Large Breed dogs-Understand their Calcium needs
12 Jul 2011
| by | Posted in: Nutrition
Growth rate of Large Breed dogs is more rapid compared to small breeds and so during this rapid phase of development nutritional requirements becomes more crucial to support their vital body growth system.
Calcium is one of the key minerals always been focussed so heavily that most of the times we supplement more than the recommended.
Calcium is an essential nutrient for bone structuring and formation,muscle contraction etc.Excess or deficiency both pose a detrimental effect in large breed puppies.
Excess calcium is a common problem in large breed puppies as their owner feed calcium supplement along with commercially available pet foods.
Calcium supplementation should never be recommended for dogs eating commercially available diets designed for growth.Excess Calcium supplementation results into developmental growth disorder(DGD) like osteochondrosis.
Unlike adult animals, puppies appear to have inefficient mechanisms for regulating how much dietary calcium they absorb from the food.This can result in absorption and retention of more calcium,especially when dietary calcium is high.These excess Calcium may result in skeletal malformations.Excess calcium may also result in deficiency of other nutrient, especially Zinc that support healthy skin and hair coat.
Commercially available pet foods like Hills, Royal Canin, Farmina Pet, Eukanuba, Pedigree etc are scientific and balance diet for dogs.
If you are giving such food to your dog then dont give additional calcium in form of tablets. syrups etc untill and unless your vet has specified citing its need under certain health situation.
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Dr Sri Krishna Mishra