Minerals for Dogs: Does Your Pet Get All They Need?
Minerals for dogs are essential for almost all the functions in their bodies, including their digestive, cardiovascular, nervous and immune systems.
Your pet will need minerals to make the tissues and bones of their body stronger for protection against injuries.
That also includes creating enzymes for energy production. They are also essential for assisting the nervous system in sending out impulses to different parts of their bodies. The minerals help with strengthening the nervous system so it can send out signals more efficiently.
This article looks at the most common minerals found in dogs and their role. While you can acquire these minerals through their diet, it’s not always feasible to give your dog a fresh meal every day. If you’re looking for an alternative way to provide these minerals, you can use supplements formulated specifically for dogs.
Check out our Nutrition Strength Minerals for Dogs.
Table of Contents:
- Balanced Diet for Dogs
- Which Minerals Are Essential to Dogs’ Health and What Is Their Function?
- How to Make Sure Your Dog Is Getting All the Minerals They Need?
- Why Is It Better to Take Chelated Minerals for Dogs?
- The Takeaway
- Nutrition Strength Minerals for Dogs
Balanced Diet for Dogs
Is the diet of our dogs balanced? Does the food contain enough essential minerals for dogs? Today it is difficult to answer these questions. It is known that not all food contains the necessary minerals, so the animal’s diet should be supplemented with vitamins and microelements. But what are these elements?
It turns out that dogs need calcium, phosphorus, sodium, potassium, iron, zinc for the normal metabolism of their body. All this is found in food supplemented with minerals or by adding additional supplements to foodstuffs. The best are special feed additives containing all necessary microelements in one tablet for daily use.
The diet should contain sufficient minerals, but not too much. You should know how much foodstuffs contain the necessary mineral. You can look at the package or the website of the producer or distributor of this product.
Alternatively, it is so simple to estimate the percentage of mineral supplements in food by measuring it on your own. You will need a specific measuring device.
If the food contains enough microelements, its quality is likely high. If not, then you need to choose something else. It is not enough to feed the dog with one food — it can cause various diseases and deterioration of health.
Every day, give your pet a balanced composition of vitamins and minerals. That will contribute to maintaining the health of the animal.
Which Minerals Are Essential to Dogs’ Health and What Is Their Function?
Minerals are the main substances found in cell tissue, muscles, bones and teeth. They’re essential to our health because they maintain fluid balance, electrolyte balance, bone health and body structure.
Minerals also regulate nerve impulses and muscle movement throughout the body. They help to activate enzymes that promote growth and development. The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) considers minerals as some of the most essential nutrients for dogs.
Whether we know it or not, we all use and depend on minerals daily. They’re in every food we eat and in every water we drink. That is valid for every organism, including dogs.
A dog’s diet must include all essential minerals in appropriate amounts. They provide the body with energy, boost the immune system, regulate heart rate, maintain body temperature and preserve bone health.
Minerals are also necessary to produce red blood cells that carry oxygen throughout the body, which is of paramount importance. Without minerals, dogs cannot survive for long periods because it weakens their immune system, probably making them susceptible to diseases and eventually death.
Let’s review some general information about the most crucial minerals for dogs.
Calcium for Dogs
Calcium is the most abundant mineral found in bones and teeth. It’s also essential for a strong body and skeletal system. It has a significant function in the formation of blood vessels and nerve impulses.
Calcium helps to regulate heart rate and relaxes muscles. All these facts make it a vital mineral for dogs to have an adequate intake daily.
A calcium deficiency causes muscles to tighten up. Also, we can see some changes in the body’s metabolism that can lead to an increased risk of bone disease or health problems such as arthritis.
Having a healthy supply of calcium is essential for both the health of your dog’s bones and teeth. Dogs also need calcium to help regulate blood circulation and maintain body temperature. Dogs with large dimensions and short gut have a higher risk of bone disease from not consuming enough minerals.
Dogs have a higher risk of getting bone diseases because their skeleton is so massive in proportion to their body weight, so they can’t afford to lose much calcium.
Calcium should be present in nutritionally balanced dry food, not less than 800 mg/kg and not more than 2 g/kg. Calcium should be actual in calcium chloride or crystal calcium supplement before feeding your dog food.
Check out our Nutrition Strength Calcium Phosphorus for Dogs.
Phosphorus for Dogs
Phosphorus is the second most abundant mineral in your dog’s body. It’s present in every cell of the body — it is necessary for the production and maintenance of bones, teeth and muscles.
Phosphorus also regulates the production and release of energy from food through a process called cellular respiration. It helps to support strong muscles. It also aids in the absorption of calcium. Phosphorus has a crucial role to play in your dog’s bone growth and maintenance, so it should be included in their diet.
The deficiency of phosphorus in dogs leads to rickets, a lack of calcium and an increased risk of arthritis. Rickets is a disease that makes the bones weak and soft.
If your dog eats once a day 30 grams of dry food, you need to take into account 1 — 2 percent phosphorus. The share of phosphorus in food should be lower than 1% to prevent hypercalciuria while exceeding it can lead to the development of osteoporosis.
Magnesium for Dogs
Magnesium is usually branched into two main types: calcium bonded magnesium or magnesium bound to oxide. Magnesium is involved in over 300 chemical reactions in the body, including muscle contractions, heartbeat and nerve impulses.
It’s essential for healthy bones and teeth. Magnesium works to maintain a normal heart rhythm, muscle strength and energy levels. It can also help protect against osteoporosis (thinning of the bones).
When magnesium levels in your dog’s body are low, their muscles can become weak, they can have stomach pain or diarrhea, they may not be able to consume water well, and they may also develop problems with their eyes.
Iron for Dogs
Iron deficiency is a common problem with dogs. Most dog foods contain less than 5 percent of the daily requirement of iron which is too little. Dogs need iron to carry oxygen around their bodies, so they must have a balanced diet that includes natural sources of iron such as meat and green vegetables.
Dogs have a limited ability to absorb iron from their food. So they must have a balanced diet — high in protein and carbohydrates. Iron is also crucial for the immune system and antioxidant protection against free radicals.
Check out our Nutrition Strength Iron for Dogs.
Copper for Dogs
Copper is an essential mineral, and it’s a significant part of red blood cells. Copper helps to maintain a healthy immune system and thyroid gland function.
It also works to synthesize DNA and cell division, and it’s involved in the production of energy, including insulin production. One of the most important functions of copper is its involvement with iron absorption, as it helps to carry iron through the blood.
Therefore, a copper deficiency can cause anemia and can lead to decreased red blood cell counts.
Selenium for Dogs
Selenium benefits the thyroid gland and also helps to regulate inflammation in the body. That can be why it’s linked with various skin conditions.
It’s also a part of the antioxidant process, so it can help to protect against free radicals. Selenium is urgent for bones since it helps to increase bone density and maintain good bone health. Selenium helps to produce antioxidants, which protect your dog’s cells.
Selenium is also found in selenoproteins that are necessary for the body’s immune system. As selenium levels decrease, the immune system works harder to fight off infections, and it can leave your dog vulnerable to skin conditions and inflammations.
How to Make Sure Your Dog Is Getting All the Minerals They Need?
If you want your dog to stay healthy and happy, they need a balanced diet. That can be especially difficult if their food doesn’t have all the necessary nutrients. But don’t worry, it’s simple to make sure this is happening at home! Just follow these three easy steps:
- Check the label of the food item by looking for the requisite certifications.
- Don’t forget to visit your vet regularly while your pup is still young so they can make sure everything is going smoothly with their health.
- Don’t forget to make sure they get plenty of exercise!
Sometimes a balanced diet is hard to achieve and maintain. That is why we have to use supplements. The thing is, do you know which are the right ones for your pet?
Your vet should always be the first one to ask, but you should also follow through with doing some research on trace minerals for dogs. Several things influence how to make sure your dog is getting all the minerals they need.
You can also check out our own Nutrition Strength canine minerals. We’ve done our research and believe that our product is the best out there.
Why Is It Better to Take Chelated Minerals for Dogs?
There is a difference between the nutrients that animals need and those that they can manufacture. Animals need minerals like calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus to survive. Taking them as food supplements allows for better absorption by your pet than by just giving them food with these minerals.
Minerals are usually in ion form — an atom with electrons that have been lost or gained. They come in two main types: chelated and non-chelated.
Chelated forms have had their mineral ions chemically joined to another molecule, creating a structure that the body can easily absorb. Non-chelated forms are attached to molecules that are not easily absorbed into the body, so they are only available in small amounts even if present.
Chelated minerals for dogs tend to be better absorbed. For example, there is some evidence that the magnesium in magnesium aspartate can be better absorbed than non-chelated magnesium oxide.
Magnesium aspartate is then more easily absorbed by the body and has more of an effect on blood pressure and heart rate. Many natural minerals are chelated minerals. Iron is an example of one that is not chelated.
Some forms of minerals are only available as non-chelated options, like zinc oxide, which is not easily absorbed by the body. Your pet is at risk for zinc deficiency since they cannot absorb enough through the skin, their main source of zinc, causing them to lose more through urine than they can gain.
The USDA says that zinc deficiency is the most common mineral deficiency in dogs. It causes skin lesions, immunodeficiency, and growth retardation in young animals. That is why you should only use chelated forms of minerals for any animal that does not produce its minerals, like dogs and cats.
The Takeaway
The reality is that with food, the minerals dogs need cannot be 100 percent obtained. No matter how hard we try to balance the diet of our pets, it is often a lost cause.
That is why we recommend you choose appropriate food supplements. They will become your best helper for the health of your four-legged friend.
Nutritional supplements with a diversified composition are often a significantly better option. When properly made, they will help to take good care of your dog’s health.
Pay attention to whether the ingredients are chelated, as they may be absorbed much better by the body. Give your pets your micronutrients regularly so you can be sure of their longevity.
Nutrition Strength Minerals for Dogs
Check out our Nutrition Strength Minerals for Dogs.
Nutrition Strength’s Minerals for Dogs chewable tablets are formulated with minerals that are known to be essential nutrients for dogs. Calcium and phosphorus are essential for maintaining strong bones and teeth.
Canines need magnesium and potassium for their nerve impulse transmission, as well as muscle contraction and cell signaling.
Our premium minerals for dogs tablets are designed to help benefit your four-legged friends by helping to:
- Support their cells and nerves.
- Strengthen their bones and muscles.
- Fortify the immune system.
- Facilitate a wide variety of enzymatic reactions.
We made our minerals for dogs supplement to help ensure that your pet receives sufficient levels of selected ingredients, including calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron, zinc, strontium, manganese, potassium, iodine, chromium, selenium and copper.
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