An Egg a Day OK for Pets - Claim Experts

Media Release Friday March 26,2004

An Egg a Day OK for Pets - Claim Experts

Whole eggs (raw or cooked) fed daily to pets offer numerous health benefits, according to Dr Ian Billinghurst, Australian veterinary surgeon, author, and long-time advocate of feeding raw whole food to pets.

His claims are supported by local veterinary surgeon Dr Alex Melrose (B.V.Sc., M.R.V.C.S.), who refers to eggs as ‘natural health food for cats and dogs’.

Says Dr Billinghurst (B.V.Sc (Hons), Bsc. Agr, Dip. Ed), “Eggs are an ideal food to feed cats and dogs, being affordable, nutritious, whole foods with the ability to markedly enhance your pet's health.

“They are a healthy, natural 'fast food' without additives or preservatives, that have formed part of animals’ diets for years.”

He adds: “An egg a day dropped into the feed bowl is an easy, logical and healthy complement to the artificial diets currently fed to most pets. The simple addition of a whole raw or cooked egg will contribute enormously towards alleviating the numerous degenerative and other diseases caused by modern processed pet foods.”

Eggs add high quality protein - essential for body building and enhanced immune system health, essential fatty acids for immune, hormonal, skin, kidney, heart, liver, reproductive, coat and brain health.

They assist in brain health and hormone building, with phospholipids for the health of every cell in the body, choline for brain and liver health and vitamin A for bone health, immune system and mucous membrane health, among other valuable nutrients.

Eggs also contain vital anti-oxidants, such as lutein and zeaxanthin, which help protect the eye and reduce the effects of aging, which is accelerated by poor modern diets.

“These antioxidants play a vital role in reducing the risk of retinal degeneration and cataracts, both of which cause blindness in our older pets.”

Dr. Billinghurst points out that eggs are a vital ingredient and play an essential role in the raw whole food diet he advocates, as outlined in his books 'Give Your Dog a Bone,' 'Grow Your Pups With Bones' and 'The BARF Diet.'

Local vet Dr Melrose agrees: “The humble egg should take centre stage in the diet of the modern pet, no matter what else is being fed. This simple, great value but extraordinary whole food can play a leading role as a ‘functional food’ for any modern cat or dog.

“Whether fed as part of a natural food diet or added to modern processed foods, an egg a day will help maintain well-being and assist in preventing illness in both cats and dogs.”

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