Is your dog in danger if they consume eggshells, or are they safe to eat?
It is p perfectly safe for your dog to eat eggshells, so do not panic. In fact, when done right you can add this to your buddy’s diet too!
In this Digdoggy.com guide, you’ll learn:
- Pros and cons to eggshells for dogs
- How to add eggshells to your dogs diet
- How much they can eat of this
And much more!
How exaclty are eggshells safe for dogs to eat?
Eggshells aren’t sharp enough to damage a dog’s throat, and they’re quite nutritious. They’re a great source of Calcium, and they’re widely and easily available.
Generally, you can get away with simply giving your dog the shells without cooking them to soften them.
However, if your dog is a puppy or belongs to the smaller breeds of dogs, you may be concerned about feeding him raw eggshells. You may be worried that he’ll choke on it or that his stomach wouldn’t be able to properly digest it.
Likewise, if you want maximum absorption of eggshell nutrients, a better consumption method could be utilized. You can do this by mixing up a homemade eggshell powder for your dog.
By adding the homemade eggshell powder to your dog’s diet, you’re ensuring he’s getting a tremendous amount of calcium, amino acids, chondroitin, elastin, glucosamine, hyaluronic acid, and collagen.
They’re essential for proper bone growth and in promoting healthy skin function. However, too much Calcium is bad for certain dog breeds, so check in with your vet about that, or consider the nutrients your dog is already getting from his normal meals.
Read Also: >> How safe are Goldfish crackers for dogs?
How to Make Eggshell Powder for Dogs
You only need a few tools to make eggshell powder for dogs with ease:
- Grinder
- Oven
After that, it’s all about accumulating the eggshells, washing and drying them, and then heating them up before grinding them.
Step 1: Collect 12 eggshells
Start by accumulating 12 eggshells. You’re free to store the eggshells in your refrigerator in a plastic bag or an airtight container while as you try to increase their number.
Step 2: Clean each eggshell
Make sure you clean each eggshell before storing them.
Once you have enough eggshells, wash and dry them up. Generally, it’s best to leave them out overnight so they’re fully dry. Some like to boil the eggs before baking them, but others are fine with only washing them.
Step 3: Set Oven to 300F
When your eggshells are ready, prepare your oven by preheating it to 300F.
Place the eggshells on a baking sheet and bake it for 7 minutes.
Be careful not to let them stay in the over for a shorter or longer period. Baking the eggshells for less than 5 minutes won’t be enough to completely dry them out. Meanwhile, baking them for more than 7 minutes will result in an unpleasant smell on your contents.
Step 4: Let the eggshells cool
When your eggshells are done in the oven, let them cool.
Step 5: Grind the eggshells
Use a grinder or a blender to grind the eggshells. Once the eggshells turn to powder, it’s done.
Step: 6: Store the eggshells in a container
Store the contents in an airtight container at room temperature.
Your homemade eggshell powder should last for two months at room temperature.
This recipe yields about 12 teaspoons of powder with 1800 milligrams of Calcium per teaspoon. It’s up to you to vary the amount of eggshell powder your dog needs in his diet, depending on the existing nutritional value of their food.
How Many Eggshells can your dog safely consume?
It depends on your buddy’s nutritional needs. If you’re giving your dog eggshells as part of a homemade meal plan, one a day will suffice. If the eggshells are in powder form, about ¾ of a teaspoon will do.
However, the answer is different if your dog is already eating high-quality dog food that’s guaranteed to give him his necessary daily nutrients. If this is the case for your furbaby, do your best to limit his eggshell intake.
Puppies and pregnant dogs are especially vulnerable to calcium-related complications.
final Thoughts on Wether Dogs Can Eat eggshells
Can dogs eat eggshells? Of course, they can. Eggs are beneficial to dogs, but their benefit dramatically increases when you add eggshells into the mix.
Eggshells are a fantastic and affordable source of Calcium for dogs, especially for dogs on a homemade diet.
If you’re after maximum absorption of eggshell nutrients, turn them into a powder before feeding them to your dog. That way, you can conveniently add it to any other food your buddy eats.
However, remember that too much of anything isn’t good, so keep the eggshell and egg feeding at a moderate pace.
