When your dog indulges in something it shouldn’t have, it can be a real source of stress for you as their pet parent. One thing that often causes worry is Rover eating eggshells, which can be potentially dangerous if not addressed quickly and adequately. Don’t panic – we’re here to help!
In this blog post, we’ll break down everything you need to know about what happens if your pup devours an eggshell so that you can take the necessary steps to ensure they stay happy and healthy.
Read on to find out more!
Table of Contents
Check for These Signs
Pay close attention to your dog’s stool for a while after he or she swallows eggshells. There’s a good chance you’ll see white material, the undigested remnants of the shells.
However, you might not find anything if your dog hasn’t eaten much. This is normally only a problem if you notice severe intestinal gas or bloating.
Either of these is a sign of salmonella poisoning, a far more serious concern than anything your dog might develop from eating an eggshell. If this is the case, you need to get in touch with a veterinarian as soon as possible.
Go over the material your dog ate and see if he or she swallowed anything else, along with the eggshells. Cooking oil, spices and other refuse generated when making omelets is far more hazardous to dogs than the shells would be.
Potential Problems if Dogs Eat Eggshells
When dogs eat eggshells, they’re usually attracted by the smell of the eggs and don’t consume enough of the shells to cause any real problems. In an overwhelming majority of cases, dogs won’t even swallow very much of the shell itself.
If your dog has consumed a measurable quantity of eggshells, then you’ll want to watch for the following:
Stomach Inflammation
Eating eggshells can cause stomach inflammation in dogs as the sharp edges of the shells can damage the lining of the stomach and intestines, leading to irritation and inflammation.
Specks in Stool
Consumption of eggshells can also lead to small white or tan specks in a dog’s stool, which are fragments of the eggshells.
Diarrhea
Eggshells can also cause diarrhea in dogs as they can cause irritation to the digestive tract and disrupt the normal functioning of the gut.
Vitamin Deficiency
Eggshells contain too much calcium, which can lead to vitamin D deficiency in dogs when consumed in large amounts since excessive calcium intake can interfere with the absorption of other essential minerals and vitamins.
Weight Gain
Eggshells are calorie-dense and can contribute to weight gain if a dog eats too many.
Oily Discharge
Eating eggshells may also lead to oily discharge from the dog’s eyes or ears, which is caused by the accumulation of excess calcium in the body.
Intestinal Perforation
The sharp edges of eggshells can cause intestinal perforation when ingested by dogs, which can be life-threatening if not treated promptly. This occurs when the eggshells puncture the intestine’s wall, leading to intestinal contents leaking into the abdominal cavity.
It should be reiterated, however, that most dogs can pass eggshells with no lasting problems. Try not to feed your dog eggshells. If a dog ate eggshells or raw eggs, there are some things you should do.
What to Do
You might want to withhold food even if your dog is acting normal. Give your dog some extra water and make sure that he or she has frequent access to an area where it’s okay to defecate in.
Reintroduce mild foods at first, like chicken and rice or fish. Give your dog small meals 4-5 times daily until they feel better.
If your dog appears to have no ill effects and can pass stools normally, you can reintroduce them to normal food without difficulty. In general, dogs won’t experience any long-term problems at all from eating eggshells.
Head to a veterinarian if your dog shows signs of serious bloating, which could indicate an infection or gastroenteritis. These conditions can arise if your dog comes into contact with eggshells that still have some bacteria on their sides.
Do I Need to See the Vet or Go to the Emergency Animal Hospital?
Most pet owners won’t have to take their dog to the vet, but it’s usually a good idea to at least call them if you think your dog is behaving strangely after eating some eggshells. You’ll want to keep an eye out for strange stools or odd behaviors, which could signify something going seriously wrong.
Chances are that your vet will opt for a watch-and-wait approach anyway. They’ll probably encourage you to pay close attention to see if your dog develops any intestinal problems.
If not, the danger will usually pass in about a day or two. Most people aren’t going to find themselves in a situation requiring more serious treatment.
Vets might authorize antibiotics when they find that an infection has set in. They might also recommend surgery, but this is only in cases where an intestine has been perforated.
This is extremely rare.
Safe Alternatives to Eat or Play With
Cooked eggs are safe for dogs to eat, and they’re nutritious when they’re not given to a dog on too frequent of a basis. You’ll want to make sure that the eggs are clean and served to your dog plain.
Don’t cook eggs with other foods intended for human consumption. Certain types of meat, like lean cuts of chicken, can be served alongside eggs if you want to give your dog something special that smells as good as the eggs you’ve been having.
While you don’t want to give this to your dog often enough to make them beg or get fat, it can supplement the dog’s diet that doesn’t provide them with all the nutrients they need. You might also want to consider a packaged organic dog food product, which more than likely contains eggs and several other dog food types.
Ironically, eggshells are nutritious for dogs when cooked and prepared carefully.
Can Dogs Eat Eggshells?
According to noted dog enthusiast Li-ran B., dogs can eat properly cooked and prepared eggshells. Wild dogs would eat eggs whole in the wild, giving them plenty of calcium and phosphorus to build a healthy body.
Domestic ones have similar needs but aren’t as resilient against bacteria. As a result, you’d need to grind up the eggshells after cleaning and cooking them properly.
You don’t need to give dogs much of this supplement to be effective; too much could lead to diarrhea. Canine expert and forecaster Jamie Balboa believes that a single teaspoon of ground-up eggshells could provide around 2,000 mg or more calcium for most dogs.
More than likely, you’ll want to talk to a vet or an agricultural animal expert before you make anything less than this. This concoction is becoming popular with those who advocate for more natural dog foods and supplements.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What would happen if a dog ate an eggshell?
A: If a dog ate an eggshell, it might cause discomfort or an upset stomach, but it is unlikely to cause serious harm. However, if your dog has consumed many eggshells, it is best to consult a veterinarian as it may cause blockage in their digestive system.
Q: Do dogs digest eggshells?
A: Egg shells are made of calcium carbonate, which is not easily digestible for dogs. While small amounts of eggshells may pass through a dog’s digestive system without causing harm, larger amounts can cause discomfort or an upset stomach. It may also cause blockage in their digestive system.
Q: Can puppies eat eggshells?
A: It is not recommended for puppies to eat eggshells as they can be a choking hazard and may not be easily digestible.
Q: What are the benefits of eggshells for dogs?
A: Eggshells are a natural source of calcium and can help support bone health in dogs. They can also be used to make eggshell powder which can be added to your dog’s food as a dietary supplement.
Q: What is the nutritional content of eggshells?
A: Eggshells are composed mainly of calcium carbonate and also contain small amounts of other minerals such as magnesium, fluoride, and strontium. They also contain trace amounts of other elements. They are an excellent source of calcium for dogs, which is necessary for proper bone growth and maintenance.
My name is Danny Jackson and I’m the CEO and Chief Editor behind Petloverguy.com. After spending a decade working with vets and private clients as an animal behavioral and nutritional specialist I co-founded Pet Lover Guy to help other pet parents learn how to interact with, and make the most of the time that they spend with their adopted and rescued best pet friends.
Working with Ella, our chihuahua rescue, we seek to help all dog and cat lovers have the happiest life possible.
