Calcium is very important for dogs. However, not all dogs are suitable for calcium supplementation. Moreover, calcium supplementation for dogs should also pay attention to scientific methods. Otherwise it will not be good for the dog’s health. Let’s first see if the dog at home needs calcium supplements.
1. What kind of dogs need calcium supplements?
Older dogs give birth to bitches and puppies. Due to the degradation of physiological functions and the impact of disease, older dogs have reduced calcium absorption capabilities, resulting in loss of calcium in the body, seriously affecting the strength of the bones. Secondly, the female dog needs calcium supplement after giving birth. Since the female dog has given birth to several babies and needs to breastfeed, the need for calcium increases sharply, and the daily diet of the female dog cannot provide that much calcium. At this time, additional calcium intake needs to be increased. Puppy dogs need some extra calcium after weaning. The calcium in dog food that leaves breast milk may not be well absorbed, so calcium supplements can be appropriate. But don’t overdo it and strictly follow the dosage of special calcium supplement products.
2. Calcium supplementation should be appropriate
Nowadays, living conditions are better, and owners take extra care of their dogs. Owners who are always worried that their dogs are deficient in calcium keep feeding their dogs calcium powder, which results in their dogs having too much calcium. Don’t think that only calcium deficiency can cause illness. Excessive calcium supplementation can also cause harm to the dog’s body.
1. Excessive calcium supplementation
Dog food is formulated after nutritional research by experts, and the nutrients in it cover all the nutrients needed for dog growth. If calcium powder and mineral feed are added to dog food, it will cause excessive calcium and cause a serious nutritional burden to the dog. Excess calcium in the body not only cannot be absorbed by the body, but can also lead to many diseases. Calcium can promote bone growth, but it cannot promote muscle growth at the same time as the bones. When the bones grow rapidly and the muscles cannot keep up, they pull the femoral head out of the socket, causing structural changes in the hip joint and changes in orthopedic mechanics. In addition, the dog's daily exercise volume is relatively large, and the stress on the bones increases, the hip joint becomes loose, the glenoid fossa becomes narrow, and the femoral head is ground flat. In order to stabilize joints, the animal's physiology promotes the formation of bone spurs, ultimately leading to degenerative arthritis.
2. Calcium deficiency
Many people think that drinking milk can supplement calcium for dogs. People and dogs are not the same. It takes about 10 years for a baby to reach 60 kilograms, and less than a year for a really large dog. Therefore, if you want to supplement calcium in this way, of course, calcium deficiency will easily occur. Calcium deficiency will reduce the density of the dog's bones and make them unable to support their increasing weight, making them prone to injury during exercise. In addition, many dogs drinking milk can cause indigestion and diarrhea, so it is not recommended to use milk to supplement calcium for dogs.
3. How to supplement calcium for dogs
1. Choose the right dog food. Young dogs should choose nutritious puppy food. The formula in it is aimed at the absorption and digestion of puppies. The ingredients of adult dogs are different from those of puppies, so please switch to dog food when your dog is over 10 months old.
2. You can buy calcium tablets specifically for dogs. Usually there will be instructions to calculate the dosage based on body weight. Puppies should not eat bones to supplement calcium and should not drink milk. Of course, generally speaking, food calcium supplementation is safer than drug calcium supplementation. Eating normal food will not cause excessive calcium. Soy products, dried shrimps, fish and other foods can be given to supplement.
3. Doing more exercise and spending more time in the sun can help the absorption and utilization of calcium, allowing your dog to have a fit body.
Post time: Mar-17-2024