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Egg shells
- Thread starter Nutz
- Start date
strykerdobe
Hot Topics Subscriber
We only use Organic Eggs.
We give one Raw egg everyday with the shell.
Yes it is a good source of calcium.
Also I would be careful not giving puppies younger than 6mo (their body can't control absorption of calcium) any added calcium. Because it can cause bone growth issues.
About a 1/2 Teaspoon ground eggshell is about 800-1,000mg of calcium.
If your going to add any calcium or any other supplement Research the Source where it comes from!
Good Read:
DogAware.com Articles: Crash Course on Calcium (Dog World Magazine)
Crash Course on Calcium
When you feed a homemade diet, adding the right amount of calcium is vital.
Cook's Corner column by Mary Straus, published in Dog World Magazine February 2010.
No homemade diet is complete without calcium, yet many recipes omit this important ingredient. Although a lack of calcium won’t cause immediate problems, a deficiency can lead to bone deformities, pain and even fractures over time.
Calcium-phosphorus balance is something that's often discussed in both human and canine nutrition. There should always be more calcium than phosphorus. Recommended rations for dogs range from 1-to-1 to 2-to-1 calcium to phosphorus. If calcium and phosphorus are not properly balanced in the diet, the body pulls calcium from the dog's bones to make up for that deficiency, leaving them weakened.
When to add calcium – and when not to
You must add this essential mineral to all homemade cooked diets and to raw diets that do not include raw meaty bones. If you feed a combination of fresh and commercial foods, and more than about one quarter of your dog’s diet is fresh foods, it’s best to add calcium to balance out the phosphorus in the added foods. The more fresh foods you add, the more important it becomes to provide calcium.
As important as it is to add calcium to homemade diets, it is equally important not to add calcium to complete-and-balanced commercial diets, especially for large-breed puppies and pregnant females. Although excess calcium is not dangerous for adult dogs (they simply excrete what they don’t need), calcium binds many minerals, so adding too much decreases the nutritional value of what you feed.
Puppies younger than six months have less ability to control their absorption of calcium, so an excess amount can lead to skeletal problems, such as hypertrophic osteodystrophy (HOD, a bone disease that causes severe pain and lameness, often in multiple limbs), osteochondrosis (OCD, which affects cartilage, causing severe joint pain) and hip dysplasia, particularly in large-breed puppies.
Bitches that are given extra calcium during pregnancy can develop a life-threatening condition called eclampsia when they begin nursing puppies. This condition is caused by the body’s inability to adjust quickly to the sudden need for more calcium after receiving too much before. It is fine to give extra calcium after the puppies are born, just don’t increase calcium before whelping.
Not enough calcium
People often think feeding high-calcium foods such as yogurt will supply enough calcium to balance a homemade diet. But the amount of calcium in these foods is only enough to balance the phosphorus they contain; it's not enough to balance the phosphorus in the rest of the diet or meet a dog’s calcium needs.
The same is true of multivitamin and mineral supplements. Although these supplements often contain calcium, they are designed for dogs that are already getting adequate calcium in their diets.
One food that provides more than enough calcium is raw meaty bones that dogs can fully consume, such as chicken necks and backs, whole or ground. If your dog's diet includes at least 20 percent raw meaty bones, there's no need to add calcium to the diet.
Sources of calcium
You can use any form of plain calcium, such as calcium carbonate or calcium citrate. Calcium from seaweed is a good choice because it provides other beneficial minerals, primarily magnesium, but also small amounts of zinc, potassium, iodine and selenium. The same is true of bone meal. Calcium from oyster shells, dolomite and bone meal can be contaminated with lead, so look for brands that state they have been tested and found to be safe. Bone meal; calcium carbonate; calcium citrate; and calcium fro seaweed, oyster shells and dolomite are marketed for people, and can be found in health food stores, drug stores and even many grocery stores. You can also use products made for dogs, such as Animal Essential Natural Seaweed Calcium (formerly Calcium from the Sea).
Ground eggshell is one source of calcium that's easy to obtain. Rinse the eggshells and dry them in an oven set to a low temperature or on the counter overnight, then grind them in a clean coffee grinder. To ensure the calcium can be fully absorbed, grind eggshells to powder rather than just crushing them into pieces.
One-half teaspoon ground eggshell provides approximately 1,000 milligrams calcium. Ground eggshells will last indefinitely as long as they are kept dry. Some people prefer to refrigerate them, but it's not necessary.
Certain dog food mixes, such as Preference from The Honest Kitchen and Homemade Dinner Mixes from See Spot Live Longer, are designed to have fresh foods added to them. These types of mixes usually contain calcium, so it’s not necessary to add any more as long as the product states that it meets Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) guidelines when fed as directed. If unsure, contact the manufacturer and ask.
How much calcium
A good rule of thumb is to add approximately 800 to 1,000 milligrams of calcium, or ½ teaspoon ground eggshell, per pound of fresh food. If you feed a combination diet of fresh and commercial foods, add enough calcium to match only the amount of fresh food; do not factor in the commercial food.
Because growing puppies need more phosphorus than adult dogs, bone meal is the best source of calcium for them. Bone meal contains phosphorus in addition to calcium, so if you use bone meal, increase the amount to 1,000 to 1,200 milligrams of calcium per pound of food. Each brand of bone meal will provide a different amount of calcium per teaspoon. Check the produce label before using.
For example, if you give your dog 8 ounces (½ pound) of fresh food, add 400 to 500 mg of plain calcium, or ¼ teaspoon ground eggshell, or 500 to 600 milligrams of calcium from bone meal. If you use bone meal that provides 1,200 milligrams calcium per teaspoon, add ½ teaspoon of bone meal to your dog’s diet.
Don’t forget to split the calcium between meals. If you feed 8 ounces of food daily, split between two meals, add 200 to 250 milligrams plain calcium, or 1/8 teaspoon ground eggshell, or 250 to 300 milligrams of calcium from bone meal, to each meal.
Check your recipes
During the 2007 pet food recall, I read a lot of recipes that did not mention adding calcium. Many books on homemade diets also leave out this important information (or discuss it in a separate section), and don’t specify how much calcium to add.
It isn't harmful to feed occasional meals that don’t include added calcium. Adult dogs can get by without added calcium for a few weeks or even months, but eventually a deficiency of this mineral will cause serious consequences. If you choose to feed a homemade diet, be sure to add an appropriate amount of calcium to keep your dog healthy.
We give one Raw egg everyday with the shell.
Yes it is a good source of calcium.
Also I would be careful not giving puppies younger than 6mo (their body can't control absorption of calcium) any added calcium. Because it can cause bone growth issues.
About a 1/2 Teaspoon ground eggshell is about 800-1,000mg of calcium.
If your going to add any calcium or any other supplement Research the Source where it comes from!
Good Read:
DogAware.com Articles: Crash Course on Calcium (Dog World Magazine)
Crash Course on Calcium
When you feed a homemade diet, adding the right amount of calcium is vital.
Cook's Corner column by Mary Straus, published in Dog World Magazine February 2010.
No homemade diet is complete without calcium, yet many recipes omit this important ingredient. Although a lack of calcium won’t cause immediate problems, a deficiency can lead to bone deformities, pain and even fractures over time.
Calcium-phosphorus balance is something that's often discussed in both human and canine nutrition. There should always be more calcium than phosphorus. Recommended rations for dogs range from 1-to-1 to 2-to-1 calcium to phosphorus. If calcium and phosphorus are not properly balanced in the diet, the body pulls calcium from the dog's bones to make up for that deficiency, leaving them weakened.
When to add calcium – and when not to
You must add this essential mineral to all homemade cooked diets and to raw diets that do not include raw meaty bones. If you feed a combination of fresh and commercial foods, and more than about one quarter of your dog’s diet is fresh foods, it’s best to add calcium to balance out the phosphorus in the added foods. The more fresh foods you add, the more important it becomes to provide calcium.
As important as it is to add calcium to homemade diets, it is equally important not to add calcium to complete-and-balanced commercial diets, especially for large-breed puppies and pregnant females. Although excess calcium is not dangerous for adult dogs (they simply excrete what they don’t need), calcium binds many minerals, so adding too much decreases the nutritional value of what you feed.
Puppies younger than six months have less ability to control their absorption of calcium, so an excess amount can lead to skeletal problems, such as hypertrophic osteodystrophy (HOD, a bone disease that causes severe pain and lameness, often in multiple limbs), osteochondrosis (OCD, which affects cartilage, causing severe joint pain) and hip dysplasia, particularly in large-breed puppies.
Bitches that are given extra calcium during pregnancy can develop a life-threatening condition called eclampsia when they begin nursing puppies. This condition is caused by the body’s inability to adjust quickly to the sudden need for more calcium after receiving too much before. It is fine to give extra calcium after the puppies are born, just don’t increase calcium before whelping.
Not enough calcium
People often think feeding high-calcium foods such as yogurt will supply enough calcium to balance a homemade diet. But the amount of calcium in these foods is only enough to balance the phosphorus they contain; it's not enough to balance the phosphorus in the rest of the diet or meet a dog’s calcium needs.
The same is true of multivitamin and mineral supplements. Although these supplements often contain calcium, they are designed for dogs that are already getting adequate calcium in their diets.
One food that provides more than enough calcium is raw meaty bones that dogs can fully consume, such as chicken necks and backs, whole or ground. If your dog's diet includes at least 20 percent raw meaty bones, there's no need to add calcium to the diet.
Sources of calcium
You can use any form of plain calcium, such as calcium carbonate or calcium citrate. Calcium from seaweed is a good choice because it provides other beneficial minerals, primarily magnesium, but also small amounts of zinc, potassium, iodine and selenium. The same is true of bone meal. Calcium from oyster shells, dolomite and bone meal can be contaminated with lead, so look for brands that state they have been tested and found to be safe. Bone meal; calcium carbonate; calcium citrate; and calcium fro seaweed, oyster shells and dolomite are marketed for people, and can be found in health food stores, drug stores and even many grocery stores. You can also use products made for dogs, such as Animal Essential Natural Seaweed Calcium (formerly Calcium from the Sea).
Ground eggshell is one source of calcium that's easy to obtain. Rinse the eggshells and dry them in an oven set to a low temperature or on the counter overnight, then grind them in a clean coffee grinder. To ensure the calcium can be fully absorbed, grind eggshells to powder rather than just crushing them into pieces.
One-half teaspoon ground eggshell provides approximately 1,000 milligrams calcium. Ground eggshells will last indefinitely as long as they are kept dry. Some people prefer to refrigerate them, but it's not necessary.
Certain dog food mixes, such as Preference from The Honest Kitchen and Homemade Dinner Mixes from See Spot Live Longer, are designed to have fresh foods added to them. These types of mixes usually contain calcium, so it’s not necessary to add any more as long as the product states that it meets Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) guidelines when fed as directed. If unsure, contact the manufacturer and ask.
How much calcium
A good rule of thumb is to add approximately 800 to 1,000 milligrams of calcium, or ½ teaspoon ground eggshell, per pound of fresh food. If you feed a combination diet of fresh and commercial foods, add enough calcium to match only the amount of fresh food; do not factor in the commercial food.
Because growing puppies need more phosphorus than adult dogs, bone meal is the best source of calcium for them. Bone meal contains phosphorus in addition to calcium, so if you use bone meal, increase the amount to 1,000 to 1,200 milligrams of calcium per pound of food. Each brand of bone meal will provide a different amount of calcium per teaspoon. Check the produce label before using.
For example, if you give your dog 8 ounces (½ pound) of fresh food, add 400 to 500 mg of plain calcium, or ¼ teaspoon ground eggshell, or 500 to 600 milligrams of calcium from bone meal. If you use bone meal that provides 1,200 milligrams calcium per teaspoon, add ½ teaspoon of bone meal to your dog’s diet.
Don’t forget to split the calcium between meals. If you feed 8 ounces of food daily, split between two meals, add 200 to 250 milligrams plain calcium, or 1/8 teaspoon ground eggshell, or 250 to 300 milligrams of calcium from bone meal, to each meal.
Check your recipes
During the 2007 pet food recall, I read a lot of recipes that did not mention adding calcium. Many books on homemade diets also leave out this important information (or discuss it in a separate section), and don’t specify how much calcium to add.
It isn't harmful to feed occasional meals that don’t include added calcium. Adult dogs can get by without added calcium for a few weeks or even months, but eventually a deficiency of this mineral will cause serious consequences. If you choose to feed a homemade diet, be sure to add an appropriate amount of calcium to keep your dog healthy.
Antman408
$ Forum Donor $
I mix 2 quail eggs into my dudes food every other day. Sometimes I’ll rotate weeks depending if I’m able to get to the store. I give the egg whole and poke a hole in it so the yellow and white can drain out or else it splashes everywhere when he bites it lol. You can give whole egg.
strykerdobe
Hot Topics Subscriber
Also if your going to do your own.
Antman408
$ Forum Donor $
Cooking the egg will decrease the nutritional value of the egg.
LifeofRubie
Well-Known Member
Rubie gets a raw egg now and then but I only gave egg shells to my raw fed guy when he stopped getting whole bones.
Minionmama
Member
Do you feel kibble and raw eggs occasionally? I've wondered about doing that now that we've stopped feeding a completely raw diet. Any tummy trouble?
GennyB
Hot Topics Subscriber
Nutz
Hot Topics Subscriber
OK, so my feeding is: - unhindered 24h access to kibble, there are 2 different types, one adult for the Swiss Shepherd and puppy kibble....
I know she eats both...
Can't bear the thought of my children being hungry....
This I bolster with a mixture of half the recommended dosage of baby formulae milk, mixed with a good dollop of fresh milk, raw meat sawdust & 2 raw eggs every second day, and on the alternate day, a puppy vitamin tablet.
Every morning & evening I hand out to each dog 2 or 3 pieces of scrap meat meat bits... About the size of half a hand...
I know she eats both...
Can't bear the thought of my children being hungry....
This I bolster with a mixture of half the recommended dosage of baby formulae milk, mixed with a good dollop of fresh milk, raw meat sawdust & 2 raw eggs every second day, and on the alternate day, a puppy vitamin tablet.
Every morning & evening I hand out to each dog 2 or 3 pieces of scrap meat meat bits... About the size of half a hand...
YuennX
Jr Member
A guide I prepared for those who speak Turkish.
Hayvanlar İçin Evde Kalsiyum Takviyesi | Cadı Kazanı - Teknoloji Rehberleri Ve Çözümleri
Hayvanlar İçin Evde Kalsiyum Takviyesi | Cadı Kazanı - Teknoloji Rehberleri Ve Çözümleri
Buddy seems to have a iron stomach. He loves food! He would be a little piggy if I allowed it. He gets fed twice a day with occasional treats and or scraps. I do not feed raw. I just don't feel that equipped to do it. But I do use toppers. I will feed the raw egg, shell and all, along with vegetables from my garden gone through the food processor. I freeze containers to use throughout winter. He loves strawberries from my garden too. My husband and I don't eat them so somebody has to when the grandkids are not here. LOL. Occasionally when I am cutting up chicken for us to cook I will give him a couple of raw pieces too.
Kaiser2016
Well-Known Member
You've got Scruffy as proof of your leadership skills so who am I to question your methods, yet, here I am
- free feeding a Doberman? 
I don't even free feed my 7 pound cat. A Doberman, as a dominant breed, is supposed to have zero doubt about who provides their food (survival), so your hands have to be on their food bowl when they start eating.
Nutz
Hot Topics Subscriber
Morning K
I have absolutely no problem with debating the various ways of managing dogs... It’s informative, brings in new & fresh thinking and I can only get “better at it”, and never take criticism in a personal perspective............... So, thanks for bringing up your points, I appreciate it.
Ok, so having got that aside, I’ve set the ground rules from day one... (Free feeding being one of them) BUT....
If you so much as think you will get uppity with me I will immediately withdraw your privileges....
So how’s that working for me so far.....
When I say OUT........ She goes outside Hehehe sometimes have to speak twice.... But she goes... well done privilege remains
When I open the gate, she stays behind the rail.... When I open the car door she stays in the car...
So far, The only privilege that I’ve had to “withdraw” is between get into bed time and go to sleep time she is currently locked outside........ her blooming on-the-bed-off-the-bed-on-the-bed-off-the-bed must now stop..
So how’s that working? When I open the door, < I sleep with it open> she jumps on and lies quiet..
So at this stage I’ve never had to remove priveledge of uninterrupted food access....
Now if she lifted her cheeks / growled / snapped at me ............ watch this space.......
Make sense?
I have absolutely no problem with debating the various ways of managing dogs... It’s informative, brings in new & fresh thinking and I can only get “better at it”, and never take criticism in a personal perspective............... So, thanks for bringing up your points, I appreciate it.
Ok, so having got that aside, I’ve set the ground rules from day one... (Free feeding being one of them) BUT....
If you so much as think you will get uppity with me I will immediately withdraw your privileges....
So how’s that working for me so far.....
When I say OUT........ She goes outside Hehehe sometimes have to speak twice.... But she goes... well done privilege remains
When I open the gate, she stays behind the rail.... When I open the car door she stays in the car...
So far, The only privilege that I’ve had to “withdraw” is between get into bed time and go to sleep time she is currently locked outside........ her blooming on-the-bed-off-the-bed-on-the-bed-off-the-bed must now stop..
So how’s that working? When I open the door, < I sleep with it open> she jumps on and lies quiet..
So at this stage I’ve never had to remove priveledge of uninterrupted food access....
Now if she lifted her cheeks / growled / snapped at me ............ watch this space.......
Make sense?
Nutz
Hot Topics Subscriber
Hi K,
One more thing.... Probibly the biggest "I lead you follow" test I regularly do is to physically take her bone / treat-food or kibble bowl from her as she is chewing or eating.....
She must give it up without resistance..... Or her priveledges will get immediatly stopped...... So far, no problem, but she is still only 18 weeks....
Scruffy tried once..............
And for her iffy she got such a whollop I'm shure her butt sang Ava-Maria for 3 days..... Since then neither Scruffy or Mia <The Swiss Shephard> give me stick about this.
One more thing.... Probibly the biggest "I lead you follow" test I regularly do is to physically take her bone / treat-food or kibble bowl from her as she is chewing or eating.....
She must give it up without resistance..... Or her priveledges will get immediatly stopped...... So far, no problem, but she is still only 18 weeks....
Scruffy tried once..............
And for her iffy she got such a whollop I'm shure her butt sang Ava-Maria for 3 days..... Since then neither Scruffy or Mia <The Swiss Shephard> give me stick about this.
GennyB
Hot Topics Subscriber
The risk of bloat would worry me. That or insanity because they couldn't exercise. I make my dogs rest after eating. If they ate all the time that means they would be resting all the time. Nope! Couldn't do it, we'd all be insane.
Kaiser2016
Well-Known Member
@Nutz You definitely got a handle over your dogs. I also like the test of taking the food bowl away. Food is usually the most valuable item that they would display resource guarding behavior from what I know. I ocassionly test K by taking away bully sticks or Kongs.
I also worry about the risk of bloat that GennyB mentioned. Dobes have higher risk of that because of their deep chests. When we fed kibble it was always with a bit of water so that the kibble would swell in the bowl and not inside the stomach. Might be an option?
I also worry about the risk of bloat that GennyB mentioned. Dobes have higher risk of that because of their deep chests. When we fed kibble it was always with a bit of water so that the kibble would swell in the bowl and not inside the stomach. Might be an option?
Nutz
Hot Topics Subscriber
Hi Guys... Thanks for the input, an interesting discourse indeed.
Over the years, My observations of dogs eating, unrestricted, is that they eat only a little at a time (actual observation) but frequently....
Here is my point on gastric problems, such as bloat... If a dog get's food, for example only once per day, then it will tend to consume everything that's put in-front of it, as quickly as possable... that's just natural....
If, however, the dog has unrestricted access to food then, at any given time, it will tend to just satisfy the immediate hunger need
So, with the dry kibble, when it swells, only a bit has been consumed, so the swelling won't have as much of an effect.
I believe It's that tendency to "gorge" that is more likely to lead to gastric problems.
GennyB : - Excercing... I find, that in the natural course of things, dogs exercise as much as they need to. The thing to bear in mind is that, with unrestricted access, the dogs are not "pigging-out" when they do eat... They are just solving a "I'm peckish" need. so they don't go to sleep because they are over-full.
I believe, it is a more natural approach... Give nature credit, and let it get on with things... The dog will self regulate
What I also watch for is overweight. this is easy to monitor by vieweing from above. There must be a definate narrowing from the rib-cage. If not then the dog is getting overweight...........
So, then you limit slightly the amount of kibble, but still allow free access..... Moderating like that does not induce "gorging"
Guys. the factory is closing now, but I'll clock in here on Moaning-day Morning............... All you fellas have a lover-ley weekend
Over the years, My observations of dogs eating, unrestricted, is that they eat only a little at a time (actual observation) but frequently....
Here is my point on gastric problems, such as bloat... If a dog get's food, for example only once per day, then it will tend to consume everything that's put in-front of it, as quickly as possable... that's just natural....
If, however, the dog has unrestricted access to food then, at any given time, it will tend to just satisfy the immediate hunger need
So, with the dry kibble, when it swells, only a bit has been consumed, so the swelling won't have as much of an effect.
I believe It's that tendency to "gorge" that is more likely to lead to gastric problems.
GennyB : - Excercing... I find, that in the natural course of things, dogs exercise as much as they need to. The thing to bear in mind is that, with unrestricted access, the dogs are not "pigging-out" when they do eat... They are just solving a "I'm peckish" need. so they don't go to sleep because they are over-full.
I believe, it is a more natural approach... Give nature credit, and let it get on with things... The dog will self regulate
What I also watch for is overweight. this is easy to monitor by vieweing from above. There must be a definate narrowing from the rib-cage. If not then the dog is getting overweight...........
So, then you limit slightly the amount of kibble, but still allow free access..... Moderating like that does not induce "gorging"
Guys. the factory is closing now, but I'll clock in here on Moaning-day Morning............... All you fellas have a lover-ley weekend
