Common sources of calcium

Calcium is generally used for bone growth and maintenance of health, and requires a balanced intake of calcium and phosphorus.
In addition to being ingested from milk powder or dairy products, calcium is also contained in the bones of mammals, birds, and fish. The bones are usually ground into powder and added to pet food for calcium supplementation. In addition to animal bones, plants such as broccoli and cabbage also contain a certain amount of calcium. Calcium carbonate, calcium sulfate and calcium phosphate can also be consumed as mineral salts to supplement calcium content.

The role of calcium in dogs

1. The main component of bones and teeth. More than 90% of the calcium in the body is stored calcium, which exists in the bones together with phosphorus. and teeth, plays a role in strengthening bones;
2. Maintains the normal work of blood vessels;
3. Prevents muscle twitching;
4. Helps blood clotting;
5. Participates The transmission of information between cells and the transmission of nerve impulses.

Five problems caused by calcium deficiency in dogs

1. Bones

If a dog is severely deficient in calcium, it will cause various bones. Problems such as joint deformation, X-shaped legs, O-shaped legs, rib valgus, etc. Therefore, if a dog is found to have symptoms of calcium deficiency, the dog should be given calcium supplements in time. Pet owners can choose to give their dogs Feed it some dog food with high calcium content, or you can buy calcium supplements for your dog to eat.

2. Teeth

If the dog is not given calcium supplements in time during the teething period, the dog’s teeth will not fall out and the permanent teeth will grow slowly. Therefore, it will cause the dog's teeth to be unevenly arranged and have large gaps between teeth. During the period when the dog's teeth are changing, pet owners can buy some teething snacks for the dog to eat, such as chicken jerky and chicken chips, which can not only grind the teeth but also repair them. Calcium strengthens bones.

3. Status

Dogs with calcium deficiency will also show low energy, poor appetite, weight loss, etc. Therefore, calcium supplementation is very important for dogs. It is recommended to take the dog out to bask in the sun more often. Sun, do some exercise, etc. Don’t keep your dog indoors for a long time without letting it bask in the sun and exercise. If the dog does not have the opportunity to bask in the sun for a long time, it will cause problems such as nose discoloration and dull and rough hair.

4. Muscles

When a dog is severely deficient in calcium, it will show muscle weakness. Therefore, in order to prevent the dog from being severely deficient in calcium, it is necessary to eat correctly first. Try to feed dog food instead of human food. , try to choose dog food that is rich in nutrients and easy to absorb.

5. Hair

If your dog’s hair is smaller and darker than other dogs of the same age and species, you should pay attention to it and give it calcium supplements. It is recommended that you give it some bones. Be careful not to feed your dog the sharp bones of chickens and ducks. It is best to choose the big bones of pigs and cows. You can also buy some calcium supplement snacks.

When do adult dogs need calcium supplements?

1. Breeding male dogs and pregnant and lactating female dogs need to supplement a large amount of calcium, because semen, dog embryos and milk will cause a large amount of calcium to be lost from the body.

2. Postpartum lactating female dogs also need calcium supplements. Low blood calcium concentration in postpartum dogs can cause acute postpartum calcium deficiency. The symptoms include twitching of limbs, stiffness of the whole body, and body temperature that can rise above 40°C, or even Causes coma and death.

3. As your dog gradually enters his old age, the loss of calcium in the body will increase. At this time, senior dogs should be fed food and artificially supplemented with calcium, while maintaining a certain amount of exercise, otherwise it will cause osteoporosis and increase the incidence of bone spurs and fractures.

4. If your dog eats animal liver or meat as its main food for a long time, it should also supplement calcium in an appropriate amount. Because this kind of food not only contains very low calcium, but also contains high concentrations of vitamin A, dogs' long-term intake of high concentrations of vitamin A can inhibit calcium absorption. Therefore, you should immediately change the habit of feeding liver for a long time and replenish it with calcium in time.

Problems caused by excessive calcium supplementation

1. Causes long-term hypercalciuria and increases the chance of stone formation in the urinary system;
2. Causes premature calcification of cartilage and premature anterior fontanelle closure, forming microcephaly, which restricts the dog's brain development;
3. Premature calcification of bones, early closure of the epiphysis, affecting the development of long bones, and limiting terminal height;
4. Middle bone Too much calcium can make bones brittle and prone to fractures;
5. Affects the dog’s appetite, thus affecting the intestinal absorption of other nutrients;
6. Too much calcium in the intestines It will inhibit the absorption of divalent ions such as iron and zinc, causing secondary zinc and iron deficiency, and leading to reduced immunity, anorexia, slow growth, anemia, fatigue and other corresponding symptoms in dogs;
7. If the blood calcium concentration is too high, calcium will be deposited in the internal organs or tissues. If it is deposited around the cornea, it will affect vision. If it is deposited on the heart valve, it will affect heart function. If it is deposited on the blood vessel wall, it will aggravate vascular sclerosis.

Calcium supplementation should focus on absorption efficiency

1. Food supplementation: Generally speaking, food calcium supplementation is safer than drug calcium supplementation. Eating normal food will not cause excessive calcium, but The absorption and conversion rate of calcium in food is extremely low, which is completely unable to meet the growth and development needs of puppies. Moreover, long-term feeding of "self-conceited" high-nutrition and high-calcium food to puppies can easily lead to unbalanced nutrition in dogs. , but hinders calcium absorption.

2. Traditional calcium tablets: Calcium tablets are mineral calcium. Mineral calcium must be decomposed by gastric juice. It is typically difficult to absorb and can easily damage the gastrointestinal tract of puppies, causing gastroenteritis. In severe cases, it can cause intestinal obstruction. If your dog is severely deficient in calcium, you can use calcium powder or calcium solution under the guidance of a doctor.

3. Calcium nutritional supplements: Under normal circumstances, the ratio of calcium to phosphorus in bones is 1:0.6.If the intake of phosphorus is insufficient and the ratio of calcium to phosphorus is inappropriate, the absorption and deposition of calcium will not increase significantly despite adequate calcium supplementation. Therefore, it will be better to choose nutritional health products rich in calcium and phosphorus.