Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property ILJ\Core\LinkBuilder::$multi_keyword_mode is deprecated in /home1/petfooled/public_html/wp-content/plugins/internal-links/core/linkbuilder.php on line 82
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property ILJ\Core\LinkBuilder::$links_per_page is deprecated in /home1/petfooled/public_html/wp-content/plugins/internal-links/core/linkbuilder.php on line 83
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property ILJ\Core\LinkBuilder::$links_per_target is deprecated in /home1/petfooled/public_html/wp-content/plugins/internal-links/core/linkbuilder.php on line 84
It is not new that dogs eat eggs, either as hard boiled egg, poached, cooked eggs, or even have them in their raw form (feeding raw eggs) as a protein supplement to commercial dog foods. Several dog owners feed their dogs eggs and do strongly believe that eggs not only serve as a complete protein for their pets at home, but a diet loved by puppies and adults.
Most recently, because of the high calcium levels in egg shells, dog owners are starting to give their puppies, and even adult dogs eggshells. For others, it could just be the dog snacking on these shells when they fall off the table or shelves.
Either way, this has led to growing concern and questions such as, can dogs eat egg shells? Are eggshells good for dogs? Can puppies eat eggs and their shells? Are dogs allergic to eggs? Can dogs eat raw eggs?
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property ILJ\Core\LinkBuilder::$multi_keyword_mode is deprecated in /home1/petfooled/public_html/wp-content/plugins/internal-links/core/linkbuilder.php on line 82
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property ILJ\Core\LinkBuilder::$links_per_page is deprecated in /home1/petfooled/public_html/wp-content/plugins/internal-links/core/linkbuilder.php on line 83
Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property ILJ\Core\LinkBuilder::$links_per_target is deprecated in /home1/petfooled/public_html/wp-content/plugins/internal-links/core/linkbuilder.php on line 84
Table of Contents Show
Other questions asked by dog owners revolve around the nutritional values and effects of eggs on dogs. Questions that began to pop out include, can my dog eat raw egg? What are the nutritional values of eggshells to dogs? What are the health benefits of eating eggs and eggshells? Can hard-boiled eggshells affect my dogs? To mention but a few
Follow us on this exciting journey as we break down this complex topic surrounding eggs and egg shell, cooked eggs, while we answer the question for our canine lovers; Can dogs eat eggshells?
Can Dogs Eat Eggshells?
The straightforward answer to this question is Yes. Dogs can eat eggshells. This is because they offer some nutritional value for our pet dogs and also play an important role in our dogs’ health.
Albeit good for adult dogs, eggshells must be given in moderation or should be avoided in puppies because they can affect the dog’s digestive tract and cause stomach upset.
As humans, the egg albumen (egg white) and egg yolk are the important and the most palatable part of eggs, while we discard the membranes or shells. For dogs, they would not only crave for the egg but also the shells. Hence dogs can feed on whole egg.
An average egg, as a whole, is a complete protein with amino Acids for pets while the Shells offer calcium, vitamins, and other minerals. Studies have further corroborated the fact that eggshells play a good part in helping dogs having arthritis and can also help with improved joint function for dogs, due to their collagen content.
For our growing dogs who are not in the adult phase, it’s best not to give them directly the egg shells, especially the raw form, but rather a ground up eggshells can come as handy for them in order to prevent stomach aches, choking hazard and other health concerns.
Are There Nutritional Benefits Adding Eggshells to My Dogs’ Diet?
As dog owners and lovers, one primary concern is that we always want to know the nutrients, as well as the nutritional benefits of what our canine buddies put into their system.
Just as mentioned earlier, eating eggs regularly would provide your dog with all the essential amino acids needed, non-essential amino acids, vitamins, and other macronutrients, making eggs a complete protein for dogs and as a balanced diet when it’s served with other homemade food.
What Then Are the Nutritional Benefits of Eggshells?
As for eggshells, just like whole eggs, they also do have their own nutritional values. The nutrients and nutritional value would include;
Calcium
Egg shells, when grounded or consumed in dog’s diet, are good supplements for more calcium in dogs. Calcium helps with building strong bones and teeth, just like we have it in raw bones.
This calcium in egg shells comes from calcium carbonate, and giving dogs some eggshells, especially those having calcium deficiency or low calcium levels in their blood due to certain health problems, would help to improve low blood calcium.
Collagen
Another important nutritional value many dogs get from eating eggshells is the presence of a component, known as collagen, which plays a vital role in joint health in dogs.
According to various reports and studies, collagens are found in the eggshell membranes and have been shown to help with joint function and reduce joint pain or arthritis. Hence adding eggshells to a dog’s main diet is definitely a healthy addition.
Minerals and vitamin
Asides from calcium and collagen, eggshells also contain certain minerals such as phosphorus, magnesium, and vitamin A.
Phosphorus, just like calcium, works in the dog’s body system to help develop and build strong bones and teeth.
Magnesium, on the other hand, plays a key role in helping our dog’s body system to absorb calcium efficiently. Little wonder they work hand in hand.
Potassium has also been highlighted as one of the minerals found in eggshell membranes and if dogs consume them, the potassium in the eggshells helps with the healthy function of the heart and also plays a role in improving muscle contraction in our canine friend.
Last but not least of nutrient that can be gotten when dogs consume eggshell is vitamin A. This vitamin helps with healthy eyes as well as excellent skin conditions in dogs.
Are raw egg shells good for our dogs?
Now that we do understand there are nutritional benefits when dogs consume eggshells. Albeit all good, there are some few cons to when dog eat egg shells especially raw egg shells in dog’s food. These eggshells in the raw form may be contaminated by a bacterial organism known as salmonella.
Having eggs with salmonella is quite common and thus when you feed your dog raw egg shells, this can potentially put man’s best friend in jeopardy of contracting salmonellosis which affects the dog’s digestive tract.
Secondly, because egg shells are quite sharp and brittle, having dogs eat them so much can pose the potential to cause a tear in the oral cavities or through the digestive tract. This can cause a cascade of events that can affect the health of our dogs when they are added to the dog food.
Can my dog eat cooked egg?
Cooking our eggs whether as hardboiled egg or scrambled eggs helps to kill this pathogenic organism and hence reducing the risk of our dog’s contracting salmonellosis from whole egg or egg shells. Also boiled eggs, which includes the egg whites and egg yolks, contain fatty acids which are of health benefits when we feed eggs to our dogs.
Should dogs eat egg shell?
Many dog owners, just like you, would like to know what happens if their dogs eat egg shells regularly. Although egg shells have been found to be safe in the dog’s food, not all dogs should be fed egg shells. This is still dependent on the health conditions of the dog in particular.
Grinding these egg shells into eggshell powder has proven to be a good way to help dogs allow dogs to absorb the nutrients from eggs shells, especially when supplemented with dog’s diet.
Even though dog calcium level is essential for building good bones and teeth, having too much calcium in the body system of our pets can lead to a condition known as hypercalcemia.
What causes this in our dogs?
The kidney is the organ that is responsible for removing too much calcium and phosphorus from the blood. Hence, we can say the kidneys filter calcium as well as other minerals and water products.
However, in a situation when the kidney doesn’t function optimally, especially in chronic kidney disease, extra calcium is not filtered adequately and could also cause mineralization of the kidneys, thus affecting the dog’s health.
It is very important to monitor the health of our pets as well as discuss with your veterinarian with regards to feeding your beloved pet with eggshells as calcium supplements.
Can dogs eat raw eggshells?
Because of the risk of picking up pathogenic bacteria such as salmonella, it is not advised to to feed your dog raw eggs or their shells. These bacteria can in turn also affect us as dog owners, hence boiling our eggs. This in turn boils the eggs shells and prevents not only dogs but also humans from coming down with infection from the salmonella organism.
What is the best way to give eggshells to dogs?
Asides from having the eggshell boiled to prevent pathogens, it is best practice when feeding dogs eggshells to grind the eggshells into fine powder form using either a coffee grinder or even our kitchen food processor.
This can then be sprinkled or spread over our dog’s kibble or dog diet, depending on how much calcium levels that is needed, in order to get the best nutritional value and also keep them safe.
It wouldn’t be a good sight to start finding eggs shells in our dog’s poop, as this can start raising concerns as pet parents.
What can I do if I find my dogs eating eggshells?
Now that we understand the best methods, the why’s, and how’s of giving our dogs eggshells, what happens, if as pet parents, I find my dog eating eggs shells you don’t know where they came from?
It is best to first observe and understand what type of eggs shells were consumed. Was it raw or boiled, or did he/she consume both the eggs and the shell? Once this has been established, watch out for various signs of digestive tract issues and stomach upset such as vomiting, choking signs, and even diarrhea.
Also, try to observe if there are signs of lethargy or your dog’s going off feed as a result of eating an egg shell. If any of these signs present themselves, it is best to schedule an appointment with your veterinarian in order to access the situation professionally.
Final Verdict
In conclusion, the answer to the question: Can dogs eat eggshells? Yes, they can eat both boiled eggs (egg whites and egg yolks) and their shells because they not only offer nutrients that help with the development of strong bones and teeth but also help with improving joint health, heart conditions, as well as good vision.
However, when dogs eat egg or eggshells, they must be prepared properly in order to avoid digestive tract issues and properly monitored in order to avoid giving them too much calcium and also contracting salmonellosis which is bacteria infection dogs are potentially prone to from consuming raw eggs.