Whether you feed raw food, home cooked meals, or kibble, chances are you want your pup to be as healthy as possible. Food plays a major role in health and longevity, and knowing that, many pet parents opt to add as many healthy food choices to their dog’s bowl as they can.
Sometimes that means blueberries for antioxidants, or sardines for omega 3s. But what about eggs? Can dogs eat eggs? And if so, what’s the best way to feed them?
Can Dogs Eat Eggs?
Yes! Eggs are a great source of nutrition for your canine companion. In fact, they’re a complete food source. After all, everything a new chick needs to grow and thrive has to be contained within that shell.
They are high in:
- Protein
- Fatty Acids
- Vitamin A
- Riboflavin
- Folate
- Vitamin B12
- Iron
- Selenium
They also don’t cost a lot of money, which is always great!
Remember though, those eggs are only as good as the chicken they come from. When you’re buying eggs, try to source local from farms you know raise healthy, free-range, organic chickens.
Can Dogs Eat Eggs: Biotin and Salmonella Concerns
These are two of the concerns we hear most often when it comes to feedings dogs eggs, particularly raw eggs.
1. Biotin
Biotin is a B vitamin that’s essential for cell health and growth, metabolism, and for a healthy skin and coat. They need it – and they get it from their food. In fact, egg yolks are a great source of biotin!
However, the concern around biotin arrises because egg whites contain avidin, which inhibits biotin. So, people are concerned that feeding eggs (or egg white in particular) could cause a biotin deficiency.
The good news is, your dog would need to eat a lot of eggs for that deficiency to happen. And, since the yolks contain biotin, if you’re feeding a whole egg, you’re counteracting the issue.
Still worried? You can always cook the eggs if you’re concerned – just remember that this means the egg loses a lot of its nutritional value.
2. Salmonella
If you currently feed raw food, you know that our dogs’ digestive systems can handle a lot when it comes to bacteria. That’s just the way their systems are built. Unlike humans, salmonella doesn’t offer the same level of risk to our furry friends that it does to us.
That said, there are still some ways to reduce the risk overall by keeping those bacteria levels low, including choosing eggs from healthy chickens (again, go to that trustworthy local farmer), and storing your eggs in the fridge to keep them cool.
Next Up: Want to make the move to raw food for your pet? Here are some tips!
How to Feed Eggs to Dogs
What’s the best way to feed eggs to your dog?
- Raw: Mine get a raw egg cracked right over their dinner a few times a week. They love it. When you feed eggs raw, all that nutrition stays intact.
- Cooked: Don’t feel comfortable with raw? That’s ok. Scramble them up in a little water and let them cool to room temperature.
Eggs are gentle on the stomach, so if your dog isn’t feeling great or needs a little pick me up, scrambling a few eggs for breakfast is a good way to soothe that tummy trouble.
How many eggs per week? That depends on your dog, but an egg a day or every few days is a great way to supplement the diet and add a little variety to the mix!
Don’t Forget the Eggshell Membrane!
Do you feed eggs regularly but toss the shells in the compost?
If so, your dog is missing out! The eggshell membrane is a thin layer that coats the inside of an eggshell. It’s what actually delivers all those beneficial nutrients to the chick growing inside. It is rich in collagen, which is essential for joint health. Amino acids and glycosaminoglycans are also in there.
To feed eggshell membranes to your dog, when you crack an egg, careful slide your finger under the membrane and slowly peel it away. Then just add it to your dog’s regular meal. Some dogs won’t hesitate to gobble it up. If you notice your dog isn’t too keen on big pieces, tear them up a little. This isn’t a bad idea anyways because they’re not the most digestible things on the planet.
Or, you can dry out the shells with the membrane attached and crush them up fine and mix them with food. The shells are also nutritious and some pet owners find this more convenient that trying to peel out the membrane itself.
So, can dogs eat eggs? Yes. Should dogs eat eggs? Again, a resounding yes! It’s eggcellent nutrition in a convenient and inexpensive package! Go eggs!
The Veterinarious team is made up of pet owners, pet lovers, and pet experts from around the globe! We’ve banded together to create a community of like-minded pet people to give you the latest research and health advice for your beloved beast!