Question:
I have a question about calcium for dogs. I was in a pet store with my Labrador, and a man behind me commented on my dog and said he wanted to give me a tip, that by the age of 18 months, Labs should be getting extra calcium.Is he right? If so, how much calcium? Is it the same that humans take? This man didn't go into detail, and I didn't want to ask him all of this. But my dog is approaching the 18-month mark, and I'm wondering if this is something I should be doing.I actually have two Labs. One (my yellow Lab) is almost 4 years old and weighs 90 pounds, and my chocolate Lab is 17 months old and weighs 67 pounds.
M.G., Orland Park, IL Dec 03, 2006
Answer:
I am not aware that Labradors should be given extra calcium by 18 months of age. But up to that age, they should be on a restricted diet to prevent becoming overweight and hip problems.Most dog foods have high levels of calcium, so giving a calcium supplement is unwarranted and ill-advised. Excess dietary calcium can cause deficiencies in other essential minerals.SAVE THE HORSESThe U.S. Senate will soon be voting on Senate Bill S.1915 to prohibit the commercial slaughter of horses for their meat. Please call your senator to express support for this bill. For details, see my article "Spare the horses: Animal Rights Revisited" at http://twobitdog.com/DrFox/Universal-Bill-Rights-Animals.
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