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When we consider calcium, strong teeth and bones come to mind. Your dog's diet should be rich in calcium to support healthy teeth and bones, but a fine balance exists in correlation to calcium and your dog's diet.

It is achievable to have too much or too little calcium in your dog's diet. When a dog's diet contains too little calcium, your dog may cultivate a state referred to as rickets. This condition creates soft bones that bow under the weight of your dog.

In contrast, too much calcium can generate bone abnormalities, as well. Big breed dogs, for example, who are given too much calcium as puppies in their diet, will build up large bones that are low in density. Strength is a problem with such bones due to the large amount of calcium supplements.

When your dog's diet contains proper levels of calcium, such bone abnormalities occur rarely. This is just one more reason to cautiously decide on an appropriate diet for your dog. Always consult your veterinarian to settle on the best quantity of calcium in your dog's diet.

Calcium plays an important job in your dog's diet, but other vitamins and nutrients work hand in hand with calcium. Some minerals are interdependent. Calcium happens to be one of such mineral nutrients.

Calcium works in sync with phosphorus. A balance of the two nutrients calcium and phosphorus must be present in a healthy ratio to make sure a dog diet that will make the most of the potential advantages for your pet. Studies involving animal nutrition show that a ratio of 1.0 to 2.0 parts calcium should be coupled with 1.0 part phosphorus. When calcium and phosphorus ratios vary greatly from this range, bone issues result.

Dog diets consisting solely of meats will not supply the proper quantity of calcium and phosphorus to make healthy bones. Such a diet results in a ratio of about 1.0 part calcium to 18 parts phosphorus. The range of absorption is where the problem starts.

Vitamin D is another nutrient that influences the absorption of calcium and phosphorus. If a dog's diet lacks the appropriate amount of vitamin D, the other nutrients will not provide all the benefits to your pet. Excessive amounts of vitamin D can have negative effects on your dog. It is imperative to sustain appropriate levels of vitamin D in your dog's diet. Again, feeding your dog food from a reputable company will allow you trust in knowing that your dog's diet is healthy.

During pregnancy or when your dog is nursing, elevated levels of calcium are essential in your dog's diet. At this time, feed your pet additional amounts of a balanced dog food. You should not have to supplement your pet at this time.

Milk fever, or eclampsia, cannot be avoided with calcium supplements. Eclampsia is not a nutritional deficit, but a metabolic condition that affects the dog once the pups have been born and start nursing.

Stay away from supplementing your dog's diet with calcium or other nutrients without specific dialogue with your vet. When calcium, for example, is out of balance, health can truly be effected harmfully. Feeding your dog a balanced diet is critical. Reputable dog food companies have researched animal nutrition to make certain the best possible health for your dog. Providing your dog's diet in a nourishing, balanced formula can be the best approach to take care of your pet.

Author's Resource:

K9 Critical Care is a great resource for information and products to best care for you pet. Learn more about dog diet and dog health at K9CriticalCare.com

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