GermanShepherd, known as the wolf dog. In addition to some basic feeding methods during feeding, attention should also be paid to their calcium and phosphorus absorption.

Calcium (Ca)

Calcium (Ca) exists in every cell in the body, and calcium accounts for about 1-1.5% of the entire body. It accounts for 98% of bones and is the most important element of bone composition. Moreover, calcium participates in many physiological processes (muscle contraction, blood clotting, release of hormones, neural responses, etc.).

Phosphorus (P)

Phosphorus (P) is mainly distributed in bones (80%) and soft tissues (20%) in the body, and it is an important element for energy exchange in cells It is also an important part of the nucleus. Phosphorus is about 0.5-0.8% in the body.

The intake of calcium and phosphorus in dogs is mainly through food. The ratio of calcium and phosphorus in food and the content of vitamin D are very important indicators (without vitamin D, bone tissue cannot be formed).

For an adult German Shepherd, 100 mg of calcium and 85 mg of phosphorus should be consumed per kilogram of body weight per day to basically meet the body's needs. The optimal calcium to phosphorus ratio should be between 1.2:1 and 1.4:1. Adult dogs have different needs at different times. For example, pregnant female dogs need to increase the calcium and phosphorus content of their food by 60% in the week before giving birth, which is about 160 mg of calcium and 140 mg of phosphorus per kilogram of body weight per day. . It is even more important to pay attention to the content of calcium and phosphorus in the food during breastfeeding, because bitches consume large amounts of calcium and phosphorus through breastfeeding. If a dog is deficient in calcium, the calcium content in the blood will be reduced, which will cause the dog to be easily startled, convulsed, and even cause shock. Depending on the number of puppies, a female dog needs 250-495 mg of calcium and 175-335 mg of phosphorus per kilogram of body weight per day. Compared with cow's milk, dog milk is richer in calcium and phosphorus. During lactation, the calcium and phosphorus required for puppies' bone development are obtained through the mother's milk, which is a heavy burden for the mother dog.

The first two months after puppies are weaned is also an important period for skeletal development. During this period, puppies need about four times as much calcium and phosphorus as adults.

Experts have found that more and more large dogs have bone lesions. The reason is that large dogs ingested too much high-energy substances in their infancy, while ignoring the ratio of calcium and phosphorus. Many people like to use animal offal as food for German Shepherds, and this food is rich in phosphorus but very poor in calcium, which cannot meet the needs of dogs. Dog food is processed according to different types of dogs. It includes high calcium ingredients such as bone meal and fish meal. It is an ideal food for dogs. Dog owners should pay attention to dog food when purchasing dog food. Applicable dog type and age, this is very important.