Chelated Minerals: Are They Necessary in Dog Food?

Chelated minerals are known for absorption and because of how they are bonded to amino acids. Chelated mineral formulas use amino acids to carry minerals throughout the body for a readily available absorption. Chelated minerals can also be found in your dog's food. Minerals are inorganic compounds not found in plants or animals. Minerals are, however, absorbed by plants and available to your dog through plant nutrition as well as animal-sourced foods. But are chelated minerals beneficial to your dog?

Which Chelated Minerals are Beneficial?

Chelated minerals are chemically bonded to a protein or amino acid. Typically, this chemical bond enhances the absorption of the mineral, making it readily available when your dog needs it. Chelated minerals such as iron, chromium, and selenium are known to absorb faster than non-chelated forms of the same minerals. Other minerals such as copper and zinc absorb at similar rates in chelated and non-chelated forms. Minerals such as calcium and magnesium do not need to be chelated at all because absorption is natural and easy.

Are Chelated Minerals Necessary for My Dog?

The natural form of a mineral is always the best choice, when available. The most biologically sound minerals available from whole foods, rather than in chemically processed synthetic forms, are the best option to put into your dog's body. If you are unable to give your dog a raw food diet and supplement with foods that are high in mineral content, food processed with chelated minerals might be an option for you and your dog. However, there is some controversy with chelated minerals and processed dog foods.

If your dog can consume a raw food diet or a whole food diet, there is no reason for your dog to require additional supplements because they will obtain all the nutrients they need from their diet. Trace minerals your dog needs will come from fresh whole foods and vegetables. Finding sources of minerals to add to your dog's processed food is not difficult through raw meats, raw pumpkin seeds, spinach, which is rich in magnesium and iron, along with pineapple and other fresh fruits and vegetables. Trace minerals are added to processed dog food as well as other vitamins and nutrients because the processing of organic materials often takes nutrients away, causing manufacturers to add nutrients back in for proper nutrition for your dog.

Choosing the Best Nutrition Options

Diet is a key factor in keeping your dog as healthy as can be throughout their entire life. Whether your processed dog food offers chelated minerals or you decide to offer your dog minerals from organic sources is up to you and your veterinarian. Either way, understand chelated minerals are processed, inorganic compounds added to your dog's food for faster absorption. This quick absorption gives your dog’s body the minerals available five to fifteen percent faster than without chelating. Not all minerals need a chelation process for quick absorption. And with proper diet and nutrition, your dog may not need fast absorption either.