Can dogs eat eggs?

Dog owners are constantly worrying about what their dog can and can’t eat. It’s common to spoil our canine friends by offering them some food, but in many cases, food we consume could be dangerous for them, so it’s good to stop and ask whether or not they can or should eat eggs.

The short answer; yes. However, you need to keep in mind that there are some exceptions and concerns to keep in mind before feeding your dog any kind of egg.

Cook the egg if possible

Although some dogs may be fine after ingesting a raw egg, there’s a protein called avidin inside raw eggs which has the potential to cause issues. Avidin is a biotin inhibitor, meaning that it will affect the vitamin B intake of your dog which can affect cell growth and fatty acid metabolism. This could  lead to skin and coat issues for your dog Luckily, biotin deficiencies are rare and your dog would need to consume a large number of raw eggs for this to happen.

Again, some dogs will be fine after consuming raw eggs, but there will always be a risk of biotin deficiency, as well as risk of Campylobacter and/or Salmonella infection(s). Consider Egg Beaters or a similar product that is pasteurized and safe to consume uncooked. Or look for pasteurized eggs at the store.

Feed both the yolk and white

We previously mentioned avidin and how raw eggs contain it. During the cooking process, the avidin mostly goes away, but some of it will still be contained in the egg whites.

This can scare some dog owners away from feeding eggs, but the good news is that the yolk contains high levels of biotin. This means that as long as you feed your dog the entire egg, there’s very little chance that they’ll experience a biotin deficiency.

Possible side effects

• Your dog may gain excess weight due to eggs being rich in fats
• Too many raw eggs can lead to a biotin deficiency (this requires a huge amount of eggs)
• A small risk of acquiring a bacterial infection from raw eggs (much like humans eating eggs)Excess bad-smelling gas due to the eggs (not because they’re sick)

Egg recipes for dogs

Scrambled eggs

Dogs can eat scrambled eggs just like we do. The exception is that you must not add salt, pepper or any other spices to the egg. Spices like black pepper can cause burning sensations for your dog and make them feel sick. Simply scramble up some eggs like you normally would and then feed it to your dog. To make it more exciting, you can add extras to it like lean meats and some carrots.

Boiled eggs

A hard-boiled egg with the shells peeled can be a nutritious snack for your dogs. As long as you check for shells and remove every bit of it, they’ll chow down on a boiled egg like any other treat. Just remember not to use any kind of seasoning for the boiled egg such as salt or pepper. Some dogs will be fine eating the entire thing, but some dogs will have a preference for just the yolk and avoid the whites.

Raw eggs

This depends on your dog. Some dogs will be fine after eating raw eggs, and other dogs will find it strange to eat raw eggs unless it’s mixed with something like lean meats and some vegetables. Make sure you completely remove the shell so that there’s less risk of your dog eating it, and make sure you mix it with something to make it easier for your dog to consume. Although consuming it raw can yield slightly more of some nutrients, do keep in mind the risks that come with raw eggs.

The bottom line

Can dogs eat eggs? Yes! There are some exceptions, but eggs are considered safe to add in treats or be served alone to your dog.