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Old 01-07-2013, 07:33 PM   #1 (permalink)
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Default Calcium supplement vs bones

Can you swap out bones and replace it with a calcium supplement?
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Old 01-07-2013, 08:00 PM   #2 (permalink)
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You can. I use eggshells in Banshee's food because she has crf. But unless there is a health issue, why would you want to?
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Old 01-07-2013, 08:04 PM   #3 (permalink)
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the bones keep getting stuck. i'm looking to change to a kibble but i'm having a hard time accepting that lol i feel like raw is just so much healthier
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Old 01-07-2013, 08:13 PM   #4 (permalink)
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You weren't able to get a local source for ground raw?
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Old 01-07-2013, 08:24 PM   #5 (permalink)
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oh....well, you could grind the bones. I have a tasin grinder that handles necks well. Save your egg shells, bake them and then grind them in a coffee grinder.
https://www.facebook.com/notes/crf-d...94260780605680
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Old 01-07-2013, 08:28 PM   #6 (permalink)
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I, personally, would attempt to find a source for raw ground before going to kibble if you would like to stay with raw.
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Old 01-07-2013, 09:44 PM   #7 (permalink)
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Do you feed chicken bones? Do those get stuck too? In your other thread you were talking about beef and pork neck bones - I don't give those to my dogs. They get rib bones, knuckle bones, and lot of chicken bones. Chicken bones are hollow, lightweight, and soft. I tested it by biting down on a raw chicken thigh bone, it was like biting down on a cracker - that is how soft they are.

In order for the metabolism to use calcium, it needs to be balanced with the correct ration of phosphorus and a boat-load of other minor minerals. The beauty of feeding bone is that it comes pre-packaged with the exact ratios of the all the nutrients and minerals needed to properly utilize the calcium in the body. Supplementing with only Calcium to replace bones in a raw diet is missing out on proper nutrition. So if your dog has issues with eating bones, try feeding the raw food ground up, as suggested.
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Old 01-07-2013, 10:34 PM   #8 (permalink)
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I believe the problem was the dog won't touch chicken...

You can add ground eggshells as mentioned...1/2tsp per pound of food (900mg)
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Old 01-08-2013, 12:41 AM   #9 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Castlemaid View Post
In order for the metabolism to use calcium, it needs to be balanced with the correct ration of phosphorus and a boat-load of other minor minerals. The beauty of feeding bone is that it comes pre-packaged with the exact ratios of the all the nutrients and minerals needed to properly utilize the calcium in the body. Supplementing with only Calcium to replace bones in a raw diet is missing out on proper nutrition. So if your dog has issues with eating bones, try feeding the raw food ground up, as suggested.
This. Calcium is not the only thing that raw bones provide, it just happens to be the only one most people are aware of.
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Old 01-08-2013, 08:28 AM   #10 (permalink)
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Bones are actually very high in phosphorus as well. Calcium binds to phosphorus and washes it out of the system. I'm not sure the long term affects of feeding a calcium supplement, even egg shells which are natural, without the rest of the minerals to balance it. I would assume it would then bind to the phosphorus in the rest of the food and possibly cause a nutritional imbalance. I would strongly advice you look at getting a grinder or a RAW ground supplier or talk to a nutritionist about keeping his diet balanced.
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