Minerals are present in small amounts in the tissues of all living things.Teeth,bones,muscles,and nerves have especially high mineral content.Aithought the AAFCO provides guidelines for the minimal amounts of minerales necessary for canine growth and development,each dog’s mineral requirements depends on

her current nutrutional state.For example,if a dog is iron deficient,she will need and absorb more iron from the intestinal tract.In addition,working dogs and dogs who are ill or stressed may also have higher requirements.

Major minerals

The four major minerals are calcium,phosphorus,magnesium,and sulfur.Calcium and phosphorus are the most important minerals in all dogs’dites,but especilly in the diets of growing puppies.Calcium is needed for muscle contraction,for nerve transmission,and for blood coagulation.It is also required to activate

numerous enzymes that affect virtually every process in the cell.Phosphorus plays a part in nearly all chemical reactions in your dog’s body.Working together,calcium and phosphorus strengthen your dog’s bones and teeth.

TECHINICAL STUFF

Althought the ratio of calcium to phosphoures in a dog food is important,recent studies suggest that the total amount of calcium ingested may be more important.Excess calcium is thought to contribute to the development of hip and elbow dysplasis,osteochondrosis dissecans (degeneration of the joint cartilage),

and other bone and joint proplems.(For more on these studies,see Chapter 8.)Deficincies of calcium frequently occur in dogs who are fed all-meat diets.A severe deficiecy of calcium can cause rickets and bone malformations.A moderate deficience can cause muscle cramps,impaired growth,and joint pain.

TIP

As of this writing,all premium-queality adult maintenance dog foods produced b major manufacturers have enought calcium to support the healthy growth of  puppies,including those of giant breeds.Resist the urge to provide extra supplementation of vitamins and minerals,particulariy those containing calcium,to your growing puppy if she is on a high-quality complete and balanced dog food.

WARNING!

Never add bone meal to a complete and balanced diet.Not only are you likely to alter the critical calcium to phosphorus ratio,you also risk decreasing your dog’s

ability to absorb and utillize many of the other minerals she needs.

Magnesium is essential for many of the cells enzymatic reactions.it also helps promote the absorption and metabolism of many other vitamins and minerals,

including vitamins C and E calcium,and phosphorus.Like calicum and phosphorus,magnesium is important in bone growth and development.In fact ,70 percent

of the magnesium in your dog’s body is present in her bones.Magnesium is rarely deficient in complete and balanced diets.However,its abosorption can be impaired when the diet is too high in calcium and phosphorus.

Your dog need sulfur for the synthesis of a variety of compounts in her body,most notably proteins.sulfur is also an important constiuent of joint fluid and cartilage  and,thus,is important for proper joint health.