Calcium: what is it and what is it for?
Calcium is an essential mineral for a whole range of metabolic processes in dogs.
Calcium is the main inorganic component of the dog's skeleton. Thus, 99% of the calcium present in his body is in his bones and the remaining 1% is distributed within extra and intracellular fluids.
Bone calcium gives the skeleton its structural integrity and serves as a "reserve" to keep serum calcium constant, i.e. the level of calcium circulating in the blood, through a subtle balance between accretion and bone resorption.The calcium present in the bones is in fact not frozen within them but it can be mobilized by the body and released from the bones into the plasma (resorption) when the need arises: if food intake of the dog in calcium are insufficient or when calcium needs are increased during gestation (calcium is needed to "manufacture" the skeletons of unborn babies) or during a period of lactation (calcium passes into breast milk). Conversely, when the circulating calcium level is too high, the calcium can come to reattach itself to the bones (accretion). This balance between accretion and resorption is regulated by complex mechanisms which are under the influence of various hormones including parathyroid hormone (PTH) and calcitonin.
Circulating calcium, despite its small share (1%) in the dog's body, has essential roles in the transmission of nerve impulses, in muscle contraction, in blood coagulation mechanisms, in the activation of certain enzymatic systems, in the maintenance of good membrane permeability at the cell level and within cardiac function.
What are the dog's calcium needs?
The calcium needs of a dog are proportionally 10 times greater than those of a human being. A dog must thus receive 100 to 200 mg per kg of body weight per day, whereas a human being of around sixty kilos must only receive 750 mg per day, i.e. 12.5 mg of calcium per kg of body weight. !
Thus, according to FEDIAF nutritional recommendations:
- a puppy must receive a diet that has a calcium "concentration" of between 2.5g (min) and 4g (max) of calcium per 1000Kcal,
- an adult dog, between 1.25 and 6.25g of calcium per 1000 Kcal of food,
- and a pregnant or nursing dog, at least 2.5g of calcium for 1000Kcal of food.
But beyond the amount of calcium, it is also the balance between calcium and phosphorus that must be checked because their metabolisms are closely linked.Indeed, the mechanisms which make it possible to maintain constant the levels of these two minerals in the body of the dog are inseparable and a large part of the skeletal calcium exists in the form of hydroxyapatite, a combination of phosphorus and calcium.
Thus, the ratio between calcium and phosphorus in the dog's diet should be globally between 1 and 2.
Where is the calcium? How to meet a dog's calcium needs?
In the dog's "natural" diet, calcium can be found mainly in dairy products and bones.
But, if dairy products are strong contributors of calcium in humans, this is not the case in dogs. Remember: the calcium needs of the dog are about 10 times higher than ours. Thus, giving yogurt or cheese is NEVER enough to replace a mineral and vitamin supplement in a classic household ration consisting of boneless meat, a little oil, vegetables and rice.To cover the needs of a 10 kg dog in calcium without CMV, it would be necessary to give him 2 kg of yogurt or 500 g of pressed cheese with cooked paste daily! It is simply impossible because with these quantities, we would far exceed the quantities of daily calories that the dog needs without having covered its other needs in nutrients and vitamins
You must therefore SYSTEMATICALLY add a mineral and vitamin supplement to a household diet that does not include bones to balance it and that, every day
If you opt for a homemade diet, you will absolutely need to balance your dog's ration with a mineral and vitamin supplement:
- with a Ca/P between 2 and 3 for puppies, pregnant or nursing bitches and adult dogs,
- without phosphorus for senior dogs, kidney or heart failure or suffering from urinary stones.
On the other hand, in a dog fed with kibbles and / or complete meals, there is no need to supplement it with calcium because complete industrial foods are normally formulated to contain enough calcium to cover the needs. of a dog.
More concretely, if you feed your dog kibble, you should ideally choose foods with the following optimal calcium, phosphorus and Ca/P ratios:
| % Calcium | % phosphorus | Ca/P Ratio | |
| 0.9 to 1.5% | 0.8 to 1.1% | 1 to 1.5 | |
| 0.9 to 1.4% | 0.8 to 1.1% | 1 to 1.3 | |
| 0.7 to 1.5% | 0.5 to 1.1% (<1% si sénior) | 1 to 1.5 |
Note carefully!
Calcium and phosphorus levels are not the only criteria to take into account when choosing kibble. To discover the other criteria, go to our file en titled “Which croquettes to choose for my dog? »
What are the consequences of a lack and excess of calcium in dogs?
A diet lacking in calcium can cause rickets in young growing dogs, osteomalacia in breeding females and brittle bones in all dogs.
Preconceived idea: calcium and falling ears
It is often believed that falling ears in puppies are due to calcium deficiency. It's wrong ! Dropping ears during the puppy's growth spurt is linked to a lack of protein.This lack may be due to a diet that does not provide him with enough or the fact that his body does not assimilate them well. Then ask your veterinarian for advice!
When it comes to nutrition, some excesses are almost just as harmful to he alth as deficiencies! If the calcium supply is essential to ensure a harmonious growth of the bones in the puppy, an excess can cause too rapid growth and abnormalities in the development of the bones and the cartilage in the puppy which will pursue it throughout its adult life. .
At any age, an excess of calcium prevents the absorption of other minerals such as zinc, which can be the cause of the appearance of dermatological problems.
You will therefore have understood: as often in nutrition, everything is therefore a question of balance, calcium is essential for the dog but it does not need too much or too little!