It is important for your
dog's diet to contain all of the essential vitamins to ensure excellent health.
One of the important nutrients in your dog's diet is calcium. When we think of
calcium, strong teeth and bones come to mind. Your dog's diet should be rich in
calcium to support healthy teeth and bones, but a delicate balance exist in
relationship to calcium and your dog's diet.
It is possible 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 develop a condition called
rickets. This condition creates soft bones that bend under the weight of your
dog.
In contrast, too much calcium can create bone abnormalities, as well. Large
breed dogs, for example, who are given too much calcium as puppies in their
diet, will develop 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 contains appropriate levels of calcium, such bone
abnormalities occur infrequently. This is just one more reason to carefully
select an appropriate diet for your dog. Always consult with your veterinarian
to determine the best amount of calcium in your dog's diet.
Calcium plays an important role 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 together with phosphorus. A balance of the two nutrients calcium
and phosphorus must exist in a healthy ratio to ensure a dog diet that will
maximize the potential advantages for your pet. Studies involving animal
nutrition show 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 greatly from this
range, bone troubles result.
Dog diets consisting exclusively of meats, will not provide the proper amount 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 trouble begins.
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Vitamin D is another nutrient
that influences the absorption of calcium and phosphorus. If a dog's diet lacks
the appropriate 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 imperative 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
important in your dog's diet. At this time, feed your pet extra amounts of a
balanced dog food. You should not have to supplement your pet at this time.
Milk fever, or eclampsia, cannot be avoided with calcium supplements. Eclampsia
is not a nutritional deficiency, but a metabolic condition that affects the dog
after the pups have been born and begin nursing.
Avoid supplementing your dog's diet with calcium or other nutrients without
specific discussion with your vet. When calcium, for example, is out of balance,
health can truly be effected negatively. Feeding your dog a balanced diet is
essential. Reputable dog food companies have researched animal nutrition to
ensure the best possible health for your dog. Providing your dog's diet in a
healthy, balanced formula may be the best way to take care of your pet.
