in a normal food. On a label it appears as an added ingredient, or comes along with carrots and other orange vegetables.
Also written as: Beta Carotene, Carotene.
Sources
Updated November 2, 2026. General information, not veterinary advice.