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Dogs and cats deserve a wholesome raw meat diet

Three Questions About Calcium For Pets

I have made the egg shells and have 3 questions about calcium.

  1. I have been told that the amount of calcium a dog should have is 10mg per pound of body weight which would be 1000 mg for a 100 pound dog. I am using calcium now that is 1000 mg per teaspoon. With the egg shells being 1900 mg, I would use about 3/4 of a teaspoon for him. I worry a lot about too much calcium as I know it can cause constipation. Looks like for your product (EggShellent Calcium) that the amount you give depends on the amount of food you give and I don't feel comfortable with that and would rather go by how much the animal weighs.
  2. What are your thoughts on the difference of giving calcium by how much food you feed rather than by their weight? Do you agree with the 10mg per pound of body weight for calcium?
  3. How much calcium do cats need?

Jesse's Answer

The amount of calcium is not or should not be given based on the weight of the dog or cat. Instead, the calcium must counter balance the phosphorus entering the body.

Therefore, the amount of calcium you give must be enough to counter balance the phosphorus in the meat you are feeding.

A lack of calcium will lead to health problems like kidney stones and even renal failure ? but it's not just a lack of calcium, one must also consider the ability or should I say, the inability for the body to absorb the calcium it is getting ? commercial pet foods and cooked meat diets cause to produce less acid in the stomach which ultimately causes calcium absorption problem. Only a raw meat diet produces enough acid in the stomach to allow the body to properly assimilate and utilize the calcium in the food being fed.

So the calcium given should help the body have almost twice as much calcium as phosphorus. Some will say that dogs and cats only need a 1:1 ratio of calcium to phosphorus. Others will give different ratios but people like Dr. Pitcairn, DVM and others say 2:1 ? that is, 2 parts calcium for 1 part phosphorus. Personally, I go with the 2:1 ratio. It's arguably better to have more calcium than to have too little calcium. Since calcium is needed in such high amounts, it is far easier to give too little than too much ? and too little calcium is something we definitely want to avoid.

Dogs and cats need essentially the same amounts of calcium. People can argue or debate over the exact amounts, but the reality is that you will never obtain a perfect 100% balance because we don't know exactly how much phosphorus there in the food we are feeding. We can only guess based on average nutritional values of the meats we are feeding.

Based on the average phosphorus content of meat, adding 1 teaspoon (2.5 mL) of ground egg shells helps to provide the body with enough calcium to create the ideal 2:1 ratio of calcium to phosphorus.

To learn more, I would suggest the following pages:

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The following are testimonials shown in random order. In addition to reading these testimonials, you may also want to read The Sick Pet Project.

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What A Difference Your Diet Has Made!

2009-03-13

I just wanted to write and tell you what a difference this new diet has made in my dogs' over–all health. I am awe struck and I have only had them on it for about three weeks.

I have two Chihuahuas and a Sharpei mix. My Sharpei (Nelly) had skin problems or allergies, I think due to the dog food I was feeding her. I could run the sweeper three times a day and still have hair everywhere. I was seriously thinking of finding a new home for her. I work two jobs and have teenagers and not enough time to sweep constantly.

That's when I started searching for a new diet for the dogs. I came across this and started it right away. It doesn't really consume anymore of my time and I don't have to sweep everyday anymore! I just can't get over the difference in their coats. They are so shiny and healthy looking. Thank you so much Jesse!

I actually enjoy feeding time for them. They love it. Even the finicky Chihuahua! And another great part about this is that they don't poop near as much as they used to. I know that Nelly would go at least six times a day if not more. I have learned so much from your website. I have read a lot of books about feeding a raw diet and one would say do this and the other one say don't do that and back and forth but none of it worked out for us and none of it was as simple as this is!

I just can't thank you enough.

– Shani

No More Doggie Odor

2006-10-01

I read your book seven months ago and immediately started to use the diet you advocates for my three pets — two dogs and a cat. I have had only good results. There has been a marked increase in energy, especially in one dog who was sickly. Their teeth are now white and clean, which they were not previously, there is no more doggie odor. I had absolutely no problems with fleas this autumn, which is unusual. The animals have good appetites, their coats are shining, the dogs' noses are cool and moist whereas previously they were dry and hard. I have the highest regards for Jesse and consider him an extremely intelligent and enlightened young man.

— Mrs. Rousse

Shining Bright

2005-03-10

Wynnie's coat shines like I have never seen it shine before. She also had a bowel condition that flared up every 1 to 2 weeks. Now these flare ups are 2 months apart. Her water consumption has been cut by more than two thirds. In closing, there are no words of appreciation that can express how thankful I am for your dedicated interest in the nutrition of dogs and cats.

— Heather and Wynnie