The almighty egg: pure protein for your dog
The egg has a biological value of almost 100%!
What benefits does egg have for dogs?
In addition to being a great source of protein, eggs also provide:
- Vitamin A
- Riboflavin
- Folate
- Vitamin B12
- Iron
- Selenium
- Fatty acids
All this helps your dog to have healthy, shiny and strong hair.
Shell = Calcium!
The eggshell is an excellent source of calcium, as it is composed of:
- Calcium carbonate (94%, about 800mg),
- Magnesium carbonate (1%),
- Calcium phosphate (1%),
- Boron,
- Copper,
- Iron,
- Manganese,
- Molybdenum,
- Sulfur,
- Silicon,
- Zinc.
It has up to 27 elements in total!
A half teaspoon of eggshells yields about 2.750 mg of calcium carbonate, which has 1.100 mg of elemental calcium.
This way your dog's bones will become stronger.
How much egg can I give my dog?
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Raw egg, like all raw food, should not be mixed with feed as they involve different digestions, which is why it is a complement in the Barf diet.
Maximum 1 egg per week.
The shell should be cleaned, baked or boiled for 5 minutes, air dried and then ground into a very fine powder. Why? Many eggs are sprayed with a chemical to make them look shiny and contain traces of antibiotics and other chemicals used in factory farming. So it's best to get your eggs from a local organic farm.
Dosage of shell:
1.8 grams for every half kg of boneless meat in your daily ration.
Precautions to consider
There are two factors in the egg called Avidin and Biotin. Biotin is a vitamin present in the yolk, but it is “sequestered” by Avidin (a protein present in the egg white). Biotin deficiencies are very rare and it would take an extraordinary number of eggs to create a deficiency.
Other scientists say that an enzyme in raw eggs interferes with the absorption of a B vitamin, which can lead to skin problems as well as problems with your dog's coat if they are fed a lot of eggs for a long time.
An egg a week does not affect your dog's white blood cell count or cause digestive problems, but instead provides multiple benefits.
Attention: Being such a strong source of protein, it is discouraged give it to dogs and senior dogs, especially if they are immunosuppressed.
How to know if your dog digests eggs well
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When you give raw egg to your dog for the first time, observe the following stools: if they are as usual, it means that he digests it well; if they are like he has distemper, it means that he has difficulty digesting it.
We can explain to you first-hand the case of Indi, who digests it perfectly, and Nela, who finds it difficult.
If he doesn't digest it well, how can I give it to him?
Cook it! One of the advantages of cooking, in general, is that it makes food much more digestible. This is because heat breaks certain bonds that facilitate digestion, although a large part of the nutrients will be lost.
Egg allergy?
Dogs, like the rest of living beings, can have environmental, contact, and food allergies...that's why when giving your baby raw egg for the first time (just like when giving him any food for the first time) you have to be alert to any possible reaction such as itching in the tummy.
In this case, do not give him eggs again, as he will probably be allergic to their protein.
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Bibliography:
- “Feeding Your Best Friend” by Rick Woodford, Andrews McMeel Publishing, 2012
Indidogs, your dog shop and groomer in the Gracia district of Barcelona for everything you need for your dog, cat, rodent, bird... Specialists in natural food with the Barf diet.
