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Calcium
Calcium, as everyone knows is one of the main minerals in bone. This is why it is so important in growing animals. But did you also know it is essential for good saliva production, blood clotting, muscle contraction, nerve impulses and the absorption of vitamin B12 from the gut? It is found in broccoli, fish (if bones are present), bones (obviously), green leafy vegetables, pulses and root vegetables.
Many people think that by giving little 'uns milk you can ensure a good calcium intake. This is true, but dairy products, apart from being completely inappropriate for any animal over weaning age, are low in Magnesium which aids calcium metabolism. So by relying on milk as a source of calcium alone, a relative magnesium deficiency can ensue. Relying on non-dairy calcium ensures a good intake of magnesium to keep things balanced.
The other big hitter in the mineral world of calcium is, of course Phosphorus. Everyone knows about phosphorus and that you have to ensure the calcium-phosphorus ratio is 2:1 or 3.6:1 or 4:1 depending on who you talk to. At the end of the day this seemingly arbitrary ratio can be satisfied if raw bones make up a significant part of the diet. What better way to supplement calcium and phosphorus for bone growth than by giving...bones!
For the sake of completeness and just to clear up this business about the ideal amount of calcium to phosphorus here is my take on the subject – as long as there is more absorbed calcium (twice as much is good) in the diet than absorbed phosphorus, then you're laughing. The body will do the rest.
Beware, however, all you breeders who supplement calcium to bitches and to puppies. In these waters there be dragons!
What I'm trying to say is that giving calcium to bitches and pups can do as much harm as good, so get good advice. Giving bitches too much calcium supplementation can depress the flow of calcium from her reserves to the mammary glands once she has to pump out lots of nutritious milk for the pups. This can lead to eclampsia if the mobilisation is sufficiently impaired. Too much calcium to pups can also depress the hormonal control of bone growth. Studies have shown it is better to give slightly too little calcium to pups than too much. By giving slightly too little, the body turns on systems to absorb more from the gut and to mobilise more from the bony reserves.
To feed adequate calcium, feed a normal raw food diet to a bitch, just more of it. To feed pups, feed a normal raw food diet, but lots of it. Both should contain lots of raw bones to chew or meat containing bone powder. This will ensure good intake.
Nick Thompson BSc.(Hons), BVM&S, VetMFHom, MRCVS.
