Calcium amount

[bmathers]

I have been using a pre-mix along with cooked protein (turkey or beef) for Diggity’s meals. I’m now toying with the idea of swapping out the cooked protein with raw patties (still doing the pre-mix.) I want to make sure I don’t overdo the calcium levels though. Both the pre-mix and the raw patties have calcium. How much is too much calcium? I can find the percentage of calcium on the back of both the pre-mix and the raw patties, but have no idea what that translates into in terms of MG or some measurement I can use to determine the total amount. And I am also not sure how much he needs in total. I haven’t been worried about it because up until now I am just adding pure cooked meat. I wish I could find a company that makes raw that doesn’t include extra calcium. Some add it with bone or eggshells and some with calcium supplements. I am definitely not ready to make my own raw, so if I can’t find a pre-made raw that works, I will probably just stick with cooked proteins.

Any thoughts on the right amount of calcium for him and how to figure out how much is in his food? Thanks!


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[bmathers]

I found this article that has a table within it on calcium calculations:

https://vetnutrition.tufts.edu/2017/...ent_converter/

The pre-mix Diggity is getting has 415 Kcal / cup and he gets 2 cups a day. The calcium percentage is 1.2%, so if I compare it to the table in the article, it is pretty close to the bottom row which means he would be getting about 600 MG a day from the pre-mix.

Now I have to add in raw patty, which is .59% and he would get about 24 ounces of that.


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[smartrock]

Remind us of Diggity's current age?

I thought the calcium to phosphorus ratio and absolute calcium content is most important during the active growth period for puppies. Once they pass a certain point, the body uses what it needs and eliminates the excess through urine or feces. I am going to have to find some source for my information (or mis-information) so let me look. Here's one article discussing calcium, phosphorus and Vitamin D for large breed puppies, scroll down to that section. In the meantime I'll look for other references.

Giant Expectations: Nutrition for the Large-Breed Puppy

Maybe this is helpful? I was thinking you were concerned about giving too much calcium but now I'm thinking you're more concerned about giving an adequate amount?

Calcium in Homemade Dog Food - Whole Dog Journal

[bmathers]

He is 17 months and 63 pounds. I was at my holistic vet yesterday and mentioned I was thinking of switching foods and she said to be careful about the calcium levels because if both the pre-mix and the raw have added calcium, it could be too much. She said that dogs can have issues with too much calcium, even as adult dogs...things like urinary stones, etc.


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[smartrock]

If both the products you want to feed are commercial products, shouldn't the calcium to phosphorus ratio and the absolute content in each be correct for both foods? So adding them to each other should still maintain the correct balance and content, unless I'm missing something here. I would have thought that feeding a commercial product with home cooked meat would have the potential to be feeding too little calcium, since the meat we cook at home does not contain much calcium.

Calcium Supplements | VCA Animal Hospital

[smartrock]

Okay, wait, you were giving the pre-mix to make sure the vitamin/mineral content Diggity got was correct because you were also feeding home-cooked protein? So if you gave the pre-mix with commercially prepared patties, he'd be getting extra everything BECAUSE he'd still be getting the pre-mix? I've never used a pre-mix so I'm trying to catch up on the thinking here. So, why not ditch the pre-mix and only feed the commercially prepared raw food? Presumably the patties claim to be a complete and balanced diet? Is there something magical in the pre-mix that isn't in the commercial patties?

[bmathers]

Yes, I really like the extra things he gets in the pre-mix, as opposed to just feeding the raw patties. The pet store that I use is very good and the owner and her daughter do the same thing I am thinking of doing with blending the pre-mix and the patty. I am going to ask them about the calcium amounts when I go there again, probably this weekend. And I had the same thought as you about the total amount of calcium being okay since I am blending the two. But based on what my vet said about not blending a pre-mix with a complete raw patty because there could be too much calcium, I thought if I could calculate the exact amount of total calcium, that would be best.

A small part of me is thinking of going with 100% raw patties are a complete diet too. Still, I do like the ingredients he would get in the pre-mix that the raw patties don't have.

[bmathers]

So anyone reading this thread...do you have a frozen raw food you have had good success with? I have heard good things about Tuckers and Vital Essentials. Am also researching Rawganics and Top Quality, both of which are only available through co-ops (but I can get them close enough to where I live.)


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[Black Labbies]

I’m now toying with the idea of swapping out the cooked protein with raw patties

Good idea. Unless you're feeding a dog with digestive issues, raw is better.

So anyone reading this thread...do you have a frozen raw food you have had good success with?

Yes, great success, we feed Carnivora patties: Carnivora raw food diet and supplementary food for cats and dogs ,along with chic necks and feet. Ursa was at the vet (Dr. Wanda) on Wednesday for her bi-annual vet check and she positively commented on her lovely coat, super clean and white teeth, and general health. Our vet is a big advocate for raw and homemade (whole) foods, so we're lucky.

A small part of me is thinking of going with 100% raw patties are a complete diet too.

Look into adding raw or blanched veggies and fruit.

Good luck !

[bmathers]

Good idea. Unless you're feeding a dog with digestive issues, raw is better.
Yes, great success, we feed Carnivora patties: Carnivora raw food diet and supplementary food for cats and dogs ,along with chic necks and feet. Ursa was at the vet (Dr. Wanda) on Wednesday for her bi-annual vet check and she positively commented on her lovely coat, super clean and white teeth, and general health. Our vet is a big advocate for raw and homemade (whole) foods, so we're lucky.
Look into adding raw or blanched veggies and fruit.

Good luck !

Thank you. I tried to see about retailers in the US, but the web site doesn’t seem to be working properly when I do a search on the US. It does look like good food though.


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