As you know, we’re the authors of The Healthy Hound Cookbook, a cookbook of healthy treat recipes for dogs. One of our favorite recipes from that book is super simple and a great supplement for your dog as well. Eggshell calcium — or egg shell powder used as a calcium supplement — is quick and easy to make in your kitchen.
If you are feeding your dog a homemade diet, he needs added calcium unless that homemade diet includes 20 percent raw meaty bones.
One way to get that calcium is with a calcium supplement: like eggshell calcium!
As the name suggests, eggshell calcium is made from the eggshells (and eggshell membrane) that you’d otherwise discard.
Eggshell calcium is preferred by many pet parents over bone meal because bones can store impurities (and because bone meal is often made from bones that have been used to make gelatin so many nutrients are already missing from the bones).
As with most things related to dog nutrition, the recommended amount of calcium varies but expect to supplement with about one 600mg calcium supplement per 10 to 15 pounds of adult dog.
If you’re mixing homemade and commercial food, only add supplement for the portion of homemade diet, not the total.
How to Make Eggshell Calcium for Your Dog
Eggshell calcium is a great way to use those shells you’d otherwise discard.
To make eggshell powder, you’ll need:
- a cookie sheet
- the shells of a dozen or more eggs
- an oven
- a clean coffee grinder or a mortar and pestle
- a clean jar to store the powder
I save the eggshells in the refrigerator for a few days before creating the egg shell powder. When I’m ready to make it, preparation is easy:
First, wash the egg shells and let them dry on a cookie sheet:
I put the cookie sheet in the refrigerator and let them dry overnight.
Then it’s time to dry them more! Preheat oven to 200 degrees Fahrenheit then bake for 10-15 minutes. Eggshells should be completely dry.
If you washed the eggshells shortly before baking, allow extra baking time. Eggshells must be completely dry before grinding.
If you’re using a coffee grinder, make sure it’s completely clean before grinding the eggshells; you don’t want any bits of coffee in the eggshell powder!
Grind the eggshells in a clean coffee grinder or a blender until all large pieces are ground to a powder:
Here’s a look at how easily the coffee grinder turns the eggshells into powder:
If you don’t have a clean coffee grinder, a mortar and pestle is also a great way to grind to a powder.
Store in a lidded jar. If you’re feeding a homemade diet, you’ll want to add about one-half teaspoon ground eggshell per pound of fresh food. If you feed both fresh food and commercial food, just add the eggshell to the fresh portion of the meal.
Eggshell Calcium
Ingredients
- One dozen eggshells
Instructions
- Collect washed eggshells in the refrigerator
until you have a dozen or enough to fill a cookie sheet. - Eggshells will begin to dry while in the refrigerator.
- Preheat oven to 200 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Spread the eggshells on a cookie sheet and bake
10-15 minutes. - If you washed the eggshells shortly before baking, allow extra baking time. Eggshells must be completely dry before grinding.
- Grind the eggshells in a clean coffee grinder or a blender until all large pieces are ground to a powder. A mortar and pestle is also a great way to grind to a powder.
- Store in a lidded jar.
Looking for more recipes? Download one of our free dog treat cookbooks!
Cooks: Don’t miss our My Dog Says I’m a Great Cook™ cookbook with over 100 dog treat recipes from the publishers, readers and fans of DogTipper! This paperback book is available in our PawZaar gift store!
SGilbert says
Thank You for the recipe. I am going to make some calcium for Schooner and Skipper.
Marion Joan Helsdon says
Sounds Great will give it a try!
Kirby the Dorkie says
Every time I use an egg I rinse the shell and place it in a styrofoam egg carton I keep in one of my cabinets. When I have a dozen I grind them up and place in a glass jar in my pantry. This way I don’t have to bake them which runs the risk of scorching or cooking away some of the nutrients.