Does your dog get enough calcium? There are several ways to help ensure that he or she is getting enough of this mineral.
Just like all vitamins and minerals, calcium is important to health. Some other nutrients can be found in many of the foods dogs eat at home; meats, vegetables, oils, fruits, etc. That’s not to say that I don’t advocate adding a high-quality multivitamin and mineral supplement, because I do. After all, just like us, dogs don’t always eat the optimal amount of every nutrient every day. So I think tacking on a multi is a wise decision.
Adding calcium to your dog’s homemade food can also be beneficial. A few holistic vets I have spoken with suggest adding anywhere between 650 and 1000 mg of calcium per pound of food, if you are making homemade food. Another guideline is to add bone meal in an amount that is about 10 percent of the entire meal. If your dog is getting other dietary sources of calcium – for example eggshells (1/2 tsp. per pound of meat does the trick) – then you can adjust the amount accordingly. Cooking bones down until they are soft and mushy allows you to serve them to your dog without fear of choking or obstruction, and this also provides a great source of calcium.
Speaking of cooking bones down, I have featured this in some of my previous recipes. Even if you don’t serve the actual bones, the gelatin and marrow that cook down off the bone contain a lot of nutrition for your dog (and you, if you are so inclined). Bone broth is a powerhouse!
But back to the subject of calcium, if you are cooking homemade food, or if your commercial food doesn’t contain calcium, you may want to consider adding a calcium supplement, ground eggshells, bonemeal, or any of the above to your dog’s diet. But don’t overdo it – too much calcium can cause kidney issues.