Calcium

[bumble]

Just curious, I have no reason to need to know this, I was just wondering, and wouldn't know a book to find the answer. Do pregnant bitches need calcium like pregnant female humans do? I know my mom gave her pregnant bitches rosemary leaves for a clean afterbirth. Should unpregnant (is that a word?) bitches need calcium supplements? Is there an herbal equivalent for calcium? If yes, why don't they get them? Paddy is a fixed male, so I have nothing to worry about. No, I'm not giving advice to another dog owner.

[Puggered]

All mammals, including dogs need a certain amount of calcium in the diet. All pregnant mammals need extra calcium to help form the bones of their offspring and it will be leached from their own bones if not provided in the diet.

How much extra calcium and in what form and with what companion minerals etc will differ from species to species. In my personal opinion, the very best way to supplement bone building calcium in an in-whelp bitch is by feeding extra raw bone.

[shaynapug]

I think you might get more of an answer on this if it were in the health section...as a lot of people don't read this section.

The only time I make sure there's more calcium is when a bitch is nursing pups.

There MIGHT be some calcium in some of the supplements I give.....like a vitamin...

I do know that you need to be careful giving calcium as any dog that has a tendency toward calcium oxiode crstals or stones shouldn't have any extra at all.