Can Dogs Eat Eggs?

When dogs were hunter-gatherers, they could snatch eggs from bird nests and eat them raw. Although dogs no longer need to hunt for food, eggs still provide a good source of protein for dogs. As long as they are consumed safely, eggs make great treats or nutritional supplements for dogs.

Eggs are entirely safe for dogs and provide excellent nutrition for your canine companion. They are high in protein, vitamins, and fatty acids, which all contribute to your dog’s overall health. Bear in mind that eggs are only as good as the chicken from which they come. Consume eggs from free-range farm hens fed an organic diet for your dog. It is ideal if you can obtain them from a reputable source. Chickens, like humans, are only as healthy as the food they consume, and healthier chickens lay more nutritious eggs. Consult your veterinarian before feeding your dog eggs. Certain breeds and medical conditions preclude dogs from eating eggs, so always check first. An overabundance of eggs can also lead to health problems like obesity, so talk to your vet about how much to feed your pet.

Is the cholesterol found in eggs harmful to dogs?

Cholesterol does not affect dogs as it does in humans. And dogs do not develop cholesterol-related diseases in the same way that humans do.” This means that you are not required to feed only egg whites. If your dog consumes an excessive amount of eggs, you will notice weight gain long before other problems arise.

Can dogs consume one egg per day?

Dogs can consume a small number of eggs daily, but it is critical to feed eggs as you would any treat. “Eggs contain approximately 70 calories each, so the amount you feed depends on the size of your dog. Remember the 10% Treat Rule. The eggs you feed should account for no more than 10% of your dog’s total daily calorie intake. This way, he receives complete and balanced meals without consuming additional calories, “Dempsey explains. Additionally, it will ensure that eggs remain a pleasant surprise for your dog.

How to Feed Your Dog Eggs

The most secure method of feeding eggs to your dog is to boil them hard and then chop them up. It is safest to feed cooked eggs to your dog immediately after they have been cooked.

Eggs should be stored at 40°F when raw and boiled at 160°F for proper cooking. If you are not feeding them immediately, keep them refrigerated at 40°F until ready to serve.

Canine Skin and Coat Benefit from Egg Yolks

Most people do not associate “cholesterol” and “fats” with health. However, it has been discovered that the fats and cholesterol found in egg yolks are beneficial to the skin and coat of dogs. They have been known to add an extra shine to your dog’s fur, resulting in a healthy coat appearance.

Six commands every dog should know:

There are many training techniques and philosophies that claim to be the fastest, easiest or most effective way to train your dog. The one thing that every dog training technique seem to mirror is that positive reinforcement and reward is the most effective. The second thing that all training techniques have in common is that the first step is to teach the dog fundamental commands. These fundamental commands will be the foundation of communication between canine and human.

The “Sit” Command

The first command you should teach is SIT. With a few slight differences, most advice about dog training agree. The easiest way to teach this command is to cause the desired outcome to occur without much effort. For very young puppies, hold their food bowl above and behind their head. Your puppy looks up, loses his balance, and sits. You reinforce by saying the command, SIT, then praise puppy and reward with a treat. Repeat this process during each mealtime and with treats until he will SIT on command without a food stimulus.

Older dogs have better balance so an extra step may need to be used. Some dog training techniques suggest using a leash with no slack to keep your dog still, then just using a treat held above and behind his head, command SIT. If your dog resists, use your forefinger and thumb to apply pressure just in front of his hip bone or slide your hand over rump and apply pressure as you tuck legs and tail under to cause him to SIT. As always, praise and treat for desired result Every other fundamental command will build on the success of the SIT Command.

The “No” and “Stay” Commands

The second command that you must train your dog is NO. This command demands consistency from you, as the trainer, and every member of the household. The NO command needs to always be spoken in a sharp guttural tone and alone. Do not use with your dog’s name, or in a panicked or high-pitched tone that only comes naturally if you were to walk in and see your dog chewing your favorite pair of shoes. Your tone needs to be authoritative sharp and strong to relay your displeasure. Withhold attention as punishment. Consistency is the key to train your dog.

STAY is another command that every dog should know. Building on SIT, stand beside your dog with the leash taunt, held straight above his head. Incorporate hand signals and place your open palm in front of dog’s nose. Say STAY and move in front of your dog to block his forward movement. If he moves, repeat hand signal and STAY command. If he stays, move back next to him, make him hold his STAY for a few seconds, praise and treat. As with each dog training technique, continue to slowly increase increments of distance and hold time with each training lesson.

An additional element when training your dog to STAY is the three D’s. Duration, Distraction, and Distance. As I just mentioned, it is important to slowly increase the increments of Duration and Distance, but Distraction must be introduced to test your dogs understanding of this command. Be sure to add distraction while training your dog before the distance gets too long. Common distractions would be someone entering the training area with a toy, another dog walking by, etc.

The “Down” and “Heel” Commands

DOWN command can be taught just after SIT is mastered. It is important to use only the word DOWN. Your dog does not understand variations such as Lay Down. You must be consistent in training your dog that DOWN only refers to laying down. If you want to teach your dog to get down off of your chair, train OFF as your command. To teach your dog to lay down, first command him to SIT. Using a treat, draw your dog into a laying down position by dragging the treat between his legs and moving it forward. When the desired position is reached, praise, and treat. As you train your dog each new command, be sure to combine each command so patterns do not develop and the action of each different command is rewarded when achieved. (SIT DOWN STAY), (SIT STAY COME), (SIT STAY DOWN)

Teaching your dog to HEEL makes walks in your neighborhood a pleasant experience. I am sure you have seen or experienced the owner that gets walked by their dog. The owner is fearful of each approaching human or animal because they have not been trained to HEEL. Your goal is that your dog will stay close to you on a walk. He will not pull you or become too hard to control with the distractions of other dogs or humans. Start from SIT, add ‘Let’s Walk’ so your dog knows what is expected after he has learned to HEEL.

A good tip, exercise your dog with play before training to HEEL. Work out all excess energy and train your dog in a quiet distraction free area. Start at SIT, use your dogs name and command HEEL. If your dog does not stay with you and darts away, turn in the other direction and repeat command HEEL and dog’s name. Remember to always to praise and treat desired responses.

The “Come” Command

The last fundamental command that is a must while beginning to train your dog is the command COME. This command seems so easy, after all, every dog wants to come to you, right? The problem with training your dog to COME is that owners do not use it often enough in daily interactions. Your dog will COME when you open the refrigerator door. The command needs to be reinforced by putting your dog in SIT and STAY, then by changing your location, command COME, and use your dog’s name. Praise and reward with each and every desired result.

One very important point to remember is NEVER correct or discipline your dog for responding to the COME command. The reality is that when you need your dog to respond to COME the most is when his safety is at risk. Your dog has run out and could be in danger of street traffic,. COME returns your dog to the safety of your home. Your fear response will instinctively make you want to correct your dog for running out. Remain consistent with your training, praise and reward your dog.

This is a very brief overview of training techniques and sequences to use while training your dog the fundamental commands. Repetition will be required several times while training. The increase of distance and duration, as well as the introduction of distractions, will also require repetition. Patience and time will need to be devoted while training these commands. I think you will find that if you begin to train your dog with these fundamental commands, you will find the more technical training will be easier for both you and your dog.

Article Source: Dog Training, 6 Commands Every Dog Should Know

Just as people should see a doctor regularly, our pets should as well. While emergency care is critical, routine health care is the primary and most effective way to keep your pet happy and healthy. Preventative pet care encompasses anything and everything you can do to keep your dog or cat healthy by intervening before a problem occurs.

At-Home Care:

Preventative healthcare begins at the point of origin. You must provide your dogs and cats with high-quality food from a reputable manufacturer, ample exercise, routine dental care, and monthly parasite prevention.

Exercise is critical for various reasons, not the least of which is that it aids in the fight against obesity. Obesity increases your pet’s risk of developing various diseases, including early arthritis, diabetes, and even liver disease in cats. Additionally, exercise helps maintain the health of your pet’s bones and may help reduce the risk of anxiety, depression, and behavioral problems.

Meanwhile, parasite prevention is divided into two categories: internal, which includes heartworms and intestinal worms, and external, which provides for fleas and ticks. Typically, parasite prevention treatments are administered monthly* at home.

Finally, at-home dental care refers to daily tooth brushing and any other at-home dental products that have been shown to benefit oral health.

Bear in mind that while effective at-home care is critical for your pet’s health, it does not eliminate the need for routine veterinary visits.

Veterinary Visits:

Preventative pet care includes routine examinations, parasite testing, vaccinations, blood work, and dental care at your veterinarian’s clinic.

Pets require physical examinations at least once a year, as they cannot communicate when something is wrong. Early detection makes treatment and management more superficial, effective, and frequently less expensive. For instance, beginning a weight loss program early is far superior to waiting until your dog develops arthritis — but pet parents may be unaware their dog is obese until they undergo a veterinary exam.

Additionally, your veterinarian should test your pet annually for parasites, including heartworms and intestinal worms, even if your pet is on year-round broad-spectrum heartworm prevention. Unless you test your dog for heartworms, you will not know if they are infected until they become very ill. Additionally, while humans cannot contract heartworms, intestinal worms can be transmitted to humans, particularly children, so routine testing protects your entire family.

Vaccinations are critical to maintaining a healthy annual visit. Vaccines help prevent disease or reduce the severity of illness in infected pets. Vaccinations are given every one or three years following the puppy or kitten booster series, depending on the type, your pet’s lifestyle, and local regulations.

Annual blood workups should be performed as part of routine pet health care. Blood work evaluates organ function and may detect changes in your pet’s health before the onset of illness symptoms. Making minor adjustments to your pet’s at-home care in response to blood work can help delay or even prevent the beginning of several serious illnesses.