Petfood & Supplements2

The first, and most common form of supplementation, is that of overfeeding. That is, the optimum diet is supplemented with more of the same, resulting in obese dogs. Obesity in dogs is the number one health problem seen in canine veterinary practice. Many natural dietary phytochemical compounds found in fruits, vegetables, spices and tea have been shown in recent years to be protective against cancer in various animal models.

With the exception of supplements and nutraceuticals that have antioxidant (anti-aging), anti-cancer, or immunostimulating properties, supplements are not generally useful for normal healthy dogs. In fact, many supplements on top of a quality commercial diet can be downright dangerous. We will start with some of those.

Mineral Supplements

We will take a quick look at the commonly supplemented minerals. Be aware, before you read any further, that mineral supplementation of commercial dog foods is generally ill advised, unless there is some underlying medical condition.

Calcium. Unfortunately, many dog fanciers supplement with calcium. We hear, almost daily, that calcium supplementation in humans is necessary as they age to prevent osteoporosis, especially in women. We won't even go there--we are talking dogs. Every dog food made has adequate calcium content. There is no shortage of very inexpensive calcium available to the manufacturers to put in their formulations. It is preposterous to think that this would be an area in which supplementation is warranted. In fact, high calcium intake is implicated in skeletal disease. Yet, it remains common practice for breeders to encourage puppy buyers to supplement commercial diets with calcium. What you get are not strong puppies but increased rates of osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) , enlarged joints, dropped hocks, splayed feet, angular limb deformities, wobbler's syndrome and stunted growth. , , Furthermore, high levels of calcium in the diet have long been known to cause a relative zinc deficiency in dogs. , While on the topic of zinc deficiency, we note also that high levels of iron and copper also interfere with zinc absorption. , If you are to take anything away from this article, let it be to do no harm with supplements. Calcium is a very dangerous supplement; one you should not use except under the careful and participative guidance of your veterinarian. Even then, it would be worthwhile to check the nutritional credentials of your veterinarian. Not all veterinarians are created equal, and few vet schools teach nutrition in any significant amount. As an aside, dolomite is still available in health food stores as a supplemental source of calcium. The joke is on the uniformed buyer: dolomite is rock, relatively insoluble and certainly not soluble in the gut during the time normal for passage. However, it does make a wonderful acid buffering substrate in marine aquaria. Calcium anyone?
Phosphorus--The calcium:phosphorus ratio of 1:1.2 or thereabouts is sacred. Don't even think about messing about with supplementary phosphorus, regardless of the claims that it is necessary and without it you run the risks of rickets, osteomalacia and even nutritionally induced hyperparathyroidism. Over-supplementation of phosphorus can remove calcium from bones. Phosphorus is found in meat, poultry and fish, the very ingredients found in almost all dog foods. You can buy it off the shelf, but we suggest you leave it there.
Magnesium--Go ahead and pump magnesium into your dog. Digestive and internal mechanisms regulate the level of absorption and generally, no harm will be done. Given that magnesium is found in soy, corn, other cereal grains and bone meals, the very staples of commercial dog food, there will be no shortage. On the other hand, magnesium figures prominently in shelf space in healthfood stores, and if you own stock in a company that packages magnesium for such a market, you might want to buy some for your dog. Otherwise, forget it--"Poocharelli" already is getting more magnesium than he can utilize.
Sulfur--no deficiencies are reported in the dog. Don't bother supplementing unless you have an excess of cash and near cash assets and your dog will tolerate the taste.
Iron--Certainly there can be iron deficiencies that result in various anemias, but they are not likely with commercial diets, and not even likely with homebrew diets. How do you get iron out of meat meals, bone, poultry and dairy products before you feed your dog? The answer is that you don't. Therefore, absent a special medical condition, iron supplementation is not warranted. Leave iron supplements on the shelf at your healthfood store.
Copper--Great in bracelets worn for decorations (but not for therapeutic value) and great for remembrances of Vietnam POW's, but poor as a dietary supplement. Copper is found in organ meats, which are common ingredients in commercial dog food. It is doubtfulthat you will ever have a valid reason to supplement with copper.
Zinc--Unless your dog has a zinc responsive dermatosis, don't even think about supplementing with zinc. An excess of zinc causes calcium and copper deficiencies. Given that beef liver, dark poultry meat, milk, egg yolks and legumes in general are sources for zinc, no commercial food will ever be short of zinc--too cheap, too abundant, and you can't get rid of it easily.
Manganese--Found in meat, poultry and fish, it is unlikely that either a dietary excess or deficiency will exist in the dog fed a commercial diet.
Iodine--Found in beef, liver and fish, it is unlikely that either a dietary excess or deficiency will exist in the dog fed a commercial diet.
Selenium--Found in grains, meat and poultry, it is unlikely that either a dietary excess or deficiency will exist in the dog fed a commercial diet. Selenium is paradoxical in that the symptoms for excess and deficiency are the same. Considered a micromineral, itoccupies the active site of the enzyme glutathione peroxidase. This enzyme protects the body from free radicals formed during oxidation of cell-membrane lipids. Selenium has a synergistic relationship with Vitamin E. Vitamin E keeps selenium at its most efficacious oxidation state and selenium 'spares' Vitamin E.
Cobalt--Found in fish and dairy products, it is unlikely that dietary excess or deficiency will be noted in dogs fed commercial diets.

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