Our dogs, like us, require daily amounts of calcium in their diet to maintain their correct vital functions, highlighting enzymatic reactions, platelet, muscle, nerve, heart function and maintenance of bones and teeth under normal conditions. Therefore, calcium is an essential nutrient for the comprehensive he alth of our companions in life, so you must be aware of the importance of this mineral and give your dog the best food so that it obtains the daily amounts necessary for its maintenance.
If you continue reading this article on our site you will learn about the dose of calcium for dogs and its benefits, in addition to the foods they contain Calcium and its importance according to the particular conditions of each dog and the functions of its organism.
What is calcium for dogs?
Calcium is an essential mineral that must be in balance with other important minerals such as phosphorus and magnesium and also both a deficit as an excess of it produce symptoms and diseases. For this reason, it is important that our dogs eat a balanced diet so that they can obtain this nutrient in its correct proportions.
This is achieved by feeding them a complete food for the canine species as it is the only one designed and formulated according to the needs of dogs.
Calcium is one of the most important minerals for the dog's body and above all bones and teeth contain it, although we also find calcium in the neurons, blood, body tissues and other body fluids of our dogs. In short, it intervenes in the control of cardiac, hormonal and nervous system function.
Are calcium tablets for dogs necessary?
If you feed your dog a dog food he won't need any calcium supplements, so you shouldn't feed him on your ownwithout veterinary advice since an excess of it can induce disorders such as osteochondritis dissecans and hip deformities.
However, There are circumstances that may require an extra dose of calcium such as if your dog is:
- Fed with homemade food.
- A puppy.
- A pregnant or lactating bitch.
You may be interested in knowing How long does a dog's pregnancy last? for more information on the subject.
Lack of calcium in dogs
Now, what do I do if my dog lacks calcium? or how to know if my dog is lacking in calcium? The lack or deficiency of calcium in the canine species is something uncommon as long as they follow a diet designed for dogs, that is, a feed marketed for this species, and is not fed scraps or homemade diet or is a pregnant or lactating bitch.
If your dog is deficient in calcium due to a low intake of this mineral, it can cause wear and tear on the bones and jointswith the consequences that this can have on your dog's he alth.
That your dog has calcium deficiency is something very important to take into account due to the role that this mineral plays in the vital functions of our dogs. Some clinical signsthat may indicate that your dog has calcium deficiency are the following:
- Bone deformation.
- Soft and weak bones.
- Heart rate Low (bradycardia).
- Tooth loss.
- Hip dysplasia.
- Growth problems in puppies.
- Muscle weakness.
- Low blood pressure.
- Changes in urine color.
In bitches there is a major disease related to calcium deficiency and depletion of membrane-bound calcium that increases membrane permeability. It is a muscular depolarization, eclampsia or "milk fever" suffered by lactating bitches when they do not have the necessary amount of calcium in their blood.
It occurs especially in small bitches that give birth to many puppies and can also appear in pregnant bitches that consume very little calcium. The symptoms that this problem produces are:
- Fever.
- Seizures.
- Pupillary dilation.
- Hypersalivation.
- Extensor rigidity.
- Excessive panting.
- Motor incoordination.
- Twitching.
- Tremors.
- Cardiac arrest.
- Heavy breathing.
- Brain edema.
- Death.
Benefits of calcium for dogs
Calcium is an essential nutrient involved in numerous vital functions. It is essential for the correct development of the skeleton and bone and teeth he alth.
Calcium is involved in the muscular regulatory function that allows its contraction and relaxation as well as transmitting nerve impulses, regulating cellular metabolism and the enzyme. Other benefits provided by calcium in the canine organism are:
- Intervention in blood coagulation: as a facilitator of platelet aggregation, the sending and receiving of nerve impulses and signals, secretion of hormones and other chemicals and the maintenance of a normal heart rhythm.
- Participation in the absorption of vitamin B12.
- The contribution to the enzymatic activation of chemical reaction mediators important.
- Collaboration in the permeability of cell membranes: so that they can carry out the correct exchange of oxygen and nutrients with the environment.
Dog Calcium Dosage
General calcium requirements for the canine species are around 120 mg/kg/day for he althy adult dogs This quantity will vary according to the individual or physiological conditions of the dog in question, calcium needs for puppies are not the same as calcium needs for older dogs or bitches reproductive. In this way:
- Calcium for puppies: requires higher daily amounts, around 320 mg/kg/day of calcium, that is,, more than twice the recommended daily intake for dogs in general.
- Calcium for pregnant and lactating bitches: they also require higher amounts of calcium to build the skeleton of puppies and because of the demand for milk during lactation and depending on its size and number of offspring, a specific dose of calcium will be necessary, so the ideal is that you seek advice from a veterinary professional specialized in animal nutrition, although it is usually an increase of 25 to 50% of the recommended daily intakes, especially during the last third of pregnancy and lactation.
How to give my dog calcium?
We have already discussed the best way to offer calcium to your dog, feeding it with a feed formulated for the canine species and the supplement for special cases or the use of feed with higher amounts of calcium in the case of females during pregnancy and lactation or puppies.
If you are one of those who prefer to also offer homemade diet you should know that must always be complementary to the complete diet for the canine species and that it must be complete and balanced. In the following section you will be able to find out which are the foods that can offer your dog the greatest amounts of calcium if you prefer to boost its consumption or also offer it in this way.
Foods rich in calcium for dogs
Yes, if you wish you can include in your dog's diet foods rich in calcium In addition to dairy products, which are very rich in calcium, we have other foods that dogs can eat (and are better than dairy products due to their lactose content) that are rich in calcium and he althy.
- Within dairy products, natural yoghurt: it is a good option to offer calcium to your dog due to its lower lactose content and for its digestibility.
- The eggshell: it is a great source of calcium and you can give it to your dog once it has been ground to a powdery appearance and offer a small teaspoon for smaller dogs 3-4 times a week and a large spoonful 2-3 times a week for large breed dogs.
- Chard and spinach: there are vegetables that are quite rich in calcium, such as chard and spinach, which are also source of vitamins for our dogs.
- The egg: it is also a source of calcium (about 50 mg per 100 grams) as well as being a very nutritious food for its content of zinc, magnesium, iron, B vitamins, lipids and proteins. Can dogs eat eggs? Find out the answer here.
- Fish: also provides significant amounts of calcium in addition to omega 3, protein and vitamins. Specifically, canned sardines with their bones offer the highest amounts of calcium and will also favor the good appearance of your dog's skin and coat. Other fish that can also be eaten are salmon, trout and tuna.
