Supplements for a Husky on a Home-Cooked Diet

I have been reading a lot about how cooking for your dog is much better for them than dog food, as long as it’s done properly and you balance their diet. I bought a book of recipes for dogs and would like to try a few of them with my 11-month-old Husky, Luca. Every meal has to be supplemented with 400 mg calcium (per 1 cup of food). My local vet does not sell a calcium supplement. Is it something I can buy at my local pharmacy as long as it’s the proper dose or is the formula for dogs different than for humans?

– Staci, Delaware

Hi Staci,

Calcium is the same regardless of whether it is for humans or for dogs, so buying the human form should not be a problem. It is very important, especially in a young, growing, large breed dog such as yours, that the calcium level is appropriate and the calcium-to-phosphorus ratio is appropriate for a large breed dog. There are many recipes for home cooked dog foods out there and while some are great, there are also some that are inappropriate or deficient. You should have the diet evaluated by a veterinary nutritionist to be certain your dog is getting everything that he needs from this diet so he does not develop any deficiencies in the key nutrients.

PHOTOS: allthecreatures.org, dogbreedinfo.com