Glossary

Calcium is a mineral element which plays two important roles in your dog's body. First, it is the basic building block of the skeleton. Second, it is critical in transferring information between cells and to nerve impulse transmission. Calcium is just as important to dogs as it is to people. It helps build strong bones and strong teeth. However, dogs can have too much or too little calcium in their diet. Too little calcium may cause your dog to get a condition known as rickets. When a dog has rickets their bones become soft and cannot support the weight of their body. In contrast, dogs who are given too much calcium as puppies can develop bones that are too large and are not strong. Fish based dog treats are high in calcium and many brands of dog treats also offer animal fat and vegetable based treats which are high in calcium.