The Job of Calcium in Your Dogs Diet

When we think of calcium, tough teeth and bones come to mind. Your dog's diet ought to be rich in calcium to sustain healthy teeth and bones, but a fine balance exists in correlation 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 state referred to as rickets. This condition results in 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 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 contains appropriate levels of calcium, such bone abnormalities occur rarely. This is just one more reason to cautiously choose an appropriate diet for your dog. Always check with your veterinarian to establish 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 jointly with phosphorus. A balance of the two nutrients calcium and phosphorus needs to be present in a healthy ratio to make sure a dog diet that will maximize the potential advantages for your pet. Studies concerning animal nutrition demonstrate 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 issues result.

Dog diets consisting exclusively of meats will not offer the suitable 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.

Vitamin D is an additional 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 essential to maintain proper levels of vitamin D in your dog's diet. Again, feeding your dog food from a reliable company will allow you confidence in knowing that your dog's diet is healthy.

During pregnancy or when your dog is nursing, elevated levels of calcium are important 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, cannot be avoided with calcium supplements. Eclampsia is not a nutritional deficiency, but a metabolic situation that affects the dog once the pups have been born and begin nursing.

Stay away from supplementing your dog's diet with calcium or other nutrients without explicit discussion 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 researched 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.