Sure, you probably don't like finding bits of eggshell in your omelet, but your pooch doesn't mind them crushed up in her food. In fact, eggshells provide her with lots of calcium and protein. Add them into your homemade dog food for an easy, crunchy nutritional boost.
Step 1
Select a nutritious homemade dog food recipe your vet or pet nutritionist has given you the OK to prepare. Make sure it has the appropriate nutritional value for the number of calories it provides your pooch. Of course, the specs depend on your dog's age, breed, activity level, health and other individual considerations.
Step 2
Separate the eggs from their eggshells. Of course, to avoid waste, do it when you're using the eggs for something, whether it's your homemade dog food, your lunch, or that cake you're baking.
Step 3
Bring 1 cup of water to a boil in a small saucepan. Drop the eggshells into the boiling water and let them cook for 1 minute. Strain them from the water and let them stand until they're completely dry.
Step 4
Place the eggshells onto a cutting board and crush them into small pieces with any piece of silverware or cooking implement. You also could use a mortar and pestle, a food processor or a coffee grinder.
Step 5
Sprinkle 1/2 teaspoon of crushed eggshell into your homemade dog food mixture per serving. Incorporate it thoroughly.
Step 6
Store leftover boiled eggshell in an airtight container for up to one week.
References
Tips
- Eggshells are a smart addition, since homemade dog foods are often most notably deficient in calcium, as WebMD reports.
- Eggshells aren't known to cause salmonella infections in dogs like they can in humans. You only boil the shells so you can store them for a while, instead of separating the eggs and crushing the shells every time you want to use them. However, you don't have to cook the shells if you don't want to; just use them that day, or they may get moldy. Don't feed your pooch raw egg innards, though.
Warnings
- It's hard to make sure your pooch gets all the nutrients she needs from a diet consisting only of homemade foods. If you prepare all your pet's meals at home, consult your vet or a canine nutritionist about what you are including and not including in her food and about whether nutritional supplements are a good idea.
Writer Bio
Eric Mohrman has been a freelance writer since 2007, focusing on travel, food and lifestyle stories. His creative writing is also widely published. He lives in Orlando, Florida.