How to Strengthen Bones in a Dog

Healthy, happy dog

For many people, dogs are an important part of everyday life. Some would even consider their dog to be an official member of the family so it's crucial to keep your four legged friends in the best of health. Making sure your dog has strong bones will help him reach and retain that health for many years to come. With some effort and the proper education you can help strengthen your dog's bones today.

Things You'll Need

• Dog
• Well balanced dog food
• Leash

Instructions

Promoting Strong Bones

1. Pay attention to the ingredients in your dog's food. A healthy, well balanced diet is crucial to his bone strength. Vitamin D, calcium and phosphorus are all well known for promoting bone strength so try to find a dog food with all three of these ingredients. Bone meal is a great source of these vitamins and minerals and can be added to most foods, if needed.

2. Take your dog out for exercise on a regular basis. When it comes to strengthening a dog's body, bones included, there is no substitute for good old exercise. Using the leash, take your dog on walks at least 2 to 3 times a week, but he won't mind if you want to walk him every day. If you have the physical ability, play with your dog often. Dogs can store lots of energy they must release, and this way they get even more exercise.

3. Look for food that also has glucosamine, which will strengthen both your dog's joints and bones. Joint and muscle health are just as important, and keeping other aspects of your dog healthy will help keep the bones as healthy as they can possibly be.

Tips & Warnings

• Always consult a vet before changing your dog's diet.

• Research healthy dog foods and find some good choices before you go to the pet store. This way you will always know what you're feeding your dog and the different ways it could be beneficial to him.

• Consider providing home cooked meals for your dog. Assuming you properly educate yourself on the nutritional needs of dogs, cooking for your dog can be a great way of ensuring he gets the right amount of crucial vitamins, minerals and supplements.

• Adding too much of certain ingredients found in dog foods could cause more harm than good so it's important to get a professional opinion before making any serious changes. Therefore, it is usually wise to provide a well balanced meal for your dog than to give it too many vitamin supplements.

References

• The Dog Daily: Vitamins and Minerals Your Dog Needs