Critical to Dog's Health: Is Your Dog's Magnesium Level Where It Should Be?

The dog food should give you an idea as to how much actual Magnesium is in the feed. But if they don’t, you will have to look on the ingredients list to see where these ingredients fall. The higher up on the list, the higher the percentage of that ingredient is in the food.

If you are still unsure, and your dog has been exhibiting any of the symptoms discussed in the “Why Magnesium” section, then you should consider getting your dog tested. This is a surefire way to know exactly how much Magnesium your dog is getting.

However, if you are feeding your dog a raw food diet, then you will have to figure out the Magnesium levels on your own. Some of the best foods to include into your dog’s diet, when choosing this feeding style, are:

•         Kidney Beans – 258 mg per cup
•         Garbanzo Beans – 230 mg per cup
•         Pumpkin Seeds – 168 mg per cup
•         Soy (Edamame preferably) – 99 mg per cup, cooked
•         Brown Rice – 84 mg per cup
•         Fish (Mackerel preferably) – 82 mg per cup, cooked
•         Avocado – 42 mg per cup
•         Lamb – 40 mg per 6oz cooked
•         Beets – 31 mg per cup

As you can see, there are a lot of great, easy, raw food options to incorporate more Magnesium into your dog’s diet. As a bonus, most of our dogs really love the addition of these foods as a treat.

Magnesium Conclusion

Overall, it is extremely important that your dog is getting enough Magnesium in her diet regularly to live a long and healthy life. The vital mineral helps your dog’s body operate at its maximum potential and is required for their overall health and wellness.

Seeking Magnesium out in dog food can be a challenge sometimes, but it is possible if you know which ingredients to look for. If you want to supplement, I always suggest going with natural food items first, before adding in a processed supplement. That way your dog thinks he is getting a treat, and you don’t have to spend as much money on supplements.