Hey,

Happy Wednesday!

So, I spent my Sunday in the E.R. after taking an almighty whack to my ankle bone. Such a fun way to kill time on a weekend…

It felt sore to begin with but nothing majorly painful. So I took my dog for a walk. Then it didn’t feel — or look — quite so good. I’m in training (loose term) for a half marathon so I wanted to know if there was a fracture. 

Luckily, the X-rays showed no break. I’m probably jinxing myself here, but other than toes and fingers, I’ve not broken a bone in my body.

“What strong bones you have, Andrew!” I thought to myself. “You must have had lots of calcium as a child.”

Anyway, that got me thinking about dogs (most things do) and how their bone health is so crucial and how much it depends on us. How much we exercise them but also what we feed them, particularly as puppies — and calcium is a big part of this. 

You can feed a puppy too little calcium, but you can also feed them too much — the latter being a cause of hip dysplasia, particularly in large breed dogs. 

If you have or are thinking of getting a large breed puppy, we have a very useful calcium content calculator for large breed puppies which includes a ton of advice. We also have our list of Best Large Breed Puppy Foods.

But calcium contributes to more than just bone development and health. It aids digestion, helps with muscle movement, accelerates healing, and keeps dogs’ hearts ticking over at a nice rhythm. Increased calcium intake is important during pregnancy and nursing. 

Complete and balanced dog foods must contain precise quantities of calcium to reach AAFCO nutritional standards, as well as the calcium being carefully balanced with the levels of other minerals, like phosphorus. These levels and that balance are different for puppies and adult dogs.

Adult dogs are unlikely to overdose on calcium. Calcium deficiency (hypocalcemia), however, is more common and symptoms can include stiff posture, tremors, muscle spasms, lethargy, panting, and a high temperature. If you have concerns, always consult your vet.

If your dog isn’t getting enough calcium, you have options. You can change dog food (obviously) or add calcium supplements — both of which give you a measurable amount of calcium, although it’s worth remembering that many dog food labels give a minimum calcium content. But only introduce supplements under the guidance of a vet or if you're feeding homemade dog food — even with adult dogs.

You can also boost your dog’s calcium intake with other foods, including — but not limited to — cheese, yogurt, tuna, salmon, broccoli, spinach and celery. 

I hope this has been helpful. I also hope next week’s Wednesday email won’t require a hospital visit to provide inspiration.

One more thing, I mentioned last Friday a few time-limited discounts you can get via DFA, on some highly-rated dog foods. Some of these end Friday, so here’s a list of those deals in case you missed them.

Until next time,