To maintain the good health of your dog, calcium is very important. Calcium is the richest mineral in your dog’s body- for instance a 75 lb dog contains a little over a pound of calcium. Beyond supporting healthy bones, calcium is necessary for many biological functions, including digestion and mental agility. However, many prepared and uncooked foods do not have enough calcium for dogs. It is also essential to balance your dog’s diet with other minerals that bring out calcium’s benefits better. It is vital to maintain a balance even though the significance of this mineral cannot be overstated. In dogs, both a calcium deficit and an overabundance of calcium can result in issues. So, it is vital to balance the calcium level of your dogs. This blog will take a clear view of it:

Importance of calcium for dogs

Your dog’s bones are where 99% of the calcium is stored. Dogs need adequate calcium in their meals since it is essential for your dog’s skeletal health. The remaining calcium is primarily present in the blood and lymphatic system, where it is involved in immunological, cardiovascular, and hormone function, cell structure, and enzyme activity.

Cells can react to hormones and neurotransmitters due to the role of calcium as a messenger. Your dog may experience seizures, loss of muscle control, and possibly death if there is too little or too much. Therefore, maintaining the calcium level at a proper level is always important. You can buy pet food online with the needed calcium level for your dog.

Calcium for dogs: Where does your dog get calcium from?

You can add calcium from various sources to your dog’s food. Mineral content varies depending on the source of calcium. Your dog cannot generate calcium because it is a mineral. Instead, the body can only replace calcium through oral consumption, diet, and supplements. The following foods can provide your dog with calcium in their diet:

Enriched dog food: Commercial dog diets must contain the required daily dosage of calcium for your dog, for the diet to be considered complete and balanced. This is the most typical source of calcium for dogs, and healthy adult dogs can get enough calcium from it.

Bones: Bone meal is a clear source of calcium for dogs because bones contain calcium. But be aware that whole bones might harm dogs, especially small bones. Most veterinarians feel that bones should be ground into a fine powder in a blender before being added to the dog’s food. Compared to adult dogs, puppies require almost twice as much calcium. So, you can feed puppy food with a higher calcium level, as compared to dog food.

Whole Foods: Numerous whole foods are naturally high in calcium that dogs can eat in addition to dog food. This includes dairy products like yoghurt and cheese. But given that many dogs are lactose intolerant and are sensitive to dairy, be careful and cautions in how you feed dairy products. Fish, vegetables, and legumes like broccoli, spinach, and beans are other natural sources of calcium. Eggshells can also be crushed and added to the food because they are a natural calcium-rich dog meal.

Calcium Supplements: Dogs can also get calcium through supplements, but this should be done carefully and only after consultation with a veterinarian or pet health expert.

How much calcium does your dog require daily?

If you are wondering how much calcium a dog requires daily, there is a calculation based on the dog’s weight that you may use. A medium-sized adult dog needs roughly one gram of calcium per day per kilograms of body weight and 1000 mg of calcium along with about .75 gram of phosphorus. Dogs that are nursing or pregnant require more calcium every day to meet the demands of developing puppies. Additionally necessary for the proper metabolism of calcium and phosphorus is vitamin D.

Final Thoughts

You may know that to ensure good health, facilitate proper bone development, and prevent health complications, and your dogs need calcium. You should give your dog an appropriate level of calcium based on the need. You can consider the above-listed points on how to balance the calcium for your dogs.