Revealing the right way to supplement calcium for your dog

Just like humans, dogs also need calcium supplements. At different stages, the calcium supplement needs of dogs will be different. Therefore, to help their owners not have a headache, PetCity will provide useful information about providing calcium for your pet dog.

Do dogs need calcium supplements?

In the daily food that we give our dogs, there is already a certain amount of calcium (available in foods).

However, this amount of calcium is very little and not enough to provide for your dog. Supplementation here does not mean just Calcium Supplementation.

The calcium requirement of dogs in general is 4 times that of humans. Therefore, in addition to the amount of calcium in daily food, we must provide calcium supplements to meet the needs of dogs, especially for some large breed dogs such as German Shepherds, Pitbulls or Alaskan dogs…

Symptoms of calcium deficiency in dogs

• Dogs with calcium deficiency often suffer from rickets.
• Fragile bones
• Dogs do not develop
• Dogs get sick easily
• Poor oral hygiene leads to tooth fracture
• Dogs can also suffer from hypocalcemia, which is common in nursing mothers.
• Swollen dog joints (deformed ankles, sternum, ribs)
• Dog is down table

How to supplement calcium for dogs

• Calcium injection method for dogs

This is the best way to supplement calcium directly for dogs. This method will bring quick, immediate results. This method should only be applied when the dog is severely deficient in calcium and has difficulty moving.

You cannot inject calcium into your dog, you have to ask your veterinarian. Veterinarians will also advise you on how to properly supplement calcium for your dog. Therefore, if you want to supplement calcium for your dog by injection, please call the veterinary clinic.

• Providing Calcium through food

The main foods that help supplement calcium for dogs are field crabs, shrimp, small fish, eggshells, snail shells, bones… However, to use these foods, the owner must understand their dog very well, its ability to digest strange foods, have time to train it to get used to them… otherwise it can lead to diarrhea.

And note, when feeding these foods, they must be ground into small, smooth pieces so that the dog can easily digest and absorb them; at the same time, digestive enzymes should be added when feeding because these are protein-rich foods.

• Dry food

In dry food pellets, there is always a certain amount of calcium available to provide calcium supplements for dogs at each stage.
Periods when calcium supplements are needed for dogs

+ Dogs from birth to 8 weeks old: This is the time when puppies are still breastfeeding, so you do not need to provide calcium for puppies because mother’s milk is full of nutrients.

+ Dogs from 8 to 36 weeks old: This is the period when dogs are developing bones, so they need calcium supplements. You can supplement them through medication and combine with diet.

+ Dogs from 36 to 48 weeks old: This is the time when the dog is mature and no longer develops much, so you do not need to supplement much calcium for the dog, just supplement through daily food without using medicine anymore.

+ Dogs from 48 weeks old: This is the period when dogs develop body thickness and begin to develop tendons and muscles, so they need more calcium. If at this time the dog lacks calcium, it will become weak and lose strength.

• Calcium medicine for dogs

Currently, there are several types of calcium supplements (liquid and tablet) available on the market to supplement calcium for dogs. These medications are all calcium chloride salts containing Ca2+ ions that are easily absorbed by the body to form the skeletal system. Liquid medications are often used to treat dogs with seizures due to calcium deficiency in the blood and must be injected intravenously (intramuscular injection will cause necrosis and rotting of the flesh).

• Give your dog fresh milk

In addition to nutrients, milk contains a large amount of calcium and is easily absorbed by the body. Milk is the main source of calcium for dogs from birth to weaning. Therefore, milk is the most important source of daily calcium for dogs. Milk should not be removed from the daily menu of dogs, especially puppies.

In addition to the above methods, don’t forget to let your pet participate in sports activities such as walking or sunbathing regularly.