This dog article will answer the major question, “Why do dogs eat eggshells?” we will also discuss the reasons why your dog eats eggshells, the consequences of consuming eggshells, and what you can do if your dog eats eggshells.
Why do dogs eat eggshells?
Dogs eat eggshells because they are calcium deficient. Many pregnant dogs consume eggshells because they lack calcium in their diet and they want to fulfill the nutritional requirement of the body. Pica is a medical condition and is one of the causes of eggshell consumption in dogs.
What are the reasons for dogs consuming eggshells?
Following are the reasons for dogs consuming eggshells:
Calcium deficiency
If your dog is calcium deficient, it will consume eggshells. Eggshells have a high amount of calcium content in them which can fulfill the nutritional requirement of your dog. The number of eggshells determines the deficiency of calcium in the body.
Calcium is essential for the healthy bones of the body. Consuming calcium can maintain the bone mineral density of the body which can lead to a stronger and healthier body.
Calcium along with phosphorus plays an important role in the bone mineral density of the body. The ratio of calcium to phosphorus is essential in maintaining bone strength and structure.
Calcium is also required for the muscular contraction of the heart muscles. A deficiency of calcium can cause cardiac arrhythmias in the body of your dog.
Pregnant dogs
Pregnant dogs need more calcium because the calcium in the body is consumed by the fetus and the mother itself. If the female dog is not pregnant the calcium is only utilized by the body of the female dog.
In pregnancy, the requirement of the female dog increases and you have to supply more calcium to your dog. If you do not add additional calcium to the diet of the dog, your dog will get calcium from other sources such as eggshells. Eggshells are the cheapest source of calcium.
Parturition
During the process of parturition, the female dog needs additional calcium in the diet for the muscular contraction of the uterus to deliver the baby. The extensive muscular contraction metabolizes calcium, so you need to be sure that you included the additional calcium in the diet of your dog.
After parturition
The calcium is also needed after parturition because the female dog has utilized all the calcium in the body. They need additional calcium to carry out muscular contraction and to keep the bones strong.
If calcium is deficient in the body, your dog will not be able to stand or walk. Your dog will be in recumbency, which can lead to severe complications in your dog.
Senior dogs
Senior dogs need more calcium in the diet due to their age. Senior dogs need more calcium because their ability to digest and absorb nutrients decreases with time.
They need additional supplements in the diet to fulfill the requirements of their bodies.
What are the complications of consuming eggshells for your dog?
Following are the complications of consuming eggshells for your dog:
Mouth lesions
Mouth lesions are due to the sharp edges of the broken eggshells. If your dog consumes eggshells, it will cause mouth wounds. The mouth wounds can bleed and are painful for your dog.
Your dog will not be able to eat anything.
Choking
The next problem is choking. If your dog has consumed too many eggshells it can cause choking.
The obstruction of the esophagus is very painful for your dog, and it can cause a collapse in your dog.
Intestinal lesions
The sharp edges of the eggshell can rupture the wall of the intestine, and the rupturing of the wall of the intestine can cause peritonitis.
Peritonitis is a severe condition that spreads the infection to other organs in the body. The peritoneum layer protects the body organs from infection and other kinds of complications.
What can you do if your dog consumed too many eggshells?
You should call your vet if your dog has consumed too many eggshells. You should listen to the advice of your vet.
You should open the mouth of your dog and observe the lesions in the mouth. You should look for any abnormal signs. If your dog shows any abnormal signs, taking your dog to the vet is the best idea.
Your vet will look for the complications and will prescribe the medicines afterward. The situation of your dog can range from mild to severe depending upon the consumption.
Conclusion
In this dog article, we entertained our major question, “Why do dogs eat eggshells?” we also talked about the reasons why your dog eats eggshells, the consequences of consuming eggshells, and what you can do if your dog eats eggshells.
