Should a Puppy Take Calcium Supplements?

Supplementing a puppy̵7;s diet should be done cautiously and under a veterinarian̵7;s advice. Their bodies require many nutrients to grow up healthy and strong, but the nutrients they consume must be the correct ones to meet their physical needs. Calcium is extremely important to a growing puppy. It strengthens bones and cartilage and controls the muscles ability to fire. However, too much calcium is as detrimental to a puppy̵7;s health as too little.

  1. Hypocalcemia and Hypercalcemia

    • When a puppy has too little calcium to meet her physical needs, it is called hypocalcemia. Hypocalcemia causes a puppy to have soft bones and weak cartilage, resulting in permanent structural flaws if not corrected before adulthood. Vegetables and probiotics can be added to a puppy̵7;s diet to provide supplemental nutrition if she eats a poor commercial diet or if she does not consume enough dry food to maintain proper skeletal growth.
      Hypercalcemia is the opposite of hypocalcemia: It occurs when a puppy̵7;s body contains too much calcium than is required to meet its physical needs. Excessive calcium levels in a dog̵7;s blood usually are caused by an imbalance in the dog̵7;s parathyroid gland, which regulates the quantity of calcium in the bloodstream. Puppies can consume too much calcium through supplementation when they already take in enough calcium from their food and other sources.

    Commercial Dog Food

    • Most commercial dog food diets are carefully formulated to provide enough vitamins and minerals, including calcium, when feeding instructions on the label are followed. No additional supplementation should be required when feeding a good commercial food. Supplementing your dog̵7;s diet may in fact be detrimental to her health if she is eating such a food.

    Homemade Diets and Raw Food

    • Hypocalcemia is more common in dogs who are fed homemade diets or raw diets consisting only of meat. Calcium supplements are recommended in such situations. It is equally important for your dog to have a vitamin D and phosphorous when giving calcium supplements, as it is vitamin D that helps your dog absorb the calcium. Consult with a canine nutritionist to ensure that the balance of vitamins and minerals is correct in any homemade diet.

    Wobbler Syndrome and Other Dangers

    • Cervical vertebral instability, called wobbler syndrome, involves improper formation of a dog̵7;s cervical skeleton. In some cases, wobbler syndrome is a developmental issue. According to veterinary neurologist Dr. John McDonnell, wobbler syndrome also occurs when puppies, particularly large breed puppies, consume too much calcium in their diet, resulting ̶0;in hypercalcitonism which disturbs skeletal remodeling and ossification,̶1; which also leads to improper formation of a dog̵7;s skeleton. Soft bones or brittle bones, weak cartilage and hip dysplasia all have been linked to a calcium imbalance.