Calcium For Dogs: Find The Best Sources

But what are the best sources of calcium carbonate for dogs? What are the symptoms of calcium deficiency in dogs? And what’s a healthy daily amount of calcium a dog should have? We’ll cover all these questions and more so that you’ll be able to improve your dog’s health.

What’s a Healthy Daily Amount of Calcium for a Dog’s Diet?

The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) recommends that adult dogs get at least 1.25 mg calcium/kcal, which is 1.25 grams for every 1,000 kcal. You’ll need to factor in your dog’s weight and size to determine how many calories they need a day, which will determine the amount of calcium.

What Can I Give My Dog for Calcium?

There are several foods and supplements you can give your dog to increase its calcium intake. Many of these food sources are the same for humans. When determining which calcium-rich foods to feed your dog, you should talk to your vet to ensure your giving the best source for your dog.

You want to feed your dog food that is rich in calcium because it is the principal element in skeletal mineralization during growth. You want to choose food sources that absorb well in the intestines.

Check the labels on your dog’s food to see if it meets dog calcium requirements. If you feed your dog low-calcium dog food, you may want to give them a supplement.

Probably the easiest way to add calcium to your dog’s diet is a calcium supplement. Calcium pills for dogs take the guesswork out of giving your dog the right amount of calcium to boost its immune system and strengthen bones and teeth.

5 Best Calcium Supplements for Dogs

Bone Meal Powder for Dogs and Cats

UPCO Bone Meal is a single-ingredient calcium supplement that is quick and easy to add to your dog’s diet. It contains just one ingredient – a pure porcine bone meal. The supplement is made through steaming, and you can mix the powder into your dog’s food for a calcium boost.

The supplement contains phosphorus, which is known for helping with calcium absorption. Unlike other calcium supplements, it doesn’t have a noticeable chalky taste, which means your dog will actually eat it. It works well for most dogs, including puppies, adults that need supplementation, and pregnant dogs.

A single teaspoon of the calcium supplement includes about 720 milligrams of this beneficial substance.

It’s important to note that they should not be given this supplement if they have a dog with pork sensitivity.

Revival Animal Health Breeder's Edge Oral Cal Plus

If your pup is a mom-to-be, using this high-performing supplement is highly recommended. In fact, it will provide your pregnant dog with the energy needed to maintain regular, strong contractions, speed up whelping, and prevent the need for a c-section.

This supplement is made with a proprietary blend that helps ensure quick absorption and has no artificial additives. The milk calcium complex and calcium carbonate in this product boost the calcium your pup needs during and after giving birth. The added magnesium and vitamin D improve calcium absorption while antioxidants reduce stress levels in your pregnant dog.

The manufacturer recommends giving your dog a dose when they start labor and another after every two puppies are born. It is sold in a syringe, clearly labeled with measurement marks to ensure you get the dosage right. Based on reviews, most dogs like the flavor, making it easy to administer.

The biggest disadvantage of this calcium supplement is the syringe is sometimes challenging to operate.

Animal Essentials Seaweed Calcium Supplement for Dogs

Animal Essentials Seaweed Calcium offers a strong dose of calcium that’s derived from plant sources. This ensures purity and bioavailability. The supplement is harvested from seabed found on the southwest coast of Ireland, which is considered some of the cleanest and purest waters in the world.

Along with coming from a pure source, this supplement is easy to feed to almost any dog. All you have to do is add a teaspoon to every pound of your dog’s food.

Thanks to the high digestibility of the supplement, a very low amount are needed to provide the desired benefits. This helps your money stretch further, which is a plus for most pet parents. The powder is flavor-free and almost completely odorless, which helps reduce resistance when giving it to your dog. The calcified red seaweed is a good source of calcium and provides other essential nutrients, including magnesium, boron, and zinc. Due to the makeup and sourcing of this calcium supplement, it is one of the most environmentally sustainable options available today.

Nutrition Strength Calcium Phosphorus for Dogs

Unlike some other calcium supplements for dogs available, Nutrition Strength Calcium Phosphorus is an all-life stages formula. Each dose is provided in a compressed and easy-to-chew tablet, with 350 milligrams of calcium and 250 milligrams of phosphorus.

The supplement is made in the U.S.A. and free from grains, wheat, soy, and corn. There are no preservatives, flavors, or artificial colors, and the product is manufactured in an NSF-certified and FDA-registered facility.

The ingredient list of this supplement includes magnesium stearate, calcium, natural chicken flavor, phosphorus, whey protein isolate, vitamin A, Brewer’s dried yeast, dicalcium phosphate, and vitamin D3.

The flavored tablets are not as messy as mixing powders into your dog’s food, and they are much easier to store. However, it is worth mentioning that Brewer’s yeast can cause problems for some dogs, so watch for signs of an issue. If your pup is pickier about what they eat, it may be challenging to convince them to eat the tablet.

NutriVed Calcium Plus Chewable Vitamins For Dogs

Nutrived Calcium Plus is at the top of the list when it comes to value. This supplement provides superior value, with 60 chewable tablets in a single bottle. Also, they are reported to work well and produce positive results.

Many dog owners have reported that their dog’s health problems related to a calcium deficiency were improved significantly after taking the supplement consistently.

This supplement combines the perfect blend of essential amino acids, minerals, proteins, and vitamins. It is free of artificial ingredients and a smart option for large breed puppies who grow quickly. Other dogs that may benefit from this supplement include pregnant or nursing dogs and any dogs who require a calcium boost.

The container includes 60 chewable tablets, which gives you a month’s supplement supply for one dog. If your dog is less than 10 pounds, half a tablet per day is the recommended dosage, while larger dogs require two tablets per day. Each tablet features a liver and roast beef flavor that most dogs enjoy. Also, to help improve your dog’s agreeability to take this supplement, it is crunchy rather than chewy (a drawback of other calcium supplements for dogs). You can give your dog the tablet directly or crumble it in their food.

How to Incorporate Calcium Supplements into Your Dog’s Diet

Calcium supplements for dogs are usually food toppers, dog treats, or powders that are easy to add to your dog’s food. Bone meal powder for dogs is a good calcium supplement.

Should I Give My Dog Calcium Supplements?

Before giving your dog a calcium supplement, talk to your vet. Most dog foods contain decent calcium. But some situations can require higher calcium intake. If your dog is pregnant or nursing, it may need additional calcium since pregnancy can deplete calcium.

Also, if you feed your dog homemade meals instead of commercial dog food, you may want to talk to your vet about calcium supplements. This is generally because homemade meals are protein-rich with very few calcium-fortified options.

Can I Give Human Calcium Supplements to My Dog?

No, you should not give your dog human calcium supplements to your dog because they are formulated for humans and a much higher weight class than a dog. Calcium supplements for humans can also contain harmful ingredients for dogs.

Calcium supplements that are formulated for dogs are very effective in treating calcium deficiency. Talk to your vet about giving your dog calcium supplements because too much calcium can cause health problems too.

The 5 Best Natural Sources of Calcium for Dogs

These natural sources shouldn’t surprise you, but working them into your dog’s diet can be more difficult. The best natural sources of calcium for dogs are:

1. Yogurt

Yogurt is the most significant source of calcium for dogs. Yogurt contains 450 mg of calcium in 1 cup. Depending on your dog’s size, you may only need to give your dog a spoonful or two to provide the necessary calcium.

How to incorporate yogurt into your dog’s diet:

Add a dollop of plain yogurt to your dog’s meal, and they will be so excited.

Is yogurt good for dogs?

A small spoonful of plain, non-fat, or low-fat yogurt is great to add to your dog’s regular dog food for added calcium and probiotic benefits. You don’t want to give them flavored yogurt because some sweeteners can be toxic for dogs.
Talk to your vet to make sure dairy isn’t a digestive problem for your dog’s breed. Some dog breeds don’t tolerate dairy very well.

2. Cheese

Cheese is high in calcium because it is a dairy product. Hard cheeses, like cheddar or jack, contain 200 mg of calcium for 1 ounce of cheese.

How to incorporate cheese into your dog’s diet:

Add a slice of cheese, broken into bite-size pieces to your dog’s meal. Many dogs prefer cottage cheese, which has 65 mg of calcium in a half-cup. Just add a 1/2 cup to your dog’s food.

Is cheese bad for dogs?

Cheese is safe for your dog to eat, but you need to be careful about the types of cheese you feed your dog. You don’t want to feed your dog cheese with other herbs or products in it because it can be toxic for dogs. Safe cheeses are:

Mozzarella
Cottage cheese
Goat cheese
Plain low-fat cheese

These cheeses are low in fat and lactose, so they are least likely to upset your dog’s digestion or contribute to obesity. Be careful not to feed large portions of cheese because it can lead to weight gain.

3. Chicken and Fish

Chicken is an excellent protein source that contains an adequate amount of calcium. Salmon, trout, mackerel, and sardines also have high calcium content from 170 mg to 370 mg.

Because both proteins have sufficient calcium, these meats are often in many types of dog food. If you buy chicken or fish-infused dog food, you should check the label for calcium content.

How to incorporate chicken and fish into your dog’s diet:

You might not need to do a thing if your dog food already contains enough chicken or fish. If not, you may want to switch to higher-calcium dog food that contains more chicken and fish. You can also supplement their diet with chicken and fish food scraps.

They’ll love you for it.

Can dogs eat tuna?

Yes, dogs can eat tuna in small amounts. Raw tuna isn’t toxic to dogs, but you may want to feed your dog other types of fish because tuna can contain high mercury levels. Other fish like salmon, herring, flounder, and Wild Menhaden are higher in calcium and don’t contain mercury. But don’t sweat it if your dog sneaks a nip of tuna.

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4. Vegetables

Some vegetables are very high in calcium. These vegetables are the highest in calcium:

Acorn squash
Arugula
Bok Choy
Broccoli
Chard
Chicory
Collard greens
Corn
Dandelion
Kale
Mustard greens
Spinach
Turnips

Spinach and broccoli contain the highest amounts of calcium. Spinach has 240 mg for one cup, and broccoli has 180 mg for one cup.

How to incorporate vegetables into your dog’s diet:

Some dogs love vegetables and some don’t. This is where you’ll have to know your dog. Vegetables are also great because they are low-fat. For dogs that struggle with their weight, this may be a healthy option for calcium.

Cut up a cup full of vegetables into bite-size pieces and add them to your dog’s meal or as a snack or treat.

5. Bones

Bones are often a rich source of calcium. And dogs love to chew on bones but be careful. Some bones can hurt your dog’s mouth or cause stomach issues. If your dog is a gulper, then bones that aren’t adequately chewed can cause internal organ damage. Know your dog.

How to Incorporate Bones into Your Dog’s Diet:

You can give your dog raw or cooked bones as a treat. However, cooked bones are best for digestion. If you’re worried about your dog choking on a bone, a safe way to add bone to your dog’s diet is to grind bone for dogs into a powder and add it to your dog’s food. You can also buy bone meal supplements for dogs.

How much bone meal for dogs?

If you make your own dog food, you only need to add a few tablespoons of bone meal into your dog’s food to give them the necessary calcium they need.

What are the Symptoms of Calcium Deficiency or Low Calcium in Dogs?

Calcium deficiency can cause several disorders including, inflammation of the pancreas, kidney failure, parathyroid gland failure, and hypocalcemia. The symptoms of low calcium in dogs are:

Dizziness
Lethargy
Lack of appetite
Muscle twitching
Convulsions
Seizures

If you think your dog has a calcium deficiency, you should contact your veterinarian. They’ll want to see your dog to diagnose properly. If your dog does have calcium deficiency, your veterinarian will probably prescribe a calcium supplement.

How Do You Treat Low Calcium in Dogs?

I know we might sound like a broken wheel but talk to your vet. Treatment for calcium deficiency can vary depending on the cause or level of deficiency. Your vet will be able to correctly identify the correct dose of calcium to bring them back to normal levels quickly.

Usually, only an oral calcium supplement is needed to restore your dog. In some severe cases, your dog may need intravenous calcium therapy. Or your dog may need a long-term supplement to avoid relapse.

How Much Calcium is Toxic to Dogs?

Calcium isn’t toxic, but calcium is often accompanied by Vitamin D for absorption. Vitamin D can be toxic for dogs when taken in high doses. If your dog has gotten into or accidentally eaten too much calcium or Vitamin D, you need to watch for these signs:

Diarrhea
Vomiting
Increased Urination
Excessive Drinking

If your dog shows any of these signs, call your vet.

Add Calcium to Your Dog’s Diet to Improve its Health

By adding calcium to your dog’s diet, you’ll improve your dog’s overall health while strengthening bones, teeth, and coats. And your dog will love the extra treat, whether it’s yogurt, cheese, vegetables, or meat.

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