Be Cautious with Dog Calcium Supplementation! Frequent Calcium Supplementation Can Increase the Risk of Arthritis! These Situations Require Dogs to Supplement with Calcium
Some pet owners have heard that dogs' joints are easily worn out in daily life, so they should supplement with calcium to prevent arthritis. However, research shows that long-term feeding dogs with calcium tablets may increase the risk of bladder stones and arthritis. Should we supplement calcium for our dogs? How should we supplement calcium properly? It is necessary for pet owners to understand.
Excessive calcium supplementation increases the risk of bladder stones and arthritis
For pet owners with puppies or senior dogs, they may often buy calcium supplements or calcium nutrition for their dogs. However, senior veterinarians said that if dogs are eating mainly staple food, they don't need extra calcium. If dogs eat too much calcium, it may increase the risk of bladder stones.
In addition, puppies, especially large breed puppies such as Lowenan, Danes, Golden Retrievers, and Bernese Mountain Dogs, need careful calcium supplementation to avoid excessive calcium affecting normal joint growth. Foreign studies have confirmed that long-term excessive calcium intake in large breed puppies can increase the risk of arthritis.
To adapt to the nutritional needs of dogs at different ages, pet owners should choose dog food that is appropriate for their age stage, such as choosing puppy food for puppies and adult food for adult dogs.
Dogs need calcium supplementation in the following situations
Veterinarians point out that dogs typically need calcium supplementation in the following three situations
1. Dog mothers who have just given birth need calcium supplementation. Because breastfeeding requires supplementing calcium, and if calcium is insufficient, the dog mother may develop mastitis.
2. Dogs who have undergone orthopedic surgery, such as fractures, will be prescribed a calcium supplementation regimen by the doctor to help the bones grow and fuse.
3. Freshly fed dogs, veterinarians will analyze the owner's recipe to add calcium supplements to ensure that dogs have enough calcium.
Of course, if you notice symptoms of calcium deficiency, pet owners also need to supplement calcium for them. When dogs are calcium deficient, the bones will undergo changes, such as rib prominence, X-legs, and joint deformities. You can also judge by the appearance in the mouth, such as deciduous teeth not falling out for a long time, new teeth growing very slowly, large gaps and irregular teeth. In addition, you can also see through the limbs, such as muscle weakness and unsteady posture.
How to supplement calcium for dogs
As mentioned in the introduction, some pet owners are worried that dogs' joints are easily worn out in daily life, so they buy calcium supplements to prevent joint problems. Regarding this, veterinarians said that even if joints age, calcium should not be used as a supplement.
Pet owners can choose glucosamine and chondroitin products to prevent dogs from developing arthritis. In addition, if dogs have already developed arthritis, they can choose glucosamine and shellfish oil extract. Note that when buying glucosamine, you should pay attention to choose non-calcium glucosamine.
Many pet owners will use bone broth to supplement calcium for their dogs, but in fact, the calcium in bones is difficult to dissolve, 100 grams of big bone broth may not contain more than 1 milligram of calcium. In addition, calcium tablets and calcium powders are also common calcium supplements for dogs. In fact, it is enough for dogs to eat some food with high calcium-to-phosphorus ratio in daily life.
1. Green bean sprouts. Green bean sprouts have a higher calcium content than milk, and dogs like their crispy texture.
2. Tofu. Tofu contains calcium, as well as lecithin and zeaxanthin. But dogs may become bloated if they eat too much tofu.
3. Small fish cakes. High calcium and high calcium-to-phosphorus ratio make calcium easier to absorb.
4. Cheese. Can be eaten in summer to promote appetite, but remember to buy unsalted cheese.
5. Amaranth. Besides calcium, it is also rich in iron.
6. Pumpkin. It is rich in calcium, dietary fiber, and vitamin A, which is good for dogs' eyes.
Of course, each dog's physical condition is different, so whether your dog needs calcium, how to supplement calcium, and how much calcium to supplement, owners should consult with veterinarians to determine after considering the dog's physical condition.
