How much calcium??

[warriec]

How much calcium should a 5 month old rottie get. I know that it should be given twice a day but the main question is how much? how many mg's per day per time

[hokisteph5]

Here are some threads for you to read -

Calcium Supplements - Am I being told to feed my dog way too much?
Supplementing (Calcium)
Vitamins and Calcium

[Karla]

Please keep in mind the calcium to phosphorus ratio. This is very important. Below is information posted by moondog in another thread in response to a post of mine. (Moondog, I hope you don't mind me posting this. I just felt I should give credit where I felt credit was due.)

If you google "Francis Kallfelz mineral requirements of dogs" you will find the National Research Council's updated recommendations resulting from studies (2003) for calcium and phosphorus, from the previous recommendations of earlier studies (1985).

For puppies, the 2003 study recommends a calcium/phosphorus ratio of 1:1.2 (the 1985 study recommendation was 1:1.3)
For adult dogs, the 2003 study recommends a calcium/phosphorus ration of 1:1 (the 1985 study recommendation was 1:1.3)

[warriec]

how do i get phosphorus now because dry food is very expensive in Sri Lanka and we make our own dog food. I purchased some Vit e capsules, brewers yeast, human grade calcium, iron syrup for my pup as she is out of condition

[poohbearsmom]

Why are you supplementing a puppy with Calcium? A little yogurt or cottage cheese (tablespoon) is fine once a day, but do beware not to over supplement.

If you are feeding a high quality diet, then supplementing with calcium should not be necessary.

[moondog]

Originally Posted by warriec

how do i get phosphorus now because dry food is very expensive in Sri Lanka and we make our own dog food. I purchased some Vit e capsules, brewers yeast, human grade calcium, iron syrup for my pup as she is out of condition

If you make your own dog food, then you need to pick up a guide on how to balance the diet properly. It is not just a matter of throwing stuff together willy nilly and adding every supplement you see mentioned - it takes thoughtful research on a dog/puppy's nutrient needs, the foods that provide them, and the supplements to use to make up for any deficiencies in the diet.

You can do more damage than good by incorrect use of supplements, and we would have to write a book ourselves to tell you here how to do it correctly. See if you can purchase a book titled "Home-Prepared Dog & Cat Diets - The Healthful Alternative" by Dr. Donald Strombeck, DVM. Amazon.com and isupress.com both carry it.