Dogs

Appropriate Calcium Supplementation for Dogs Is Necessary, Otherwise It Is More Dangerous

Many dog owners often say: puppies or adult dogs need calcium supplements. But do you know? You cannot just blindly give calcium supplements to dogs. Otherwise, dogs not only won’t be stronger, but may sometimes get sick.

1. Dogs Easily Overconsume Calcium

Excessive calcium intake in dogs is a common issue. When feeding commercial dog food and additionally adding mineral feed rich in calcium, this situation often occurs. Complete feed (only applicable to adult dogs) or puppy food already contain sufficient calcium. If these feeds are fed normally without excessive additional meat, there’s no need to add mineral feed or similar products externally.

For example: for a 3-month-old puppy weighing about 10 kg, expected to grow to over 30 kg, the daily calcium requirement is about 8-10 grams. This puppy would need about 400 grams of feed daily (referring to pure meat products, excluding additional mixed feed). Generally, about 0.35% calcium per 100 grams is sufficient to fully meet the dog’s requirements.

If the dog owner adds two scoops of calcium powder in addition, the intake would be 16 grams, which far exceeds the dog’s needed amount, while phosphorus intake does not increase proportionally, causing calcium-phosphorus imbalance.

This is especially a problem in medium to large dog breeds. For example, large breeds like Golden Retrievers are more prone to hip joint diseases if over-supplemented with calcium.

2. Calcium Deficiency

When making homemade dog food, calcium deficiency often occurs. Most homemade diets lack adequate calcium, especially for medium and large breeds.

Many people think, similarly to humans, that a sip of milk or a calcium tablet containing a few milligrams of calcium is very useful. But this view is actually wrong. A human baby needs about 10 years to reach 60 kg, but a large dog reaches that weight in less than a year. Therefore, supplementing calcium in this way can easily cause calcium deficiency.

3. What Kind of Dogs Need Calcium Supplementation

1. Lactating mother dogs: If physically weak after giving birth, appropriate calcium supplementation can be given about 10 days postpartum. In severe cases, intravenous calcium supplementation at a veterinary hospital can help alleviate symptoms of calcium deficiency in the mother dog.

2. Elderly dogs with osteoporosis, fractures, and bone spurs have higher risk; aside from more sun exposure, supplementing easily absorbed calcium is very important.

4. Symptoms of Calcium Deficiency in Dogs

1. Limb deformity, legs shaped like X or O;

2. Spread toes, unstable paw placement;

3. Signs of joint deformity;

4. Excessive drooling;

5. Unwilling to exercise, lack of enthusiasm for running;

6. Calcium deficiency during teething causes slow permanent tooth growth, thin enamel layer, double row teeth or poor bite;

5. Misunderstandings about Calcium Supplementation

1. Milk as calcium supplement: Lactose in milk can cause gastrointestinal discomfort in dogs, possibly leading to diarrhea.

2. Human calcium supplements for dogs: Humans and dogs have very different bodies, not to mention differences in gastrointestinal absorption. Therefore, never use human calcium supplements for dogs to avoid ineffective supplementation or harm.

6. Summary:

Actually, most of the time dogs do not need extra calcium supplements. Although calcium deficiency is very detrimental to dog health, as long as dogs eat regular dog food, deficiency rarely happens. Calcium deficiency mostly occurs due to picky eating or illness. Dog food formulas have decades of development experience, meaning both technology and formula are mature enough to meet dogs’ calcium absorption requirements.

Therefore, if your dog eats dog food normally, there’s no need to give additional calcium supplements.