Dog Supplements: Minerals – Macrominerals

Although minerals make up only 1% of body weight nevertheless they play important roles in dog’s health. They carry out hundreds of metabolic functions in the body. For examples, calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus (marcominerals) help make up the bones and teeth. Selenium and zinc (microminerals) help boost the immune system.

There are twelve minerals that are essential for dogs. They are grouped into two categories based on the amount required by the body—macrominerals and microminerals (in addition to 8 trace elements).

Macrominerals

Macrominerals consist of calcium, chloride, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, and sodium. These minerals are needed in large quantities; 10 grams per kilogram diet.

Calcium: Although calcium is the most important mineral for dogs but excess amount given to growing pups can cause calcium deficiency and lead to bone development problems.

• Functions / Benefits: Promotes healthy heart and nerves. Contracts muscles. Bone and teeth development and maintenance. Enzyme activation.
• Food Sources: Milk, eggs, cheese, green leafy vegetables, beans.
• Deficiency Symptoms: Serious skeletal problems i.e. joint pain, arthritis, and muscle cramps.
• Positive Interactions: Vitamin A, C, D, phosphorus.
• Negative Interactions: Excess saturated fat in diet.

Chloride: Maintenance of osmotic pressure, acid-base and water balance. Lack of it will result in vomiting and a loss of gastric juices and with hypoadrenocorticism. Excess would result in dehydration and the body being too acid (acidosis).

• Functions / Benefits: Regulates the quantity of carbohydrates and protein that pass into the cell.
• Food Sources: Common salt
• Deficiency Symptoms: Rare

Magnesium: To get the benefit of magnesium absorption, avoid taking large amount of calcium such as diary products, proteins, fats, wheat bran, spinach.

• Functions / Benefits: Strengthens bones and teeth, promotes healthy muscles. Important for heart muscles and the nervous system. Energy metabolism. Enzymes activation.
• Food Sources: Wheat germ, brewer’s yeast, potato skin, beans, green peas,
• Deficiency Symptoms: Muscles spasms and weakness, constipation, hyperactivity, depression, lack of appetite, calcium deposited in soft tissue.
• Positive Interactions: B6, C, calcium, phosphorus.
• Negative Interactions: Excess iron.

Phosphorus: Requires correct calcium to phosphorus ratio. Without the correct amount of phosphorus in the diet, calcium cannot be used by the body, even if it is present in the right quantity.

• Functions / Benefits: Development and maintenance of bone and teeth. Energy utilization. Enzyme systems. Helps to maintain pH balance in the body.
• Food Sources: Found in almost all foods.
• Deficiency Symptoms: Very rare, but could include muscle weakness, rickets, otsetomalacia (bone softening)
• Positive Interactions: Calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, vitamins A and D.
• Negative Interactions: Excess iron

Potassium: Incorrect of potassium to sodium ratio can result in low blood pressure. Prolong use of laxatives or a series of diarrhea and/or vomiting can result in low potassium levels.

• Functions / Benefits: Key role in maintaining the normal function of the heart muscle. Critical function in the transmission of nerve signals and contraction of muscle fibers. Protein synthesis. Carbohydrate metabolism. Maintenance of osmotic pressure, acid-base and water balance.
• Food Sources: Pumpkin, cauliflower, cabbage, celery, brewer’s yeast, zucchini
• Deficiency Symptoms: Muscles weakness, irregular heartbeat. Build-up of lactic acid.
• Positive Interactions: Magnesium
• Negative Interactions: Excess salt intake and laxatives consumption.

Sodium: Excess intake of sodium can result in dehydration and lack of it can cause vomiting, kidney disease, diabetes, and hypoadrenocorticism.

• Functions / Benefits: Involves in the absorption of proteins and sugars. Maintenance of osmotic pressure, acid-base and water balance. Nerve and muscle action.
• Food Sources: Common salt, found in almost all foods.
• Deficiency Symptoms: Rare, but in extreme case it could include heat exhaustion, low blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, weight loss.
• Positive Interactions: Vitamin D

Dog Supplements and Vitamins Recommendation

Common use of these macrominerals are usually found in joint and bone supplement such as:

• Flexpet: Flexpet with CM8 (arthritis and joint pain)
• Vetionx: ArthroIonX (arthritis and joint pain) , Dialonx (blood sugar control), Dermalonx (skin care), H2oionx (water nutrient)

And also a board spectrum of vitamin and mineral supplements such as:

• Wysong: C-Biotic (additional micronutrients, probiotics and enzymes) and AddLife (antioxidant). * Be sure to check out Wysong Introductory Pack ($17.99) which include a free sample of AddLife, Archetype, and DentalTreat.
• Only Natural Pet: Kelp Boost (digestion, allergic, joints) and Immune Strengthener.