Does anyone have information regarding articles that specifically address the negative effects of over-supplementation of calcium in young pups? Private emails are fine. Thanks so much.

Calcium : Phosphorous ratio is nothing to play around with. I would never supplement calcium to puppies, unless hypocalcemia is diagnosed.

http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/119284030/abstract?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0

http://avmajournals.avma.org/doi/abs/10.2460/ajvr.2000.61.9

http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/118736644/abstract

http://www.thensome.com/hod.htm

http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=776992

http://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=calcium+oversupplementation+puppies&hl=en&lr=&start=10&sa=N

Here's a very clearly written article,

A couple of years ago I spoke to a nutrionist who also stated that it is not the ratio of calcium to phos. that is most important- it is the absolute % of calcium.

For puppies she suggested 0.9 to 1.0 % calcium. There are few foods out there that have that low a % of calcium. I think Pro Plan Puppy does (LB) and maybe the LB Eukanuba. I did take her advice and went with the Pro Plan (I believe) but was not as happy with that food, as the adult food I have been using for years - for all ages of dogs here. The adult food is 1.3 % calcium. What I did with the last litter was mix the two, to bring down the calcium level.

She also recommended using cosequin for growing pups, as the ingredients help the condrocites rebuild and keep the ongoing remodeling of the joint satified with new cells.

I have stopped giving any supplements, but for the cosequin. I was even worried about too much yogurt, so I stopped with that, too, unless they need it for control with stools.