Ahhhh, the incredible edible egg. Often we're tempted to or give our pups the leftovers of breakfast foods sometimes bringing a feeling of guilt. Fear not, one food that has incredible benefits is the egg.
In the wild, dogs and cats have been know to eat eggs right from birds nests, raw, shells and all. But with our own dogs, we tend to feed them healthy nutrition like we would our own bodies. So we worry about what they eat. Eggshells have been found to be an excellent source of calcium and protein. For strong bones and teeth, you can crush the eggshells and sprinkle around a half teaspoon on top of your pups kibble. Although Salmonella poisoning hasn't been a major source in cats and dogs, simply boiling and drying the eggshells first will guarantee any possibility of transmission.
Crushing up the shells also make them easier to store so the task doesn't need to be performed daily. Place them in an air tight bowl or jar for a weekly add on to your pups food.
Eggs help to build muscle and repair tissue.Hard boiling them is the sure fire way and easiest action for your pup when it comes to feeding them since there are no additives added to the eggs such as butter or oil that you would use to fry or scramble.
If you have concerns about giving your dog or cat the whole egg just tap the egg on the counter all over to break up the shell and serve them that way. Makes it easier for them to bite directly into the egg.
Raw eggs are generally avoided when feeding your cat or dog. Giving them raw doesn't allow for extra health benefits and may only cause problems. Raw eggs have a naturally occurring protein avidin in the egg whites themselves. Occasional consumption may not be a problem but excess interferes with the functions of biotins in the body. Biotins, or more commonly called vitamin B7, are essential for the growth of cells, metabolism of fat and transference of carbon dioxide.
Even with cooked eggs, moderation is the key though. No more than one egg a day should be given unless instructed differently by your vet.
