Vitamin D and Calcium

Both vitamin d and calcium have the potential of damaging the normal growth of pups. The pups of the fast growing big or giant breeds are most sensitive to these effects.

They can be damaged for life if not proper balanced in vitamin d and calcium supplementation. Calcium and vitamin d are affecting each other.

But, in young dogs its a little different.

Photo by Per Schonbeck, DVM

In Almost Adult) Dogs

Most important in there relationship is vitamin d. Too little of vitamin D will diminish the uptake of calcium from the gut and lower calcium levels in the blood being the result.

If this is going on too long bones becomes soft and rickets can develop fully in young still growing dogs.

If the active vitamin D, or calciferol, is too high it becomes a bit more complicated.

Yes, chronic intake of this vitamin over a longer period will raise the calcium level in blood by several different mechanism's.

Ultimately, risks of tissue calcifecation exists and severe problems (eventually death) can arise.

Worth to remember, cholecalciferol is being used is some poisons designed to kill mice and rats.

We don't want this to happen in dogs.

Photo by Per Schonbeck, DVM

In Very Young Dogs

Pups have no regulation of calcium uptake from the gut in the first period of their lives. They absorb most of calcium by passive diffusion. Therefor no active regulation exists.

In adult dogs its opposite.

Here you have the active up take as the most active one. Therefore, in adult dogs calcium intake can be more controlled.

If pups are feed with too high levels of calcium in the food, they will get too high calcium levels in the blood. They can't protect themselves from the calcium.

The conclusion:

Active vitamin d and absorption of vitamin d in pups are still important. But, its probably more important to regulate the calcium content in the food.

Receiving too much calcium in the food will increase risks of osteochondrosis.

It has been proved that excess calcium at the age of six weeks can result in osteochondrosis.

Six weeks!

At six month dogs are able to regulate calcium absorption. So, they a more able to protect themselves.

But then, can you ask, Is it safe in young dogs to give extra vitamin d. If it doesn't raise calcium levels...?

No.

Even if pups doesn't have a tight vitamin d and calcium relationship, increased vitamin d is a big risk factor in the osteochondrosis development.

It is important for you to remember vitamin d and calcium is important in all dog ages and in dog health. They affects each other one way or the other, so consult your veterinarian if any doubts about dog nutrition or healt is on your mind.