Raw diets may be lacking in essential minerals if there is not enough variety of proteins and animal parts fed. Dog parents should use whole foods to create a nutritionally balanced diet. Zinc and manganese are the minerals most frequently deficient in raw diets. However, magnesium may also be low. Be sure to take note of any clinical signs before determining that a deficiency exists. Even if your dog is found to be mineral deficient based on AAFCO or NRC guidelines, it may not be physiologically deficient. 

Although whole foods should include the nutrients necessary to maintain your dog's health, there may be circumstances that require the use of supplements, especially when a whole food source is not readily available. 

Structural components of organs, tissues, teeth, and bones	

Elements of body fluids and tissues to maintain osmotic pressure, acid-base balance, muscle contraction, and membrane permeability.	

Cofactors in enzyme and hormone systems 	

The ability of the dog’s body to maintain homeostasis depends on the level of consumption of each element and the environmental factors around the dog. There are numerous mineral-mineral interactions within the body.  If your dog’s diet is imbalanced with too little or too much of a particular mineral, there can be alterations in metabolism, affecting the body’s physiological functions.

Raw meaty bones (RMBs)- chicken necks, duck necks

Seeds-flaxseed and unsalted pumpkin seeds

A magnesium supplement is recommended for diets that do not include RMBs, leafy greens, or seeds.

The recommended allowance of magnesium for adult dogs is 150mg. For puppies, the recommended allowance is 100 mg.

Manganese deficiency is common in raw diets when specific items, such as green tripe or blue/black mussels and fur, feet, and feathers, aren’t included in the bowl. Clinical signs of manganese deficiency include

Green tripe can only be purchased from pet food distributors or your local co-op. The USDA states that green tripe cannot be sold in retail grocery stores next to items fit for human consumption. The "tripe" from the grocery store and ethnic market has been cleaned and is unfit for your dog's raw diet. Determine the source of the green tripe and if any processing has been done to it.

For adult dogs, the recommended allowance is 1.2mg per 1000 kcal. For puppies, it's slightly high at 1.4mg.

According to NRC guidelines, zinc deficiency is frequently seen in raw diets. Oysters are the only whole food with a significant zinc concentration easily absorbed and utilized by dogs.  Up to 80% of zinc from natural sources is absorbed. Thus oysters are suggested to add to your dog’s bowl to maintain adequate zinc levels.

However, oysters are expensive and difficult to source. Although the quantities of zinc in elk, grass-fed beef, and lamb are roughly a third of what you'll find in oysters (per 100g), they are sources of zinc that may be easier to find.

A zinc supplement may be the best option if you cannot source oysters or grass-fed meats. Dr. Conor Brady has explained that the sort of zinc used will affect how much of it is absorbed. Zinc citrate is more bioavailable. Unfortunately, the less expensive forms of zinc, such as zinc sulfate and zinc oxide, are most frequently used in kibble. 

The recommended allowance of zinc for adult dogs is 15mg per 1000 kcal, with a minimum of 10 mg per 1000 kcal.  For puppies, the recommended allowance is 25mg, with a minimum allowance of 10mg.

Insufficient calcium will prevent zinc from being fully absorbed. The well-being of your dog depends on maintaining the right balance of all minerals.

Magnesium, calcium, and phosphorus are all present in RMBs. Feeding ground RMBs is the next best thing to giving intact bones. You can grind the RMBs at home or purchase ground bones from wholesale pet food distributors and raw feeding co-ops.

Bones or bone meal powder contain more nutrients than calcium supplements, which are a suitable substitute for RMBs. Except for seaweed calcium, calcium supplements solely supply calcium; hence, it is advised to provide RMBs in some form.

There are two types of calcium available: calcium citrate and dicalcium phosphate. To maintain the correct calcium: phosphorus ratio, you will need to give additional calcium if you use a calcium supplement containing phosphorus, such as bone meal powder or dicalcium phosphate. That is one of the reasons calcium supplements that do not provide phosphorus aren’t recommended. 

Calcium alone does not give dogs the right balance of minerals, so using calcium supplements without phosphorus is not advised.

To ensure the appropriate amount of calcium and phosphorus are being provided in your dog's diet, whenever possible, instead of utilizing a supplement when you aren't comfortable feeding RMBs, offer a bone meal to best replicate the ancestral diet and maintain balance.

For adult dogs, the recommended allowance is 1mg per 1000 kcal. For puppies, the recommended allowance is 3g with a minimum allowance of 2g.

Sodium, Potassium, and Chloride as Electrolytes

Potassium, sodium, and chloride are the three primary electrolytes in a dog's body. Minerals called electrolytes can be found in the body as electrically charged ions and particles. They are crucial for preserving the fluid equilibrium in your dog.

Sodium Chloride has a recommended allowance of 200mg for adult dogs and 550mg for puppies. Potassium has a recommended allowance of 1g for adult dogs and 1.1g for puppies.

The most significant role of iron is delivering oxygen throughout the body. The primary oxygen carriers, myoglobin and hemoglobin, contain iron as an essential component. Iron also strengthens the immune system, making it a vital component of your dog’s nutrition plan.

Adult dogs have a recommended allowance of 7.5mg. Puppies have a recommended allowance of 22mg.

A  Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA) test is a valuable tool as it tests the levels of minerals and elements in your dog’s body; some of which may be toxic. 

Acute or chronic illnesses can be found during a yearly veterinarian visit that involves a thorough physical examination and a comprehensive blood work panel that tests for the function of the liver, kidneys, pancreas, blood protein levels, electrolytes, calcium, and blood sugar.

A holistic assessment of your dog is possible when all of these approaches are used. To build a wellness plan for your dog, share all of your information with your veterinarian. It's an excellent strategy to avoid prospective nutrition-related ailments while also removing current ones, such as allergies and skin problems.

Whenever possible, whole foods should be used to supplement deficiencies in your dog’s diet.

Check the sourcing of any foods you purchase for your dog.

A hair tissue mineral analysis can be performed to determine if your dog is lacking in any minerals prior to supplementation.

Habib, Rodney; Becker, Karen Shaw.  (2021). The Forever Dog. HarperCollins. Kindle Edition. 

Brady, C. (2020). Feeding dogs dry or raw? The science behind the debate. Farrow Road Publishing.

Puotinen, C. J. (2003). Natural remedies for dogs and cats. Gramercy Books. 

Small Animal Clinical Nutrition, 5th Edition  

The 5 Trace Minerals Your Dog Needs In His Diet 

Mineral nutrient composition of vegetables, fruits and grains: The context of reports of apparent historical declines - ScienceDirect 

Zinc in Dog Nutrition, Health and Disease: A Review - PMC 

Diets containing naturally occurring iron or naturally occurring iron plus supplemental ferrous sulfate both maintain normal hematological status in adult dogs | Journal of Food Nutrition and Metabolism | Science Repository 

Articles from future units will be accessible once you have completed that unit.

Unit 6 - Testing Your Raw-Fed Dog's Health 

Minerals are essential nutrients that support many of the body’s most important functions, even though they don’t provide calories or energy. They help build and maintain strong bones and teeth, regulate muscle movement and nerve signaling, balance bodily fluids, and support immune and metabolic health. Without the right minerals in the diet, your dog’s body simply can’t function as it should.

Don't Forget the Minerals

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