Lesson 4
Calcium & Mineral Basics
Understanding Calcium in Homemade Dog Food
Now that you know how much calcium and phosphorus your dog requires from Lesson 1, this lesson explains why homemade diets almost always fail to meet those needs without intervention.
Calcium is not optional in homemade dog food. It is a structural mineral, meaning it must be supplied consistently and in the correct proportion to phosphorus. Unlike many vitamins, calcium cannot be “averaged out” over time or reliably obtained from meat-based foods alone.
This is where most homemade diets go wrong.
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60–80% Muscle Meat (Protein & Amino Acids)
Muscle meat is the foundation of the bowl because it supplies most of the amino acids your dog needs to meet the NRC protein requirements you calculated earlier. The wide range (60–80%) exists because different dogs have different needs—active dogs, puppies, or dogs recovering from illness may benefit from the higher end, while seniors or low-activity dogs may do better with less.
Meat alone doesn’t meet all NRC requirements, but it determines the bulk of the meal’s protein and energy. Choosing a variety of proteins over time—chicken, beef, turkey, pork, lamb, fish—helps support balanced amino acids and micronutrients.
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Up to 5% Secreting Organs (Optional but Extremely Nutrient-Dense)
Organs are optional, but incredibly helpful. They naturally provide many of the micronutrients on your NRC list, including vitamin A, copper, folate, and other vitamins and minerals that muscle meat alone cannot supply.
Including up to 5% secreting organ (like liver, kidney, or spleen) helps meals meet NRC targets with fewer supplements. If your dog cannot tolerate organs or you prefer not to use them, that’s okay—balanced meals are still possible, but you will likely rely more on supplement support to fill the micronutrient gaps organs normally cover.
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10–30% Complex Carbohydrates or Vegetables (Energy & Fiber Support)
Carbohydrates and grains are optional in a homemade dog diet, and opinions vary widely about whether dogs should eat them. Some dogs digest grains and starchy foods very well, while others do better without them.
We’ll explore this topic in depth in a dedicated blog, but for now, it’s important to understand that carbs are not required to meet NRC nutrient needs—they are simply an optional tool you can use based on your dog’s health, preferences, and your veterinarian’s guidance.
When included, complex carbohydrates such as sweet potatoes, regular potatoes, oats, quinoa, and lentils can provide digestible energy, fiber, and certain vitamins and minerals. They help support healthy stools and can be useful for dogs who need additional calories without increasing fat or protein levels too high.
Low-starch vegetables—like broccoli, zucchini, green beans, carrots, pumpkin, and leafy greens—are also optional but beneficial. They contribute fiber, antioxidants, phytonutrients, and digestive support, helping round out a homemade meal even though they aren’t used to directly meet NRC nutrient requirements.
Whether you choose to include carbs, vegetables, both, or neither, balanced meals are still achievable. The key is making sure the ingredients you select fit your dog’s needs and work alongside the nutrient targets you calculated in Lesson 1.
Why Homemade Diets Are Naturally Calcium-Deficient
Dogs are biologically designed to obtain calcium by consuming bones along with muscle meat and organs. In a homemade diet, bones are typically removed for safety and practicality, but nothing naturally replaces the calcium they provide. What remains is a diet built primarily from boneless meats, organs, and eggs—ingredients that are naturally high in phosphorus and very low in calcium. While some whole foods, such as certain vegetables or dairy, do contain calcium, they do not provide it in the concentration needed to replace bone or counterbalance phosphorus in a meat-based diet.
As a result, homemade diets are inherently calcium-deficient unless a calcium source is intentionally added, making supplementation necessary to restore proper mineral balance.
(Protein & Amino Acids)
Understanding the Calcium–Phosphorus Ratio
Calcium and phosphorus must be present in the correct proportion for your dog’s body to use them safely. This proportion is called the calcium–phosphorus ratio, and for adult dogs it generally falls between 1:1 and 2:1, meaning there should be at least as much calcium as phosphorus, and often slightly more.
When phosphorus intake consistently exceeds calcium—as it does in boneless, meat-based diets—the body pulls calcium from bones to maintain normal blood levels, weakening skeletal structure over time. Balancing calcium and phosphorus means adding enough calcium to offset the phosphorus already present in the diet, rather than trying to reduce phosphorus intake. In homemade feeding, this balance must be created intentionally, which is why calcium supplementation is necessary.
- Calcium and phosphorus must be balanced together, not considered separately.
- The recommended calcium–phosphorus ratio for adult dogs generally falls between 1:1 and 2:1, with slightly more calcium than phosphorus.
- Boneless, meat-based homemade diets are naturally high in phosphorus and low in calcium.
- Balancing the ratio means adding calcium to match the phosphorus already in the diet, not reducing meat.
Balancing
Balancing Calcium in Homemade Diets
Balancing calcium in homemade dog food means adding enough calcium to offset the phosphorus already present in the diet so both minerals remain in a safe ratio. Because phosphorus naturally comes from meat, organs, and eggs, balancing calcium is not about removing ingredients—it is about matching calcium intake to phosphorus intake.
In practice, this means every homemade diet built around boneless meat requires a consistent, measurable calcium source.
Step 1
Phosphorus
If you’re following the meat ratios taught in Lesson 2, you’re likely already meeting your dog’s phosphorus needs.
Meat, organs, eggs, and fish naturally supply ample phosphorus. Still, it’s important to double-check—especially if you’ve adjusted ratios—so calcium can be balanced accurately.
Step 2
Calcium
Now that we know the phosphorus levels, we must add calcium to the diet meeting the ratio.
For adult dogs, this typically means ensuring calcium is equal to or slightly higher than phosphorus, generally between 1:1 and 2:1.
But here is where it can be a little tricky. The total amount of calcium added must ALSO meet your dogs daily calcium requirement we determined in Lesson 1.
Step 3
Supplementing
Common calcium supplementation sources used in homemade dog food include:
- Eggshell powder
- Bone meal
- Commercial calcium supplements
Each source provides a different concentration of calcium and requires a different approach. Once you choose a calcium source, it should be used consistently so amounts can be calculated and adjusted accurately.
Balancing
Balancing Per Meal vs Balancing Over Time
Calcium is a structural mineral that supports bones, teeth, muscles, and nerve function, which means it must be supplied consistently, not sporadically. In homemade feeding, this means calcium should be included with every properly balanced meal, rather than added occasionally or “made up for” later. Leaving meals unbalanced for extended periods allows the body to pull calcium from bones to maintain normal blood levels, even if calcium is added at a later time.

While meals do not need to be mathematically perfect every single day, calcium balance should be the norm across regular feeding. Relying on occasional high-calcium meals or supplements to correct long stretches of imbalance increases the risk of long-term skeletal stress. Consistent, per-meal calcium supplementation is the safest way to maintain stable mineral balance in homemade diets.
Here's a Bit More
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Balanced vs. Unbalanced Meals
Balanced Meal
Includes a consistent calcium source with each meal or batch
- Meets your dog’s calcium requirement and maintains a safe calcium–phosphorus ratio
- Uses one primary calcium source for accuracy
- Keeps mineral intake stable over time
Unbalanced Meal
Contains meat and organs without added calcium
- Relies on “catch-up” calcium later in the week
- Uses random high-calcium foods instead of a measured source
- Meets the ratio inconsistently or not at all
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Common Mistakes When Balancing Calcium
- Adding calcium occasionally instead of consistently. Calcium must be supplied regularly; it cannot be safely averaged over long periods.
- Assuming the ratio alone means the diet is balanced. A diet can meet the calcium–phosphorus ratio while still falling short of total calcium requirements.
- Rotating or mixing multiple calcium sources. Switching between eggshell, bone meal, and supplements makes accurate balancing difficult.
- Using “calcium-rich foods” instead of supplements. Vegetables, dairy, or other foods do not provide enough calcium to replace bone.
- Overcorrecting with excess calcium. Too much calcium can be just as harmful as too little—precision matters.
Lesson 4 Wrap Up
You’re now familiar with the principles that make homemade feeding safe, varied, and flexible. You know how to choose safe ingredients, why variety supports better nutrition, and how to decide between balancing each meal or balancing over time. With this foundation in place, you’re ready for one of the most important parts of homemade feeding—understanding calcium and mineral balance.
In the next lesson, you’ll learn why calcium is essential, why it’s missing in cooked diets, and how to add it correctly so every meal you serve is safe and nutritionally complete.
Calcium Resources & Related Guides
