The Role of Calcium in Your Dog's Diet

By: Wesley Knapp Click author's name for more of his/her articles

When we think of calcium, solid teeth and bones come to mind. Your dog's diet must be rich in calcium to support strong teeth and bones, but a fine balance exists in association to calcium and your dog's diet.

It is achievable to have too much or too little calcium in your dog's diet. When a dog's diet contains too little calcium, your dog may cultivate a condition referred to as rickets. This condition creates soft bones that bow under the weight of your dog.

In contrast, too much calcium can produce bone abnormalities, as well. Big breed dogs, for example, who are supplied too much calcium as puppies in their diet, will build up large bones that are low in density. Strength is a problem with such bones due to the large amount of calcium supplements.

When your dog's diet includes appropriate levels of calcium, such bone abnormalities occur infrequently. This is just one more reason to carefully choose an appropriate diet for your dog. Always seek advice from your veterinarian to determine the best amount of calcium in your dog's diet.

Calcium plays an important job in your dog's diet, but other vitamins and nutrients work hand in hand with calcium. Some minerals are interdependent. Calcium happens to be one of such mineral nutrients.

Calcium works in sync with phosphorus. A balance of the two nutrients calcium and phosphorus must exist in a healthy ratio to ensure a dog diet that will take full advantage of the potential advantages for your pet. Studies involving animal nutrition confirm that a ratio of 1.0 to 2.0 parts calcium should be coupled with 1.0 part phosphorus. When calcium and phosphorus ratios vary significantly from this range, bone problems result.

Dog diets consisting solely of meats will not make available the correct quantity of calcium and phosphorus to create healthy bones. Such a diet results in a ratio of about 1.0 part calcium to 18 parts phosphorus. The range of absorption is where the difficulty starts.

Vitamin D is a further nutrient that influences the absorption of calcium and phosphorus. If a dog's diet lacks the proper amount of vitamin D, the other nutrients will not provide all the benefits to your pet. Excessive amounts of vitamin D can have toxic effects on your dog. It is vital to maintain appropriate levels of vitamin D in your dog's diet. Again, feeding your dog food from a reputable company will allow you confidence in knowing that your dog's diet is healthy.

During pregnancy or when your dog is nursing, higher levels of calcium are key in your dog's diet. At this time, feed your pet added amounts of a balanced dog food. You should not have to supplement your pet at this time.

Milk fever, or eclampsia, can't be avoided with calcium supplements. Eclampsia is not a nutritional deficiency, but a metabolic situation that affects the dog after the pups have been born and start nursing.

Keep away from supplementing your dog's diet with calcium or other nutrients without precise dialogue with your vet. When calcium, for example, is out of balance, health can truly be effected harmfully. Feeding your dog a balanced diet is critical. Reputable dog food companies have studied animal nutrition to make certain the best possible health for your dog. Providing your dog's diet in a wholesome, balanced formula may be the best approach to take care of your pet.

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