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. However I still recommend adding a multivitamin / mineral complex. 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.
One holistic vet I work with suggests a product called Sea-Cal, and that is what I use for my own dogs and in many of my recipes.
You can also use finely ground eggshell. One other thought is to cook bones down until they are soft and mushy, allowing you to serve them to your dog without fear of choking or obstruction. This also provides a great source of calcium. However, it requires much more effort.
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. But don’t overdo it – too much calcium can cause kidney issues.
