Fetching Foods uses eggshell in our products.  There are some exceptions with Only Dog and Just Cat Duck and Rabbit, however boneless versions are offered.   Our Custom Meals can be designed with or without eggshell or bone, depending on the specific need.

There are many forms of calcium, but the two main dietary forms offered to dogs and cats are calcium phosphate and calcium carbonate.  (See The Most Abundant Mineral In The Body: Calcium for more about calcium in general) h

Calcium phosphate is found in bone.  However, cats with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) have a difficult time filtering phosphates from the blood.  Therefore, finding a calcium source other than calcium phosphate is typically recommended for CKD cats.  (The terms phosphorus and phosphate are often used interchangeably, but it is the amount of inorganic phosphate in the blood that is measured with a serum phosphorus/phosphate test you get from your vet.)

That’s where calcium carbonate comes in.  Calcium carbonate is what egg shells are made of.  It has a high ratio of calcium and is easily absorbed and contains no phosphates.  

Our calcium carbonate comes from eggshells, not calcium carbonate created in a lab.  Lab produced calcium carbonate is pure.  100% calcium carbonate.  

The issue with that is there are no trace minerals, which occur in organic sources, like eggshell.  Trace minerals are important to support your dog or cats bodily functions, like regulating blood pressure, weight management, cancer prevention, depression, pain, and digestion, to name a few.  

Eggshells, in addition to calcium, also contain small amounts, or traces, of other minerals, including strontium, fluoride, magnesium and selenium.  There’s evidence suggesting the calcium in eggshell powder is more easily and better absorbed than pure calcium carbonate, making it an effective calcium supplement.  One study indicates egg shell calcium may be more effective than purified calcium carbonate supplements.

We make our own eggshell powder from organic eggs.  Sometimes you can see proof by the occasional eggshell flake in your dog’s or cat’s bowl.  Because of the high absorbability of eggshell during digestion, there is no harm that comes from the powder or the small flakes.  Eggshells are extremely nutritious, better than a lab produced product.  So much so, you may want to consider adding some to your diet!  Really.

Want to know more about eggs, read this article: all about eggs.