Can Dogs Eat Eggs? – All you need to know

Featured image by © bigstockphoto.com / Patryk Kosmider

Can Dogs Eat Eggs?

As a dog owner, one question might continuously be on your mind, “Can dogs eat eggs??

Eggs have high nutritional value, providing dogs with protein, essential amino acids, minerals, vitamins, and fatty acids.

They make occasional nutritious snacks and even help to settle upset stomachs in our furry friends.

Nonetheless, there are several concerns around feeding dogs eggs, especially raw eggs. Here, we explore the health benefits of feeding dogs eggs as well as the risks involved.

Health benefits of eggs for dogs

If you have been avoiding feeding eggs to your dogs, they could be missing out on a healthy and delicious treat. Eggs provide a variety of health benefits to include:

High source of protein, amino acids, minerals, and vitamins

Proteins are the primary component of eggs. Dogs are primarily carnivores and rely on protein in their diet, so eggs make an excellent component in providing healthy amounts of protein to dogs. 

Eggs also provide essential amino acids, including:

  • Arginine
  • Histidine
  • Isoleucine
  • Leucine
  • Lysine
  • Methionine
  • Phenylalanine
  • Threonine
  • Tryptophan
  • Valine

Besides being a healthy protein and amino acid source, eggs are also a proven source of vitamins and minerals. This vital food source contains essential vitamins and minerals for your dogs’ overall health, metabolism, growth and development, and immune strength concentrated in the egg yolk.

These include:

  • Choline
  • Folic acid
  • Niacin
  • Riboflavin
  • Vitamin A
  • Vitamin B1
  • Vitamin B12
  • Vitamin B6
  • Vitamin D
  • Vitamin E
  • Vitamin K

Eggs not only provide vitamins and protein; due to eggshells, they are also a reliable source of minerals, essential in the growth and development of healthy bones in your dog.

These minerals are found mainly in eggshells but also egg yolks and whites and include:

  • Calcium
  • Chloride
  • Copper
  • Iodine
  • Iron
  • Magnesium
  • Manganese
  • Phosphorus
  • Potassium
  • Selenium
  • Sodium
  • Zinc

Eggshells are also valuable for puppies and senior dogs that may have difficulty eating bones. To feed eggshells to your pooch, dry the shells and grind them to a powder in a clean coffee grinder. 

This way, you can mix the powdered eggshells in with other foods for easy consumption and digestion.

can dogs eat eggs?
Fried eggs that look like funny face © bigstockphoto.com / mazzzur

What Are the Risks of Feeding Dogs Eggs?

There are some concerns about feeding dogs eggs, and as a responsible dog parent, you should be aware of these risks to avoid your fur baby getting sick.

The main concerns are:

Salmonella

Dogs can contract Salmonella, just as in humans, especially if the eggs are raw. Symptoms of the disease include diarrhea and vomiting.

To avoid your dog contracting Salmonella, ensure that you only feed them eggs from healthy hens, preferably hens raised in your backyard. This way, you’ll be sure of their quality and safety.

Biotin Deficiency

Feeding dogs raw egg whites over a long period can also lead to a biotin deficiency. Avidin, an enzyme found in raw egg whites acts as a biotin inhibitor. Biotin, a B vitamin supports a healthy metabolism, digestion, and skin in dogs.

As much as possible, feed your dog cooked or boiled eggs without oil, butter, salt, or other additives.

High Cholesterol

Another concern is the high cholesterol content in the eggs, which could be detrimental to your dog’s heart health. To avoid cholesterol issues in your dog, do not make eggs a regular food for your dog, but rather feed your dog eggs as an occasional treat.

Final Thoughts

Now, you know the nutritional value of eggs, we hope we’ve comprehensively answered the burning question, “Can dogs eat eggs?”

Remember that each dog is different; some dogs may develop an allergic reaction to eggs and exhibit vomiting, diarrhea, and itchiness around the paws and ears. If you notice these symptoms, stop feeding your dog eggs, and seek immediate help from your local vet.