All about eggs
The egg, is a small power house of nutrition. Wild carnivores have been observed to forage for eggs in spring when they are abundance, so it’s fair to say they can make up part of a seasonal, species appropriate diet for our pet dogs.
High in proteins and providing all the essential amino acids a dog requires, eggs also bring vitamin A, D, E, some of the B vitamins and choline. They are very digestible making them an ideal food for dogs with certain health conditions.
Feed the whole package?
The yolk – Highly palatable, the yolk of an egg contains essential fatty acids but also cholesterol. Dogs do not suffer from cholesterol related health issues as we do so there is no need for concern regarding the higher cholesterol levels in eggs. Feeing the best quality eggs, you can afford will increase the nutrient profile and provide a beautiful golden yolk.
The white – Avidin is a substance in egg whites that is thought to interfere with absorption of biotin, a B vitamin found within the yolk. Cooking the egg reduces avidin but it’s thought that the yolk contains enough biotin to overcome the loses from the raw whites.
The shell – a natural source of calcium eggshells are often used to complete a diet. Calcium in egg shell is calcium carbonate not quite as bioavailable as calcium hydroxyapatites found in bones, but a common and well established source of calcium in pet foods . When using eggshell as a calcium source you need to be mindful of how it balances with phosphorus to ensure bone health. The egg shell also needs to be powdered to ensure your dog can absorb the calcium, if fed un-powdered its likely to just pass straight through.
The membrane - the clear film layer that lines the eggshell is known as the membrane, often overlooked this is a nutritious portion of the egg. Providing glucosamine, chondroitin and hyaluronic acid that we so often supplement for joint health, don’t overlook the benefits of the eggshell membrane.
My dog is allergic to chicken can it have eggs ?
The answer is maybe ! This is because allergens in chicken and egg overlap, some are in both and others found in either the chicken or the egg. Since allergy tests don’t give us enough detail to identify the allergen your dog is reacting to it’s a gamble if your individual dog will be allergic to both chicken and egg.