Micronutrients

Micronutrients are the vitamins and minerals dogs need in relatively small amounts, but small does not mean unimportant. They help support everything from bone structure and oxygen transport to thyroid function, antioxidant defenses, muscle function, and more.

The goal is not to add as many nutrients as possible. It is to understand what the diet already provides, what may be missing, and how nutrients work together. More is not automatically better, and balance matters.

Start with the big picture

• Micronutrients, Part 1
• Calcium and Phosphorus in Raw Feeding

Minerals

• Calcium for Dogs: Why Proper Balance Matters
• Phosphorus in Dog Diets: Balance, Excess & Clinical Considerations
• Zinc for Dogs
• Iron for Dogs
• Copper for Dogs
• Sodium for Dogs
• Iodine for Dogs
• Magnesium for Dogs
• Potassium for Dogs
• Selenium for Dogs

Vitamins

• Vitamin E for Dogs

Use these pages to understand individual nutrients, then come back to the whole diet. A meal can contain excellent ingredients and still miss the mark if the overall nutrient pattern is out of balance.