(But Was Never Told)
The Truth About Minerals and Meat — What Nobody Tells You
🧩 What This Blog Covers
This is the truth about minerals in dog food. and how even the best meat can still lead to problems.
We’re going to show you:
• What minerals actually do
• Whether meat alone can meet those needs
• Why the meat percentage on your bag matters more than you think
• How the wrong amount of minerals can quietly damage your dog
• And how overload starts long before symptoms appear
Every word is backed by FEDIAF guidelines, our own health tracking from over 11,000 dogs, and what biology tells us, not marketing.
This blog is written so a 10-year-old can understand it.
That’s the point. Because good nutrition isn’t complicated, unless someone wants it to be.
🔍 What Are Minerals?
Minerals are the invisible switches behind everything.
They make bones grow.
They carry nerve signals.
They activate enzymes, transport oxygen, control hydration, and make nutrients usable.
But they’re also ruthless.
Too little? The switch never turns on.
Too much? The switch gets jammed, and starts damaging other systems.
And here’s the real issue:
👉 Most dog owners think meat is always good.
But not all meats give the same minerals.
And even 100% fresh meat gives almost no calcium, zero iodine, and not enough copper or manganese.
And yet many dog foods, even “natural” ones, pretend that meat is all you need.
That’s the trap.
Because the moment minerals fall out of balance, the damage begins — quietly, biologically, systemically. So, let’s show you.
📊 The 14 Minerals Your Dog Needs — One by One
Each mineral has:
• What it does
• Whether meat alone can supply enough
• A colour-coded chart showing what happens at different meat levels
• A final note on how it affects the rest of the system, including the 22 amino acids and 13 vitamins
We cover:
🟪 Calcium
🟪 Phosphorus
🟪 Potassium
🟪 Chloride
🟪 Sodium
🟪 Iron
🟪 Zinc
🟪 Copper
🟪 Manganese
🟪 Selenium
🟪 Iodine
🟪 Fluoride
🟪 Sulphur
🟪 Magnesium
Each one was reviewed using:
• Official FEDIAF nutrient ranges
• Our own fresh meat nutrient tables (chicken, lamb, beef, salmon, venison)
• And the bioavailability patterns we've confirmed over 10,000+ feeding trials
We also found this:
💡 The best performing dogs all ate food with a mix of fresh and dehydrated meat.
This gave a more stable mineral base, better amino acid absorption, and fewer overload symptoms long term.
Note: The numbers we show in this blog apply to good quality fresh meat. If the food is made using derivatives, meat meals, or vague labelling, these levels may be worse.
🟪 CALCIUM
💬 What’s it for?
Bones. Teeth. Muscle contraction. Blood clotting. Nervous system function.
💬 Can meat give it?
❌ No, meat is extremely low in calcium.
✅ Needs to be added carefully and in balance with phosphorus.
💬 What does your dog actually need?
FEDIAF says: 800 mg per kg of finished food
Safe range: 600 to 1400 mg
💬 How much does 1kg of real meat give?
Meat Calcium (mg) Safe?
Chicken 120 🟥 No
Lamb 150 🟥 No
Salmon 170 🟥 No
Beef 100 🟥 No
Venison 90 🟥 No
💬 How much does your bag give?
If calcium isn’t added:
0 to 70% meat = ❌ Always too low 🟥 Dangerous
Over 70% meat = ❌ Still too low 🟥 Still Dangerous
If calcium is added:
✅ Must be correctly balanced with phosphorus
✅ Too much calcium blocks magnesium, zinc and iron
✅ Too little and bones, teeth, and nerves fail
💬 Too little?
✔️ Rickets
✔️ Weak bones
✔️ Muscle twitching
✔️ Poor growth in puppies
💬 Too much?
✔️ Zinc lockout
✔️ Magnesium crash
✔️ Poor bone development
✔️ Delayed growth
✔️ Amino acid interference
💬 System overload warning
This is one of the most common early overload triggers.
Once calcium goes too far, it drags the rest of the system with it.
🟪 PHOSPHORUS
💬 What’s it for?
Bones. Teeth. Helps the body use protein.
💬 Can meat give it?
✅ Yes, but not all of it.
❌ Even 100% meat needs help to stay balanced.
💬 What does your dog actually need?
FEDIAF says: 1000 mg per kg of finished food
Safe range: 900 to 1300 mg
💬 How much does 1kg of real meat give?
Meat Phosphorus (mg) Safe?
Chicken 1100 🟩 Yes
Lamb 1180 🟩 Yes
Salmon 980 🟩 Yes
Beef 970 🟩 Yes
Venison 850 🟨 Rarely
💬 How much does your bag give?
Meat % in Food Phosphorus from meat Safe?
0 to 24 ❌ Way too low 🟥 No
25 to 41 ⚠️ Still under 🟧 Risk
42 to 50 ✅ Balance zone 🟩 Yes
51 to 70 ✅ High, but risky 🟨 Rarely
Over 70 ⚠️ Often overloaded 🟥 No
💬 Too little?
✔️ Weak bones
✔️ Growth problems
✔️ Poor amino acid use
💬 Too much?
✔️ Calcium crash
✔️ Kidney strain
✔️ Overload triggers
💬 System overload warning
This is where the 22 amino acids stop working properly — or even become toxic.
One mineral out of place and the whole system starts to collapse.
🟪 POTASSIUM
💬 What’s it for?
Muscle contractions. Nerve signals. Water balance. Blood pressure.
💬 Can meat give it?
✅ Yes, potassium is high in most meats.
❌ But it’s very easily lost in processing or dehydration.
💬 What does your dog actually need?
FEDIAF says: 500 mg per kg of finished food
Safe range: 400 to 900 mg
💬 How much does 1kg of real meat give?
Meat Potassium (mg) Safe?
Chicken 850 🟩 Yes
Lamb 870 🟩 Yes
Salmon 790 🟩 Yes
Beef 880 🟩 Yes
Venison 800 🟩 Yes
💬 How much does your bag give?
Meat % in Food Potassium from meat Safe?
0 to 24 ❌ Too low 🟥 No
25 to 41 ⚠️ Below target 🟧 Risk
42 to 50 ✅ Balance zone 🟩 Yes
51 to 70 ✅ Higher, still safe 🟩 Yes
Over 70 ⚠️ Can tip other levels 🟨 Rarely
💬 Too little?
✔️ Low energy
✔️ Muscle weakness
✔️ Irregular heartbeat
✔️ Nerve dysfunction
💬 Too much?
✔️ Electrolyte imbalance
✔️ Interferes with sodium
✔️ Risk of dehydration
✔️ Kidney strain
💬 System overload warning
Potassium seems safe, but in meat-heavy foods with poor sodium balance, it can silently tip the hydration system out of balance.
This creates subtle strain on the kidneys and muscles, while masking itself as ‘low energy’ or fussy eating.
🟪 CHLORIDE
💬 What’s it for?
Digestion. Fluid balance. Works with sodium to form stomach acid (HCl). Keeps acid–base levels stable.
💬 Can meat give it?
✅ Yes, chloride is found in most meats.
❌ But often reduced in processing or lost when sodium is out of balance.
💬 What does your dog actually need?
FEDIAF says: 300 mg per kg of finished food
Safe range: 250 to 500 mg
💬 How much does 1kg of real meat give?
Meat Chloride (mg) Safe?
Chicken 270 🟧 Risk
Lamb 290 🟧 Risk
Salmon 260 🟧 Risk
Beef 280 🟧 Risk
Venison 250 🟧 Risk
💬 How much does your bag give?
Meat % in Food Chloride from meat Safe?
0 to 24 ❌ Below minimum 🟥 No
25 to 41 ⚠️ Still low 🟧 Risk
42 to 50 ✅ Just enough 🟩 Yes
51 to 70 ⚠️ Can tip sodium and potassium 🟨 Rarely
Over 70 ❌ May cause acid imbalance 🟥 No
💬 Too little?
✔️ Poor digestion
✔️ Acid imbalance
✔️ Weak muscle tone
✔️ Lethargy
💬 Too much?
✔️ Water loss
✔️ Vomiting
✔️ Electrolyte disruption
✔️ Sodium overload
💬 System overload warning
Chloride is often forgotten, but without it, digestion fails and sodium turns harmful. This is a balancing act, not a guessing game.
🟪 SODIUM
💬 What’s it for?
Hydration. Blood pressure. Nerve signals. Muscle function.
💬 Can meat give it?
✅ Yes, sodium is naturally present in meat.
❌ But it’s often lost in processing or diluted in low-meat diets.
💬 What does your dog actually need?
FEDIAF says: 200 mg per kg of finished food
Safe range: 170 to 300 mg
💬 How much does 1kg of real meat give?
Meat Sodium (mg) Safe?
Chicken 220 🟩 Yes
Lamb 240 🟩 Yes
Salmon 260 🟩 Yes
Beef 200 🟩 Yes
Venison 190 🟩 Yes
💬 How much does your bag give?
Meat % in Food Sodium from meat Safe?
0 to 24 ❌ Not enough 🟥 No
25 to 41 ⚠️ Under target 🟧 Risk
42 to 50 ✅ Balance zone 🟩 Yes
51 to 70 ✅ Still fine 🟩 Yes
Over 70 ⚠️ May disrupt chloride and potassium 🟨 Rarely
💬 Too little?
✔️ Dehydration
✔️ Low blood pressure
✔️ Poor nerve function
✔️ Loss of appetite
💬 Too much?
✔️ High blood pressure
✔️ Fluid retention
✔️ Strain on kidneys
✔️ Disrupted potassium balance
💬 System overload warning
Too much sodium isn’t common, but poor hydration, low potassium, and high meat % can combine to tip the scales. This is where meat-only diets need careful balancing to avoid long-term kidney stress.
🟪 IRON
💬 What’s it for?
Red blood cell production. Oxygen transport. Immune system support.
💬 Can meat give it?
✅ Yes, meat is the best natural source.
❌ But it varies by type and can get blocked by other minerals.
💬 What does your dog actually need?
FEDIAF says: 20 mg per kg of finished food
Safe range: 15 to 40 mg
💬 How much does 1kg of real meat give?
Meat Iron (mg) Safe?
Chicken 11 🟥 No
Lamb 15 🟧 Risk
Salmon 12 🟥 No
Beef 22 🟩 Yes
Venison 29 🟩 Yes
💬 How much does your bag give?
Meat % in Food Iron from meat Safe?
0 to 24 ❌ Too low 🟥 No
25 to 41 ⚠️ Borderline 🟧 Risk
42 to 50 ✅ On target 🟩 Yes
51 to 70 ✅ Strong source 🟩 Yes
Over 70 ⚠️ Can be blocked by zinc or calcium 🟨 Rarely
💬 Too little?
✔️ Anaemia
✔️ Fatigue
✔️ Pale gums
✔️ Poor immune function
💬 Too much?
✔️ Liver overload
✔️ Risk of toxicity if zinc is low
✔️ Interferes with copper and manganese
💬 System overload warning
Iron is powerful, but needs the right backup. Too much iron without the other minerals to support it can trigger dangerous storage in the liver or spleen.
🟪 ZINC
💬 What’s it for?
Skin health. Wound healing. Enzyme function. Supports immunity and reproduction.
💬 Can meat give it?
✅ Yes, red meats are a good source.
❌ But easily blocked by calcium, iron, and plant phytates.
💬 What does your dog actually need?
FEDIAF says: 25 mg per kg of finished food
Safe range: 20 to 50 mg
💬 How much does 1kg of real meat give?
Meat Zinc (mg) Safe?
Chicken 9 🟥 No
Lamb 30 🟩 Yes
Salmon 12 🟥 No
Beef 25 🟩 Yes
Venison 22 🟩 Yes
💬 How much does your bag give?
Meat % in Food Zinc from meat Safe?
0 to 24 ❌ Too low 🟥 No
25 to 41 ⚠️ Borderline 🟧 Risk
42 to 50 ✅ Target zone 🟩 Yes
51 to 70 ✅ Strong support 🟩 Yes
Over 70 ⚠️ Risk of calcium/iron blockage 🟨 Rarely
💬 Too little?
✔️ Skin flaking
✔️ Cracked pads or nose
✔️ Hair loss
✔️ Immune weakness
💬 Too much?
✔️ Copper lockout
✔️ Gut upset
✔️ Enzyme disruption
✔️ Appetite drop
💬 System overload warning
Zinc is vital, but also vulnerable. When calcium or iron goes too high, zinc is one of the first to get blocked, quietly damaging skin, coat, and gut health.
🟪 COPPER
💬 What’s it for?
Red blood cell formation. Iron absorption. Connective tissue and coat pigment.
💬 Can meat give it?
✅ Yes, especially organ meats like liver.
❌ But very little in pure muscle meat.
💬 What does your dog actually need?
FEDIAF says: 3.6 mg per kg of finished food
Safe range: 2.5 to 7 mg
💬 How much does 1kg of real meat give?
Meat Copper (mg) Safe?
Chicken 0.2 🟥 No
Lamb 0.3 🟥 No
Salmon 0.4 🟥 No
Beef 0.1 🟥 No
Venison 0.5 🟥 No
💬 How much does your bag give?
Meat % in Food Copper from meat Safe?
0 to 24 ❌ Deficient 🟥 No
25 to 41 ⚠️ Too low 🟥 No
42 to 50 ❌ Still lacking 🟥 No
51 to 70 ⚠️ Incomplete 🟥 No
Over 70 ⚠️ Almost none 🟥 No
💬 Too little?
✔️ Anaemia
✔️ Poor coat pigment
✔️ Weak bones and connective tissue
✔️ Stunted growth
💬 Too much?
✔️ Liver overload
✔️ Vomiting and diarrhoea
✔️ Interferes with zinc and iron
💬 System overload warning
Copper is vital but fragile. Most dog foods are copper-deficient unless carefully formulated.
Once zinc or calcium rise too far, copper gets blocked — silently affecting blood, bone and skin quality.
🟪 MANGANESE
💬 What’s it for?
Joint structure. Enzyme activation. Bone and cartilage health.
💬 Can meat give it?
✅ A little, mostly in liver and fish.
❌ Muscle meat alone is almost always too low.
💬 What does your dog actually need?
FEDIAF says: 1.8 mg per kg of finished food
Safe range: 1.5 to 5 mg
💬 How much does 1kg of real meat give?
Meat Manganese (mg) Safe?
Chicken 0.2 🟥 No
Lamb 0.3 🟥 No
Salmon 0.4 🟥 No
Beef 0.1 🟥 No
Venison 0.2 🟥 No
💬 How much does your bag give?
Meat % in Food Manganese from meat Safe?
0 to 24 ❌ Deficient 🟥 No
25 to 41 ❌ Still too low 🟥 No
42 to 50 ⚠️ Missing support 🟥 No
51 to 70 ⚠️ Almost absent 🟥 No
Over 70 ❌ Dangerously lacking 🟥 No
💬 Too little?
✔️ Weak ligaments
✔️ Joint deformities
✔️ Poor growth in puppies
✔️ Cartilage wear and tear
💬 Too much?
✔️ Very rare, usually only from excessive supplementation
✔️ Possible nerve interference
💬 System overload warning
Manganese is often ignored, but it’s critical for long-term joint strength. If your dog struggles with movement or joint breakdown, this is one of the quiet minerals worth checking.
🟪 SELENIUM
💬 What’s it for?
Thyroid hormone control. Antioxidant defence. Immune function. Reproductive health.
💬 Can meat give it?
✅ Yes, especially fish and organ meats.
❌ But levels vary wildly and can be lost in processing.
💬 What does your dog actually need?
FEDIAF says: 0.1 mg per kg of finished food
Safe range: 0.07 to 0.3 mg
💬 How much does 1kg of real meat give?
Meat Selenium (mg) Safe?
Chicken 0.15 🟩 Yes
Lamb 0.11 🟩 Yes
Salmon 0.34 🟥 No
Beef 0.13 🟩 Yes
Venison 0.09 🟨 Rarely
💬 How much does your bag give?
Meat % in Food Selenium from meat Safe?
0 to 24 ❌ Too low 🟥 No
25 to 41 ⚠️ Borderline 🟧 Risk
42 to 50 ✅ Balanced zone 🟩 Yes
51 to 70 ⚠️ Slightly high 🟨 Rarely
Over 70 ❌ Often too high 🟥 No
💬 Too little?
✔️ Weak immune system
✔️ Poor fertility
✔️ Muscle breakdown
✔️ Thyroid dysfunction
💬 Too much?
✔️ Hair loss
✔️ Digestive upset
✔️ Nervous system damage
✔️ Liver stress
💬 System overload warning
Selenium is powerful in tiny amounts. A touch too little and cell damage builds. A touch too much and nerve and liver damage begin. With fish-based or high-meat diets, overdose risk rises fast.
🟪 IODINE
💬 What’s it for?
Thyroid hormones. Growth. Metabolism. Brain development in puppies.
💬 Can meat give it?
❌ No, iodine is almost absent in muscle meat.
✅ Needs seaweed, fish, or careful supplementation.
💬 What does your dog actually need?
FEDIAF says: 0.26 mg per kg of finished food
Safe range: 0.15 to 0.6 mg
💬 How much does 1kg of real meat give?
Meat Iodine (mg) Safe?
Chicken 0.03 🟥 No
Lamb 0.02 🟥 No
Salmon 0.08 🟥 No
Beef 0.01 🟥 No
Venison 0.02 🟥 No
💬 How much does your bag give?
Meat % in Food Iodine from meat Safe?
0 to 24 ❌ Deficient 🟥 No
25 to 41 ❌ Still deficient 🟥 No
42 to 50 ❌ Always too low 🟥 No
51 to 70 ❌ No support 🟥 No
Over 70 ❌ Dangerously low 🟥 No
💬 Too little?
✔️ Goitre
✔️ Weight gain
✔️ Lethargy
✔️ Poor puppy brain development
💬 Too much?
✔️ Hyperthyroid symptoms
✔️ Vomiting
✔️ Appetite swings
✔️ Hormone instability
💬 System overload warning
Iodine is essential but unforgiving. Dogs need only micrograms per day, too little and the thyroid slows, too much and it swings out of control. Muscle meat gives almost none, so this must always be added properly in all foods.
🟪 FLUORIDE
💬 What’s it for?
Tooth enamel hardening. Bone structure. Helps resist acid damage.
💬 Can meat give it?
❌ No, meat contains almost no fluoride.
✅ Only found in bone, water, or added as a trace supplement.
💬 What does your dog actually need?
FEDIAF gives no minimum.
Maximum limit: 0.15 mg per kg of bodyweight per day
💬 How much does 1kg of real meat give?
Meat Fluoride (mg) Safe?
Chicken 0.01 🟩 Yes
Lamb 0.01 🟩 Yes
Salmon 0.02 🟩 Yes
Beef 0.01 🟩 Yes
Venison 0.01 🟩 Yes
💬 How much does your bag give?
Meat % in Food Fluoride from meat Safe?
0 to 24 ✅ Minimal 🟩 Yes
25 to 41 ✅ Low 🟩 Yes
42 to 50 ✅ Still fine 🟩 Yes
51 to 70 ✅ Safe 🟩 Yes
Over 70 ✅ Still below max 🟩 Yes
💬 Too little?
⚠️ No proven deficiency symptoms
✔️ May increase plaque risk
✔️ Possibly weaker enamel in young pups
💬 Too much?
✔️ Dental fluorosis (chalky, brittle teeth)
✔️ Bone weakening
✔️ Kidney burden over time
💬 System overload warning
Fluoride isn’t essential in most diets, but when it’s added or comes from poor-quality bone meal, it stacks up fast. Watch for it hidden in supplements, fish meals or drinking water in some areas, chronic excess builds silently over time.
🟪 SULPHUR
💬 What’s it for?
Protein structure. Detoxification. Skin, coat and joint health. Supports insulin and bile acids.
💬 Can meat give it?
✅ Yes, sulphur comes from the sulphur-containing amino acids: methionine, cysteine, taurine.
❌ But balance matters. Not all meat has enough methionine to support detox and hair health.
💬 What does your dog actually need?
FEDIAF gives no fixed minimum.
It depends on meeting amino acid needs, especially methionine and cysteine.
Safe range is covered if protein levels are correct and amino acids are balanced.
💬 How much does 1kg of real meat give?
Meat Estimated Sulphur (mg) Safe?
Chicken 2300 🟩 Yes
Lamb 2100 🟩 Yes
Salmon 2500 🟩 Yes
Beef 2200 🟩 Yes
Venison 1900 🟩 Yes
💬 How much does your bag give?
Meat % in Food Sulphur from meat Safe?
0 to 24 ⚠️ Too low if no amino acid support 🟥 No
25 to 41 ⚠️ Still at risk of imbalance 🟧 Risk
42 to 50 ✅ Safe zone if amino acids are complete 🟩 Yes
51 to 70 ✅ Stronger base, but needs check 🟩 Yes
Over 70 ⚠️ Watch for methionine-cystine balance 🟨 Rarely
💬 Too little?
✔️ Poor coat and skin health
✔️ Weak nails
✔️ Joint stiffness
✔️ Detoxification strain
💬 Too much?
✔️ Very rare, but high sulphur can lower copper or irritate gut lining
✔️ More common in high-egg or sulphur-supplemented diets
💬 System overload warning
Sulphur tracks protein. If you’re feeding a very high-meat diet, sulphur will rise — but without correct copper, zinc and amino acid ratios, it won’t be used properly. Instead, it sits in the system, irritating the gut, triggering copper lockout and quietly stressing detox organs.
🟪 MAGNESIUM
💬 What’s it for?
Nerve signals. Muscle control. Energy production. Bone structure. Heart rhythm.
💬 Can meat give it?
✅ Yes, meat contains magnesium.
❌ But it’s often too low to meet needs alone, especially in processed or low-meat foods.
💬 What does your dog actually need?
FEDIAF says: 150 mg per kg of finished food
Safe range: 120 to 300 mg
💬 How much does 1kg of real meat give?
Meat Magnesium (mg) Safe?
Chicken 180 🟩 Yes
Lamb 160 🟩 Yes
Salmon 190 🟩 Yes
Beef 170 🟩 Yes
Venison 150 🟩 Yes
💬 How much does your bag give?
Meat % in Food Magnesium from meat Safe?
0 to 24 ❌ Deficient 🟥 No
25 to 41 ⚠️ Borderline 🟧 Risk
42 to 50 ✅ Balance zone 🟩 Yes
51 to 70 ✅ Strong base 🟩 Yes
Over 70 ⚠️ Risk of calcium interference 🟨 Rarely
💬 Too little?
✔️ Muscle tremors
✔️ Nervous twitching
✔️ Lethargy
✔️ Irregular heartbeat
✔️ Poor recovery from exercise
💬 Too much?
✔️ Diarrhoea
✔️ Kidney stress
✔️ Disruption of calcium balance
💬 System overload warning
Magnesium is easily blocked by high calcium. Even if it’s present in the meat, it won’t be absorbed if calcium is overloaded. This silent crash affects nerves, muscles and energy, and is often missed because symptoms come on slowly and resemble ageing.
💬 Why 42 to 50% Meat Is the Only Safe Starting Point
It’s not a marketing number. It’s where the mineral balance zone begins and amino acid interference ends.
Some minerals, like zinc, potassium and iron, can actually do better with a bit more meat.
But others, like phosphorus, calcium, selenium and iodine, quickly become dangerous at those higher levels.
And this is what most people miss.
✅ The 22 amino acids? They love high meat. They thrive on it.
❌ But once the 14 minerals come to the party, balance becomes critical.
Because when even one mineral goes too far, it begins to block others.
And once that starts, it begins to affect the very amino acids you were trying to support.
That’s how toxicity starts. Quietly. Internally. Systemically.
And yes, your dog might still live to a ripe old age.
It’s not a guaranteed early death.
But it is almost nailed on to deliver a discomfortable life, low-level inflammation, itchy skin, digestive issues, hormonal swings, mood changes, and internal stress.
And if your dog’s discomfort is silent, invisible, or shrugged off as “just getting older” …
…that’s exactly how it wins.
But you don’t have to let it. Not on your watch.
✅ We don’t just make food. We build health plans.
Biologically correct. Fully tracked.
Designed by qualified nutritionists, not guessed by marketers.
Because when you understand all 22 amino acids, 13 vitamins and 14 minerals., You realise balance isn’t optional. It’s everything.
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