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The Job of Calcium in Your Dog's Diet

By: Wesley Knapp

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

It is feasible to have too much or too little calcium in your dog's diet. When a dog's diet includes too little calcium, your dog may cultivate a condition referred to as rickets. This state 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 given too much calcium as puppies in their diet, will grow 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 figure out the best quantity 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 mutually dependent. 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 make certain a dog diet that will take advantage of the potential advantages for your pet. Studies concerning animal nutrition illustrate 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 to a great extent from this range, bone problems result.

Dog diets consisting only of meats will not offer the proper amount of calcium and phosphorus to build 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 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 supply all the benefits to your pet. Excessive amounts of vitamin D can have toxic effects on your dog. It is necessary to sustain 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, higher levels of calcium are vital 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, can't 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.

Steer clear of supplementing your dog's diet with calcium or other nutrients without specific dialogue with your vet. When calcium, for example, is out of balance, wellbeing can truly be effected negatively. Feeding your dog a balanced diet is vital. Reputable dog food companies have researched animal nutrition to ensure the best possible health for your dog. Providing your dog's diet in a nourishing, balanced formula may well be the best approach to take care of your pet.

Article Source: https://www.collectibles-articles.com

K9 Critical Care is a great resource for information and products to best care for you pet. Learn more about dog diet and dog health at K9CriticalCare.com


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