An egg-cellent idea

The chicken egg is a popular ingredient in the human diet, as it's delicious and contains vitamins, minerals, calcium, and an abundance of protein. However, There is less certainty regarding its place in your furkid's diet. Eggs when consumed—particularly in its raw form—is believed to increase the risks of salmonella, E.coli or other bacterial infections. Hence, it is important to understand the pros and cons of the humble egg, and how best to reduce the possible risks before cracking one into Fido's dinner bowl.

ARE EGGS NECESSARY?
There is no denying there are many benefits of consuming eggs, a view echoed by Dr Bruce Syme from Vets All Natural Animal Health Centre in Melbourne, Australia. “Eggs are a fantastic source of protein, with a full array of amino acids, and are highly digestible”, he says. Eggs could also make Fido's food more appetising. In addition, the egg shell, which we usually throw away, is a great natural source of calcium.

However, both Dr Syme and Dr Ong Wei Jun from The Animal Ark Veterinary Group agree that while nutritious, there are no essential nutrients present in eggs that are absolutely vital. “A pre-packaged diet is balanced with adequate nutrients required for a specified growth stage,” says Dr Ong. Unless the existing diet is less than optimal—such as some supermarket pet food varieties with low-end protein levels of only around 20 percent—then the addition of eggs will be a “good idea”, as Dr Syme puts forth.

When consumed in moderation, eggs can serve as a good supplement for Fido. That said, there are some widely held fears in relation to the inclusion of eggs in a canine's diet.

Eggs have a bad rep in the pet food world, so we debunk the myths. To read about it, flip to Pet Bowl of our Feb-Mar 2016 issue!