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Few factors determine both the health of our pet and the diet, therefore, covering their nutritional requirements properly is a care that deserves our full attention.
Over the years, a dog goes through different vital stages and in each of them different food needs are presented. During the first months of life, nutrients play the important role of facilitating optimal development. For this reason, in this article by PeritoAnimal we explain the importance of calcium for puppies.
Calcium in the dog's body
Among the different cares for puppies, controlling their feeding is one of the most important, since a puppy's organism will need all the nutrients.
Among them we can highlight calcium, a mineral found in 99% of the dog's skeleton and that it performs important functions for its body:
- Keeps bones and teeth healthy
- It intervenes in the regulation of the heart rate
- Controls the concentration of liquid in the internal and external environment of cells
- It is essential for proper transmission of nerve impulses
- Keeps blood clotting within normal parameters
O calcium is a mineral that must maintain an adequate relationship with phosphorus and magnesium so that it can be used by the body. It is therefore recommended to maintain the following balance of amounts: 1:2:1 to 1:4:1 (calcium, phosphorus and magnesium).
How much calcium does a dog need?
The dog's organism faces a long process that will need a lot of energy: its development, not only physical and physiological, but also mental and cognitive. During this process you will need to increase your bone mass, as well as its density, and you will also make changes in the teeth, calcium being fundamental for these formations.
So a puppy dog needs important amounts of calcium that are much larger compared to the needs of an adult dog:
- Adult: daily needs 120 mg of calcium for every kg of body weight.
- Puppy: daily needs 320 mg of calcium for every kg of body weight.
How does the dog get calcium daily?
If we feed the puppy specific rations for the first months of life, the calcium needs must be ensured, however, many experts in canine nutrition do not recommend that the puppy be fed solely through commercial preparations. On the other hand, although there are numerous calcium-containing foods and that dogs can eat, eating a homemade diet requires supervision by a veterinarian.
So what is the best solution? Follow a feeding model where good quality commercial preparations are used, but also suitable homemade foods for the dog. In addition, it is possible to supplement your calcium intake with a finely ground eggshell in a coffee grinder, however, we recommend that for any questions about your dog's nutrition, refer to your veterinarian or specialist in dog nutrition. And if you are one of those who prefer to opt for a 100% homemade diet, we advise you to find out about all the dog's needs in order to offer him adequate and varied food.
