Minerals for animals

Animals can’t produce minerals on their own, so they need to get them from their food. Both too much and too little can cause health problems. Sometimes natural foods don’t provide enough minerals, so it’s best to use commercial supplements and feeds.

Mineral supplements for dogs and cats come in dry, paste, and liquid forms. They often include vitamins and other beneficial compounds. These supplements help animals during growth, pregnancy, and lactation, and keep their coats healthy. Minerals in pet food come from both inorganic and organic sources.

Minerals come from soil and water, then move into plants and animals. The need for minerals varies based on the animal’s species, health, sex, breed, and age.

Commercial pet foods usually include vitamin and mineral complexes, but finding the right food can take years. Some owners switch to cheaper diets or homemade meals, which can cause mineral imbalances. This can lead to dull, brittle fur, bald spots, weak nails, anemia, and other issues.

Mineral supplements are common in pet stores. Minerals in animal food are divided into three groups:

Macronutrients: iron, magnesium, potassium, calcium, sodium, and phosphorus.

Trace elements: iodine, fluorine, manganese, aluminum, bromine, zinc, nickel, arsenic, cobalt, and silicon.

Ultra elements (needed in tiny amounts): gold, lead, mercury, silver, radium, and rubidium.

Minerals are crucial for metabolism, forming bones, cell membranes, enzymes, hormones, blood formation, breathing, and nerve function. They also affect reproductive cells and embryo development. Mineral Feeding for Pets

Mineral supplements for dogs and cats in organic are easier for animals to digest.

In nature, minerals are found in organic compounds and metal-protein complexes. Small protein molecules are easier to digest, so the body combines inorganic minerals with amino acids to help with absorption.

Chelates are special organic forms of minerals. Many premium pet foods already include these easily digestible minerals. They are especially useful in diets for pets with chronic kidney problems, as they help reduce phosphorus intake.

Organic mineral forms include calcium lactate, a form of calcium that’s more concentrated than traditional gluconate; and calcium citrate, another organic calcium compound.

Meat and bone meal is a good source of calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, magnesium, and sulfur. However, the high phosphorus content needs to be balanced with calcium, especially for growing and lactating animals.

Seaweed flour is rich in minerals, including iodine. Skin treats and by-products can also provide collagen and trace elements but should be used in moderation.

Zeolites are minerals with unique properties that help detoxify the body and provide micro- and ultra-elements.

Inorganic mineral sources in pet food include carbonates, phosphates, hydrogen phosphates, and oxides.

For birds and rodents, there are mineral stones, sand, vitamin and mineral granules, and treats in tablet form.

References Minerals for animals - ZooMedVet.