Foods Rich in Calcium for Dogs
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AnimalWised knows that a proper diet is essential to ensure your dog gets all the vitamins, minerals, fats and proteins that it needs to stay healthy and vital, prevent diseases and improve its quality of life.
Sometimes it is not enough to give your dog the best quality feed: for one reason or another, your pet may require additional amounts of a certain component. In this article we will discuss foods rich in calcium for dogs, as this element is necessary during some stages of a dog's life.
Why is calcium important for dogs?
Calcium is one of the most important elements in a dog's organism, as it plays a key role in developing and maintaining the skeleton, teeth, and heart and hormonal functions, as well as regulating the nervous system. Calcium deficiency, then, can have serious consequences.
This does not mean that you should run out and buy calcium supplements; on the contrary, its administration is very delicate and should only be done under veterinary supervision, because excess calcium can cause disorders and diseases such as deformations in the hip and osteochondritis dissecans, that is, cracks in the cartilage and bone of the joints.
Store-bought dry feed for dogs includes the amount of calcium that your pet needs every day, and you need only include an extra dose if the veterinarian recommends it. This may happen when:
- You offer your dog a diet based on homemade food.
- Your dog is still a puppy and needs greater amounts of calcium.
- Your dog is pregnant or nursing her puppies.
The necessary amount of calcium for dogs is calculated according to the dog's weight:
- Adult dogs: 120 mg calcium per kg of the dog's weight.
- Puppy dogs: 320 mg calcium per kg of the dog's weight.
- Pregnant or lactating dogs: Calcium is lost quickly, as it is transmitted to the fetuses or nursing puppies. Your veterinarian will instruct you on how much calcium you should administer to your pet.
If you have been prescribed an extra dose of calcium for your dog and prefer giving it naturally through its food instead of buying supplements, keep reading. We will go over the best foods rich in calcium for dogs.
Egg
Egg is a very nutritious food, and its shell contains not only large amounts of calcium (about 800 mg), but also boron, zinc, magnesium and other minerals. Therefore, egg is one of the best foods rich in calcium for dogs.
Where possible, choose organic eggs as the shells easily absorb chemicals that are used in large industries and are very difficult to remove. Of course, do not offer your dog the whole egg or the shells alone. You can use it in two ways:
- Preparing shell powder: immerse the eggshell for two minutes in hot water to kill off any bacteria. Remove, allow to dry well and proceed to grind it. You can use a grinder, your own hands or any other tool to turn it a fine dust. Add the powder to your dog's food.
- Whole egg: prepare a whole hard-boiled egg without removing the shell. Do not add salt. Crush it in a blender or food processor and add it to your dog's food.
Milk and cheese
Dairy products contain large amounts of calcium, but not all are good for your dog. Dogs can digest goat's milk, of which you can offer a small amount in a bowl. If you can't get goat's milk, choose skimmed or lactose-free cow's milk and mix it with a little water. Milk can cause diarrhea: if it does, discontinue its use immediately.
Cheese is a good food rich in calcium for dogs. If you give your dog a homemade diet, add some cheese. If you don't, offer it as a treat. Cottage cheese is best because of its low salt content, but it should still be given in small quantities.
Yogurt
Other dairy products can also supply large amounts of calcium to your dog. The beneficial bacteria of yogurt are ideal to regulate your friend's functioning of the intestinal flora, contributing to a good digestion.
When choosing a yogurt for your dog, opt for those that are low in fat and have no flavoring or sweeteners. You can add a little yogurt to your dog's regular food to soften it.
Bones
If you are one of those people who give their dog scraps and bones from meals you must stop immediately. Cooked bones are very dangerous for dogs, because they splinter easily when bitten and can even cause perforations in the dog's intestines and stomach.
However, bones are an undeniable source of calcium for your dog. You can offer them in two different ways:
- Raw: this is much safer, because dogs can chew and digest bones easily when uncooked. They should contain meat, not just bone.
- Crushed: either cooked or raw, crushing the bones is a good way to avoid accidents. Use a grinder or food processor to turn them to powder and then mix them with your pet's food.
Fish
The benefits of fish are countless: it is rich in calcium, but it also provides omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin C and many other nutrients and minerals. The best fish to add calcium to your dog's diet are sardines, salmon, tuna and trout.
To prevent diseases, cook the fish before giving it to your dog. Remove the bones and the spine completely or grind everything in a food processor.
Now that you know what are the best foods rich in calcium for dogs, don't miss the following articles to ensure your dog has a balanced and healthy diet:
If you want to read similar articles to Foods Rich in Calcium for Dogs, we recommend you visit our Homemade diets category.