First I'd like to say I'm so glad you're doing your research, kudos to you for that. Second, I have to honestly say that I'm glad in a way that this topic came up as I've learned more about raw egg whites in the process, however my overall opinion on whole raw eggs being a great addition to the diet has not changed. If nothing else I'm glad to have learned more from this whole debate.
Now on to the good stuff and please don't take this as an attack on you, I'm merely stirring the pot on friendly debate so don't take our replies the wrong way.
- Nush wrote:
- Blindness in Siberian Husky / Correlation with raw eggs triggering genetic defect
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vogt%E2%80%93Koyanagi%E2%80%93Harada_syndrome
http://wrongdiagnosis.pubs.righthealth.com/topic/Vogt%E2%80%93Koyanagi%E2%80%93Harada%20syndrome?as=clink&ac=1437&afc=2168586466&p=
First, as has been pointed out Wiki is not a credible resource. Second, I did not see any correlation to raw eggs at all...could you please expound on this a little more and point out the supposed correlation? It appears I'm not the only one who does not see any mention of relation to egg.
- Nush wrote:
- MORE:
http://www.doils.net/v1/links/128122783.pdf
"Food intolerance may be associated with any dietary ingredient, including additives. Most basic food ingredients have
the potential to induce an allergic response, but the majority
of dietary hypersensitivity reactions are caused by proteins.
The most commonly recognized causes of dietary sensitivity in
dogs and cats include beef and dairy proteins, other meat
proteins and EGGS, lactose and gluten. Elimination diets that
have been successfully employed in dogs and cats include
lamb, chicken, rabbit, venison and various fish species; these
are typically fed with rice or potatoes as a source of carbohydrate."
In this same resource it also states:
"In general, skin lesions associated with deficiencies of Bgroup
vitamins include dry, flaky seborrhea and alopecia. Biotin
deficiency produces a characteristic alopecia around the
face and eyes with crusting in severe cases.
This condition may
occur in the unusual circumstance of feeding large amounts of
raw egg whites which contain avidin, a protein that binds
biotin and prevents its gastrointestinal absorption."
In all seriousness, how many people have been (or been advised to)
feed unusually large amounts of raw egg whites only? When your friend originally recommended feeding raw eggs, did he tell you raw egg whites only or whole raw eggs? And on the off chance that he recommended feeding raw egg whites only, did he recommend feeding large quantities of it daily too?
And in the same source it also states:
"Primary protein deficiencies are most likely
to occur when requirements are increased as in young, growing
animals and in pregnant or lactating females. Alternatively,
protein malnutrition may be associated with excessive protein
loss, which may occur in certain chronic illnesses such as
pancreatic disease or the protein-losing nephro- or enteropathies.
Dietary correction involves supplementation with high
quality protein sources such as meat, eggs and milk, but the
prognosis may be complicated by the presence of underlying
disease."
Eggs must not be all that bad if they are calling it a high quality protein.
- Nush wrote:
- Raw Eggs – Can cause two problems. First, they can
contain bacteria such as Salmonella & E-Coli.
http://www.helptheanimals-crete.com/FOTAissue9.pdf
You can find salmonella in raw meat and it's been found in pet kibble even (how many recalls have we seen recently over salmonella in dog kibbles?). Should we stay away from feeding raw meat and kibble then in addition to eggs because of the possibility of salmonella? Sounds like everyone will have to start cooking daily meals for their dogs now since eggs, meat and kibble carry a salmonella risk. How is it that there are so many dogs thriving on a raw diets, I wonder. E-coli can be present in the soil outside, in our produce and even large bodies of water like lakes, streams, etc. Every time I cook dinner for my family there is a risk of salmonella and e-coli exposure from the raw meat, eggs, and produce that I cook with daily.
There is always a risk with salmonella and raw eggs yet how many people mix up a batch of cookie, brownie or cake batter with raw eggs included and then eat some of the batter? I do, with EVERY single batch of baked goods that I make which is generally 2-3 times a week minimum and I've been doing it since I was a little child. It's amazing how I'm still alive!