Raben K9 Dog Training Center - Working Line German Shepherd Dog Breeding

Unfortunately many years ago it was presumed that dogs required a calcium rich diet. This belief continued throughout univesities untill further studies prooved the thought to be wrong. The beginning of calcium supplementation dates back to the day when dogs received table left overs that were extremely low in calcium levels. Again, unfortunately today certain veterinarians who couldn't be bothered to follow the ever expanding knowledge of treatment and medicene continue to believe that calcium is required in high doses. It is true that dogs alike humans require calcium in their diets and by depriving calcium from the diet serious health risks will be present. However today nearly every dog is fed on dry, moist or semi-moist dog food prepaired by companies that spend a lot of time and money on research to better their products. Today there are not many brands of dog food on the market that are not balanced and complete. A dog that is eating a dog food that is balanced and complete and was prepared for his breed, age and size has the exact amount of calcium in the bag. Calcium is one of the cheapest ingridiants therefore cost is not an issue when it comes to calcium. Pet manufacturers have agreed that dogs require 0.9 to 1.2 percent calcium in their daily diet depending on breed, age, size, condition, health etc. any percentage below this will cause health problems due to calcium dificiency. Any percentage above will cause health problems due to excess calcium intake. Therefore food manufacturers are very carefull in preparing their products. On the other hand certain vitamins and minerals directly influence one another as an example vitamin d directly influences calcium intake. Phosfor and calcium must be taken in the proper ratio of 1 part to 1.2 parts, any other ratio will also harm the dog.

People and strangely enough even some veterinarians have the strange belief that calcium given in large quantities to a puppy will result in a very healthy puppy with big bones and massive as wished. Calcium makes the long bones grow longer! Calcium will influence a puppy to grow much faster then normal however two puppys one on a balanced diet and the other on a diet with high calcium will be noticably different in hieght untill 18-36 months old when they are the same hieght. What does this proove, well, dogs alike humans have a dna a genetic code, within it it has the rules set of what the total hieght of the dog shall be. Once this hieght is reached growing is halted by the system. So, if the final hieght is programmed within the dog then by using your common sence you will easilly figure out which is more healthy; a dog growing to its final hieght in six months or 18 months? I rest my case....

Not really

If you are being sold Calcium by a pet shop then remember that a pet shop is not autherized to be giving people such products. Pet shops are shops they do not require the person running the pet shop to be a qualified veterinarian. On the other hand if your vet is prescribing Calcium supplements then do ask why. Supplementation requires labaratory proof that there was a deficiency in the first place. If the only reason given is 'its good for your dog' and you are also purchasing a good quality dog food that is balanced and complete then maybe your vet is in selling calcium suplements due to the high cash flow they supply (hundreds of percent profit!) or maybe he is still using the dinosour age veterinary knowledge. Or maybe he knows the trueth but practiced giving calcium supplementation for many years and now has a problem, maybe embaresed. Well a vet thinking of himself rather then your beloved family member your dog may be best of not being your dogs vet.

BY THE WAY I MUST ALSO STRESS OUT THAT FOR SOME REASON SOME VETS BELIEVE THAT DOGS REQUIRE SUNLIGHT TO PRODUCE VITAMIN D. WELL MAYBE THOSE VETS WOULD BE BETTER OFF WORKING WITH GOATS AND COWS THAT THEY ARE USED TO WORKING WITH, THAT THEY MIX UP THEIR KNOWLEDGE WITH DOGS. DOGS AND CATS CAN NOT SYNTHESIZE VITAMIN D ALIKE THE REST OF MAMALS VIA SUNLIGHT

I suppose that one can not blame a vet for mixing so much up. A human doctor is composed of a group of doctors, the familly doctor whose job is to check your (one race= human being) general health and send you to a specialist if something is seriously wrong. Specialists look into one area alone. heart, digestive system, bones, nervouse system etc. and they even further branch out. Whereas a vet is supposed to be capable of knowing A-Z of fish, birds, mamals.... All different!

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