Can dogs eat eggs? The answer is yes. Your dog can eat both raw and cooked eggs. However, there are guidelines you should be aware of. When cooked, scrambled and boiled eggs are fine. Avoid fried eggs for the obvious reason that the oil may upset your dog’s stomach.
Can Dogs Eat Eggs – The Benefits
Eggs contain a lot of nutritional value for your dog. The average single egg contains 6.25 grams of protein, 75 calories and many essential vitamins and minerals. Dogs should also eat eggs to keep their coat shiny, as the nutrients contained within can help with this.
Can Dogs Eat Eggs – Preparation
The great thing about feeding eggs to dogs is that they are inexpensive and easy to prepare.
The egg white is easier to digest when cooked, the yolk on the other hand retains more of its nutritional value when fed raw.
Dogs can eat raw eggs, however there are critics of this approach. We shall look into the pros and cons of feeding your dog raw eggs below.
If you feed your dog scrambled eggs, make sure not to add any spices or salt as these are the ingredients that can lead to stomach upset.
Can Dogs Eat Eggs – Raw vs Cooked
There are a lot of misconceptions when it comes to what raw foods dogs can eat. The subject of the raw egg is no different.
Those that oppose feeding eggs claim they are too high in cholesterol, and when raw pose a risk of salmonella.
Those that recommend raw eggs, base it on the fact eggs prepared raw have greater nutritional value.
While this is true, it does not necessarily mean that a dog can digest and absorb these nutrients.
Studies show that the protein contained within raw eggs is tightening and poorly absorbed. However the protein of cooked eggs is loosely organised and easier for your dog to absorb. Raw eggs also contain an enzyme that can reduce the dog’s ability to absorb certain B vitamins.
Although it is generally safe for dogs to eat raw eggs, on rare occasions salmonella can occur, causing diarrhea, abdominal cramps and fever.
Can dogs eat raw eggs – the answer is they can; however we wouldn’t necessarily advise it.
Can Dogs Eat Eggs – Any other Precautions
You are advised to remove the shell when feeding your dog eggs. The shell contains a large dose of calcium, far more than your dog needs. To much calcium in a dog’s diet will bind other minerals, making them less available upon digestion by your pet.
Being high in fat and protein be aware of how many eggs you are feeding your dog. A dog can eat eggs but if fed to often, it can lead to weight gain. The majority of the fat is stored in the yolk so if concerned by this, you can feed your dog only the white part of the egg.
Another small side effect is that of flatulence. Just as eggs will affect humans and can make them pass a rather nasty wind, so will your dog on occasion. This is not detrimental to your dog’s health. It may lead to an embarrassing situation if in enclosed public space mind you.
Resources
- For the complete nutritional value of an egg head here.
- For an interesting article on intestinal protein loss in dogs, head here.
- For more information on salmonella infection in dogs head here.
Comments
Can dogs eat eggs? If you have any comments on your own experiences with feeding your dog eggs, raw or cooked, please leave them below.