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  • Twin
    • Gold Top Dog

    Calcium/Phosphorus

    Twin

    Posted : 10/2/2006 7:55:54 PM

    What should the calcium/phosphorus percentages be in a kibble for an adult dog with "normal" activity? [8|]
  • jessies_mom
    • Gold Top Dog
    jessies_mom

    Posted : 10/2/2006 9:15:52 PM

        Nutro claims that research shows that large breed dogs need less calcium and phosphorus. The amount of calcium in thier large breed adult food is .60% minimum and 1.40% maximum. The phosphorus levels are .60% minimum and 1.30% maximum. This site says the ratio of 1.2 parts calcium to 1 part phosphorus is best; [linkhttp://www.lhasa-apso.org/health/calcium.htm] http://www.lhasa-apso.org/health/calcium.htm[/link]  .  This site indicates a ratio of 1 to 2 parts calcium to 1 part phosphorus;   [linkhttp://pets.yahoo.com/pets/cats/hn/understanding_calcium]http://pets.yahoo.com/pets/cats/hn/understanding_calcium[/link]. 
  • Twin
    • Gold Top Dog
    Twin

    Posted : 10/2/2006 9:29:10 PM

    Thank you for your reply!
  • jessies_mom
    • Gold Top Dog
    jessies_mom

    Posted : 10/2/2006 9:44:45 PM

    You're welcome; The amount of calcium in Eagle's large breed food is 1% and the phosphorus is .8% Thier adult chicken and rice is 1.1% calcium and .8% phosphorus.
  • Twin
    • Gold Top Dog
    Twin

    Posted : 10/2/2006 10:12:26 PM

    I was wondering about this because with Timberwolf Organics the calcium/phosphorus ranges between the formula's:
     
    Most are around ~ 1.4% Calcium 1.1% Phosphorus (give or take).
     
    But, the Nutrient Dense is : 1.8% Calcium 1.4% Phosphorus...which is even higher than their Wild & Natural, which is their high protein/no grain formula.
     
    So, I was wondering if the Wild & Natural was OK because it had a "normal" range of Calcium/Phosphorus, whereas the Nutrient Dense had higher percentages of Calcium/Phosphorus with only a slightly higher protein level of 28%.
     
    I hope this is not too confusing....?
     
    What I am trying to get at is...is it better/worse to have high protein or high calcium/phosphorus levels? Because the Wild & Natural has a normal calcium/phosphorus ratio for beings a high protein diet...whereas EVO has an extremely high protein level at 42% and also calcium 2.85% and phosphorus 1.5%...that seems soooo high! [8|]
     
  • papillon806
    • Gold Top Dog
    papillon806

    Posted : 10/3/2006 7:54:48 AM

    It should be a ratio of 1:1 or 2:1 (1:1 being most preferable).
  • mudpuppy
    • Gold Top Dog
    mudpuppy

    Posted : 10/3/2006 8:39:44 AM

    Unless your dog is a growing puppy you can safely feed quite a range of calcium %. I think 1.5% is a good, moderate number to aim for. Below 1% is too low for optimal health; EVO is a bit high I think. I also think protein should be at least 30% for optimal health-- but you can easily supplement a food (with 25% or higher protein) with fresh sources of protein to reach that goal without unbalancing the diet.  
  • chelsea_b
    • Gold Top Dog
    chelsea_b

    Posted : 10/3/2006 10:10:32 AM

    but you can easily supplement a food (with 25% or higher protein) with fresh sources of protein to reach that goal without unbalancing the diet.

     
    Especially if the calcium to phosphorous ratio is greater than 1:1. I would worry about adding too much meat if the ratio was only 1:1, or close to it, because the diet could easily then be calcium deficient. My sister's feeding regular Innova, and I'm getting worried about her adding Evanger's 100% meat to it, because the ca:ph in Innova is only 1.1:1. [&:] With the Evo, and plenty of other foods, there's enough calcium to balance out the phosphorous in extra meat.
  • papillon806
    • Gold Top Dog
    papillon806

    Posted : 10/3/2006 10:20:53 AM

    Especially if the calcium to phosphorous ratio is greater than 1:1. I would worry about adding too much meat if the ratio was only 1:1, or close to it, because the diet could easily then be calcium deficient. My sister's feeding regular Innova, and I'm getting worried about her adding Evanger's 100% meat to it, because the ca:ph in Innova is only 1.1:1. With the Evo, and plenty of other foods, there's enough calcium to balance out the phosphorous in extra meat.

     
    That is very true, and a good point. [:)]  However, I don't think you have anything to worry about adding Evangers 100% to it because if you look at the ingredients, it includes the whole animal.  (ex: the 100% duck ingredients are duck broth, duck)  I also think that adding a little bit of muscle meat every once in awhile (with no other calcium source) won't throw of the ratio to any mass amount, but it can if you gave a lot of it, like a whole meal a day of just muscle meat.