As you know, we’re hard at work on a new book right now: The Healthy Hound Cookbook. One of the recent recipes we were working on for that book is just such a great use of your time–and a money-saver–that we had to share it now!
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 a great way to use those shells you’d otherwise discard. Wash the 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.
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!
Welcome! We're Paris Permenter and John Bigley, a husband-wife team of professional writers. We've authored 33 pet and travel books, and we are inspired every day by our rescue dogs.
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Thank You for the recipe. I am going to make some calcium for Schooner and Skipper.
Sounds Great will give it a try!
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.