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Topic Dog Boards / Health / Calcium & Cod Liver Oil for Puppies?
- By BEAGLE84 [gb] Date 26.10.10 13:08 UTC
My Fiance and I are collecting our new puppy at the weekend and we have been in contact with the breeders who have been giving her calcium tablets and cod liver oil in her diet.
I am struggling to locate these items in order to carry on with them.
Is it going to affect her in anyway if we stop giving her these supplements?

Any advice will be appreciated.
- By Goldmali Date 26.10.10 13:24 UTC
What is the pup fed on? If it's on a complete food you will do more harm than good by adding supplements.
- By Nova Date 26.10.10 13:29 UTC
IMO you should never ever give calcium to any dog and particularly not a puppy - you want a pup to lay down strong bone in a slow and natural way - steaming as it used to be called will/can lead to bone and joint problems and should be avoided and is totally unnecessary is a good diet is fed.
- By BEAGLE84 [gb] Date 26.10.10 13:30 UTC
The pups are being fed on hills science puppy food at the moment, which is what we're going to continue to feed her on. I dont want to harm her in anyway so i thought it best to ask advice.
The breeders are adding a drop of cod liver oil per day and a quarter of a calcium tablet. I've had dogs before and not heard of this.
- By dogs a babe Date 26.10.10 16:48 UTC
Usually the recommendation would be to discuss the feeding regime, and the food (including supplements) with your breeder.  However if this is the blue eyed puppy you were talking about before then it didn't sound like the breeder was very knowledgeable.  Is this their first litter? 

If you are in any doubt about this breeders competence then you might want to think again about having this puppy at all.  (I'd be concerned about a breeder that offered you a puppy without endorsements, with a known fault, and knowing your future pet breeding plans.)  This breeder may have very good reasons for giving calcium but most seem to agree it isn't necessary and it sounds as if it may do more harm than good.  Perhaps you could query it before you collect and whilst you are still able to walk away...
- By Ells-Bells [gb] Date 26.10.10 16:53 UTC
I have never heard of a puppy being given supplements in its diet.  It is on a quality food and hopefully other types for variation, so it is unnecessary in my opinion.  Be very interested to know why the breeders feel the need to supplement.
- By Nova Date 26.10.10 17:07 UTC
Overdosing with calcium can cause bone deformities and just should not be needed, the correct amount will be included in the food being fed and like most other elements and vitamins overdosing is worse in most cases than under supply which is why most complete foods will have them added because the manufactures know what is required for a complete diet and add as require. Fish oil or olive oil should not hurt but will do little to help either, the amount of fats and oil needed will all ready be in the food.

Can only think that this breeder is either a complete novice or is as old as I am because I do remember during the war dogs were fed on scraps and bread and pups were supplemented but then they probably needed it. If for some reason the vet has prescribed this then you need to know the grams to give, quarter of a tablet means nothing at all because it depends on the strength of the tablet being used.
- By Goldmali Date 26.10.10 17:39 UTC
Yes, many older breeders used to supplement -as way back when there weren't any really COMPLETE foods available. Certainly with the first few pups I bought in my life I was told (by very experienced breeders -one started in 1938!) to add bone meal or Stress (calcium) and vitamins to their food. These days I would not dream of doing it.
- By JeanSW Date 26.10.10 21:33 UTC
Looks like you have your answer!  :-)

With todays quality complete foods, there is honestly no need for anything else.
Topic Dog Boards / Health / Calcium & Cod Liver Oil for Puppies?

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