It is perfectly safe for dogs to eat eggs. Eggs can be a reliable source of nutrients for your canine, a high source of protein, fatty acids, vitamins and minerals. That being the case, eggs should not be used as the main meal for your dog and should be left as a great occasional treat.
Why is it that you shouldn’t make eggs a main meal for your dogs? Is there a reason why you shouldn’t go overboard with eggs? What are the benefits of feeding your dog eggs and can you feed them raw eggs? These are some of the questions we will look to answer in this article, hence keep reading this word to word.
Back in the day, when dogs were hunters and gatherers, they would snatch bird eggs from nests and eat them raw. Today, dogs don’t really hunt anymore and yet eggs provide a good source of protein for your dogs. So long as the eggs are consumed in a safe manner, they can be a great addition to the meal and can work as an excellent dietary supplement for your dog.
Is it Good to Feed Dogs Eggs? (Benefits)
Eggs are considered perfectly safe for your dogs and are a great source of nutrients. They contain wholesome amounts of protein and fatty acids which are necessary for your pooch’s wellbeing. They also contain various vitamins and minerals that help support your dog inside and out.
The quality of the eggs depends on the chicken it comes out from. Hence, free-range eggs from hens that are fed an organic diet are the best options you have at hand. You want to get your eggs from a trusted source to ensure that the eggs are nutritious and healthy.
It is always advisable to check with your vet first before you start feeding your dogs eggs. Though eggs can be a great addition to your dog’s diet, some dogs simply have medical conditions which prevent them from having eggs. Hence, speak to your vet first to figure out whether feeding your dogs eggs is safe. They can also direct you on the appropriate quantity and frequency of eggs to feed your dog to better ensure that your pooch is safe and healthy.
Eggs provide your pooch with some much-needed essential vitamins and minerals. They include, vitamins B12 and A and is a great source of protein, fatty acids and iron. They also contain riboflavin and selenium, which are all essential parts of wellbeing that can work to keep your dog in excellent health. These nutrients can provide improved skin and coat and can also lead to stronger bones and teeth.
Eggs are a usual part of any homemade pet diet and are generally considered safe and nutritious. As mentioned, however, though they can be an excellent source of nutrition for your dogs, you shouldn’t make eggs a primary source of nutrients. It is best offered in moderation, a few times a week.
Side Effects of Feeding Dogs Eggs: Why Eggs Should be Fed in Moderation
Though back in the day, dogs ate bird eggs including the eggshell, dogs are now domesticated and their eating patterns have changed through the years.
Hence, when it comes to feeding your dogs eggs, raw or undercooked eggs do pose an inherent risk for your pooch, much like it would to humans. It could lead to an upset stomach, gas or bloating.
Eggs contain an enzyme that prevents the absorption of biotin in the gut. Hence, overconsumption of eggs can hamper biotin absorption. Biotin is a B complex vitamin that helps promote healthy skin, metabolism and digestion. Deficiency of biotin could lead to skin problems, slow metabolism and issues with digestion. This is why eggs should be offered in moderation and not as a primary source of nutrients.
When it comes to eggs, overfeeding your dog eggs could lead to various issues. Hence, it is best recommended in moderation. Eggs can easily cause obesity in dogs which could lead to more complication issues like cardiovascular conditions. Hence, always be sure to feed your dogs eggs in moderation.
When feeding your dog eggs, you want to keep an eye on your pet for any signs of stomach distress to ensure that your dog in particular can tolerate eggs without any issue. It is important that you observe your dog after feeding it eggs for the first time.
It is also possible that your dog is allergic to eggs. Hence, you should be on the lookout for allergic symptoms such as sneezing, swelling, hives, coughing, lethargy and problems breathing.
How Often Can Dogs Eat Eggs?
The frequency with which you feed your dog eggs will depend on the size of your dog. As a general rule of thumb, you shouldn’t feed your dog more than one egg a day. This too can be too much for some dogs and it is best recommended to feed your dog eggs a few times a week to prevent biotin deficiency.
Eggs mostly work best as a treat for your dog. You shouldn’t make it a primary part of all meals. You most certainly do not want to overfeed your dog eggs, because this could lead to complications arising from biotin deficiency. Your pooch could suffer from an upset stomach and even more could suffer from obesity.
Eggs are best left as a treat, given to your dog a few times a week. This will enable your dog to reap all the benefits of eggs without facing a biotin deficiency, which could work to hamper the benefits and turn them into drawbacks.
Can Dogs Eat Egg Yolks?
Cooked egg yolks are an excellent source of nutrients for your pooch, but should be fed in moderation. Egg yolks are the part of the egg that is the most calorie-dense. They contain high amounts of fat including cholesterol. Hence, moderation is key. For healthy dogs, the dose of fat and cholesterol from eggs yolks is not usually harmful, however, you should be aware of the risks of overfeeding your dog egg yolks.
With egg yolks, the high-fat content poses a real risk of your dog developing pancreatitis. Hence, you must ensure that you feed your dogs egg yolks in moderation. Ingesting too much fat can also lead to diarrhoea.
Egg yolks are generally considered perfectly safe and nutritious for your dog so long as you feed them in moderation. At the end of the day, you don’t want to clog up your dog’s arteries with too much fat.
Can Dogs Eat Cooked Eggs?
You can feed your dog boiled eggs which are considered perfectly safe for your dog. However, onions and garlic can be toxic for dogs, hence if you are feeding your dog scrambled eggs or an omelette, you should make sure that it doesn’t contain onions or garlic. You also want to refrain from using butter or oil, as this could increase the amount of fat in the meal. Too much fat can lead to various complications, including pancreatitis and obesity.
It is best to feed your dogs eggs that are cooked or boiled without any butter, oil, salt, seasoning, spices or any other additives. Remember, your dog has a rather simply palette and will gobble the egg down. Hence, you don’t want to add anything that will make it difficult for your dog to eat.
As long as the egg is cooked, it doesn’t matter whether is it sunny side up, scrambled or hard-boiled, it is good for your dogs. Just don’t add anything to the eggs to spice it up or in hopes of making it taste better. Your dog doesn’t need salt and more certainly it does not need onions or garlic on the eggs.
You can give your dog a part of a boiled egg or sprinkle some scrambled eggs on your dog’s meal. These are both good ways of feeding your dog eggs.
Can Dogs Eat Raw Eggs?
Veterinarians better recommend that you feed your dog cooked eggs. Raw eggs run the risk of your dog contracting salmonella, the symptoms of which include fever, vomiting, diarrhoea and lethargy. It can also cause biotin deficiency in dogs.
Eggs contain an enzyme that prevents the absorption of biotin in the gut. There are particularly concentrated in egg whites and is greater in concentration in raw eggs. Biotin is responsible for healthy skin, metabolism and digestion. Hence, feeding your dog raw eggs exposes it to a biotin deficiency, which could lead to skin problems, a slow metabolism leading to obesity and digestive issues such as gas, bloating and an upset stomach.
When eggs go bad, they start to grow bacteria which can be very harmful for your pup. Cooking works to kill the bacteria in eggs. Hence, feeding your dog raw eggs could expose your dog to harmful bacteria which could affect your dog’s health.
If you are planning on feeding your dog raw eggs, it is best that you consult a veterinarian first and get the necessary advice prior to proceeding.
If you are feeding your dog raw eggs or have been doing so in the past, it is a good idea to be on the lookout for signs of Salmonellosis and consider taking your pup to the vet to have them checked.
Can You Feed Dogs Eggshells?
Prior to feeding your dog eggshells, you should consult a veterinarian and only feed it if the vet thinks it’s a good idea. Eggshells contain wholesome amounts of calcium which is necessary for healthy teeth and bones. However, eggshells can be sharp and aren’t the tastiest option to attain calcium.
Eggshells have actually been known to be helpful for older arthritic dogs. A study showed that the membranes in eggshells work to reduce joint pain and improve joint function.
Eggshells are sharp and have jagged edges which means it is more likely to cause choking and can cause small tears in your dog’s mouth and digestive system. Some dogs even develop diarrhoea and vomiting after eating eggshells.
Even if you are feeding your dog eggshells at the direction of your vet, you should be on the lookout for signs of distress. If you notice vomiting or diarrhoea, it is best to consult your vet again for further direction.
To Conclude
You shouldn’t be feeding your dog more than one egg a day. In fact, feeding it eggs a few times a week would be the ideal frequency to include eggs in your dog’s meal plan.
Eggs can be a nutritious addition to your dog’s diet, however, you have to ensure that you serve it correctly (cooked without additives) and ensure moderation. This will ensure that your dog reaps all the benefits of eggs without facing any of the drawbacks.
As with anything, when feeding your dog eggs for the first time, you want to monitor your dog for any signs of allergic reactions or adverse issues. Not all dogs are the same and some dogs simply cannot tolerate eggs in their diet.
We aimed to answer some of the main questions around eggs and your dog and worked to provide you with an informative article. We hope reading this word to word has helped you better understand how to feed your dog eggs and that you now have a good idea of how to approach it.
Happy Feeding!
