What harm does calcium deficiency do to dogs? Every dog owner must know this
If puppies do not get enough calcium, outward flaring of the ribs and deformation of the carpal and elbow joints of the forelimbs can occur; small breeds are prone to "O"-shaped legs, while medium and large breeds can develop severe deformation of the forelimbs. If it is not discovered in time and treated improperly, it can also cause permanent flat paws or lameness.
In addition, 2 to 3 months of age is an important period for the formation of the intervertebral discs in puppies. If calcium is deficient at this time, some breeds prone to intervertebral disc disease (such as the Pekingese, Shih Tzu, Pug, Poodle, etc.) will have flare-ups in adulthood, causing lifelong suffering.
When puppies reach 4-6 months of age, the deciduous teeth in the mouth begin to fall out and the permanent teeth begin to grow. If calcium is deficient at this time, the deciduous teeth will not fall out, the permanent teeth will grow slowly, the enamel layer will be thin, and the structure will not be firm, making double rows of teeth or uneven permanent teeth likely. These dogs are prone to bad breath, gingivitis and other diseases in adulthood, which directly affects their lifespan.
After dogs enter adulthood, dogs fed dog food do not need separate calcium supplements. This is because during this period the growth and development of the dog's bones and other organs have basically stopped, and the demand for calcium is very small. If it is a stud dog or a pregnant or lactating female dog, it still needs to supplement a large amount of calcium, because semen, the embryo-stage dog and milk will all cause a large amount of calcium to be lost from the body. If it cannot be replenished in time, calcium will be drawn from the body's calcium stores, causing osteoporosis.
A female dog in the postpartum lactation period will suffer acute postpartum calcium deficiency due to excessively low blood calcium concentration. Its symptoms are convulsions of the limbs, stiffness of the whole body, and body temperature can rise above 40°C, even causing coma and death.
When large dogs reach 8 years of age, they enter old age. Because of endocrine and other reasons, older dogs have reduced calcium intake and increased calcium loss. At this time, small breeds should be fed senior dog food; otherwise, calcium should be supplemented for them artificially, while maintaining a certain amount of exercise. Otherwise, it will cause osteoporosis and increase the incidence of bone spurs and fractures.