The Essential Pet Food Ingredient, Calcium Carbonate

If you want to take the best care of your dog, ensuring they get all the necessary nutrients is vital. When it comes to essential nutrients, calcium carbonate is one of the most important. It is an ingredient that your dog would struggle to live without. This key player in dog food serves three important functions. Firstly, it brings with it a host of health benefits. Secondly, it is used as a safe preservative, and finally, it is used as a color retention agent. This article will detail its benefits, highlight any potential concerns, and advise you on supplementing your dog’s diet with it.

The Benefits of Calcium Carbonate

Calcium is a mineral that your dog cannot function effectively without. When your dog is growing, they depend on calcium to help their bones and teeth grow strong. But calcium also serves a number of other purposes; it prevents clotting and goes a long way in maintaining your dog’s vision.

A calcium deficiency can cause hypocalcemia, which can lead to stiff and weak joints. It can also lead to problems with your dog’s vision and blood clots. Ensuring your dog gets enough calcium carbonate is essential if you want a fit and healthy dog.

Are There Any Risks With Calcium Carbonate?

While calcium plays a key role in the smooth running of your dog’s body, too much calcium carbonate can cause serious health problems. Problems that were clearly highlighted by the Journal of Bones and Mineral Research In 2001. If your dog is consuming too much of it, other vital minerals, like iron, zinc and magnesium can become depleted in your dog’s body. So, excessive amounts of calcium carbonate must be avoided!

One other concern associated with calcium carbonate is the danger of canine hip dysplasia developing. This is the abnormal formation of the hip socket, which can lead to crippling and painful lameness if not treated early. While calcium carbonate can have fantastic health benefits, ensuring you give your dog the correct amount is essential.

How Should You Give Your Dog Calcium Carbonate?

If you want to feed your dog calcium carbonate and are unsure of the quantities to give, your local vet will always be able to offer you guidance. Calcium carbonate comes in a variety of forms, but powder is particularly popular.

The quantity you give your dog depends on the potency of the calcium carbonate powder, whether it includes a high amount of vitamin D, and how big and old your dog is. But when your vet has advised you on the quantities, you can simply mix the powder into your dog’s meals each day. When it comes to supplementing your dog’s diet with calcium carbonate it is always safer to be cautious and conservative, slowly building the dose up to prevent any of the adverse effects mentioned above.

The Final Verdict on Calcium Carbonate

Calcium carbonate is an essential mineral in your dog’s diet. It aids bone growth, teeth resilience, eyesight, and prevents clotting. If you do not feed your dog enough calcium, serious health repercussions can follow. But it is also important you do not feed your dog too much calcium carbonate, as it could negate the effects of other essential minerals like iron and zinc. Calcium carbonate is usually added to your dog’s meal in a powder form, but for quantities and further advice, consult your local vet.