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Practice Scenario
Meet TEDDY
A 4-month-old, male, Great Dane puppy
- Teddy is presented today for his final puppyhood vaccinations.
- When asked about Teddy's diet, his owner said Teddy eats a complete and balanced food that the breeder provided. Since the food is nearly gone, the owner wants to provide Teddy with a "more natural diet."
- Teddy’s owner plans to feed a grain-free dog food, possibly one that is also raw. The owner eats a gluten-free diet and feels "much healthier." Teddy’s owner wants a long, healthy life for Teddy, too.
- The owner also asks if Teddy needs a calcium supplement. His sire is a large, heavy dog; the owner believes Teddy will be similar in size and weight.
Puppy
Large Breed Puppies: Excessive Calcium Is Detrimental to Healthy Bone Development
Calcium is an essential mineral critical to many functions in the puppy, and the intake of the correct amount of calcium is key. Too little calcium could lead to rickets or stress fractures, but too much calcium could result in skeletal malformations and secondary nutrient deficiencies.
Key Messages
- Unlike adult dogs, puppies cannot adequately regulate how much dietary calcium they absorb from the intestinal tract. Sometimes they absorb and retain too much calcium, which can cause skeletal malformations.
- The amount of calcium needed differs in large and giant breeds when compared to small breed dogs. However, diets with about 1% calcium (dry basis) are adequate for puppies of all sizes.
- Excess calcium could cause a decrease in phosphorus absorption, and the recommended ratio of calcium to phosphorus in the pet’s diet should be around 1:1.
Complete and balanced growth diets provide calcium concentrations in the safe range. When such a diet is fed, calcium supplementation is unnecessary and potentially harmful.
Additional Resource
Larsen, J. (2010). Feeding large-breed puppies. Compendium: Continuing Education for Veterinarians, 32(5), E1-E4.