ESSENTIAL MINERALS IN PET FOOD : CALCIUM & PHOSPHOROUS

Pet food contains calcium and phosphorous representing essential minerals in the body.

Of all the minerals, calcium is required in the greatest amount. Phosphorous is the other dietary mineral required in a relatively high amount in the diet. Phosphorous is required at levels slightly less than calcium. Calcium and phosphorous work together in the body to maintain the growth and structure of the skeletal system.The daily requirements vary depending upon the age and status of the dog or cat. 

Phosphorous and calcium deficiency and excess can occur and the ratio of calcium to phosphorous ( Ca : P ) is important. Deficiencies or excesses of both can create skeletal problems especially in young puppies. Problems with calcium and phosphorous rarely occur anymore due to the easily available commercial pet foods that are properly balanced.

Calcium
Calcium is essential in the body for many functions including bone formation, blood coagulation, muscle contraction, and nerve impulse transmission. 

Bones, dairy products, and leguminous plants contain large amounts of calcium, whereas most cereal grains, meat, and organ tissues contain small amounts. 

If pets were not adequately supplemented with calcium they would develop skeletal abnormalities often referred to as rickets. The bone could become soft or very thin and brittle. Fortunately, one of the benefits of commercially prepared and balanced diets, is that except for low calcium levels during pregnancy and lactation, calcium deficiency rarely occurs any more and switching to a balanced diet can usually correct this problem. 

Feeding high calcium diets with excess calcium is often blamed for contributing to bone problems in young, rapidly growing dogs. There does appear to be a link between the incidence of hypertrophic osteodystrophy ( HOD ), osteochondritis dissecans ( OCD ) and hip dysplasia and the overfeeding of calcium.

Phosphorous
Meat or organ meats are high in phosphorous. Phosphorous deficiency occurs very infrequently in dogs and cats. In fact, excessive dietary phosphorous which accelerates the progression of renal failure is much more common.

Calcium : phosphorous ratio
Calcium deficiency was once a more common disease. It resulted primarily from animals fed diets high in meat and organ meats, which are high in phosphorous and low in calcium. Feeding adequate calcium without the correct amount of phosphorous can prevent adequate uptake and utilization of the calcium, thus the calcium : phosphorous ratio is very important. Calcium and phos 

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