Can Dogs Eat Eggs?

Eggs are eaten by billions of people around the world as part of a healthy and fulfilling diet. However, does this mean that eggs are safe for dogs? As it turns out, the answer is yes, a dog can most certainly eat eggs. Eggs are extremely beneficial to a dog due to their high nutrient content, namely their high amount of protein, amino acids, and fatty acids. Other nutrients include iron, calcium, vitamins A and D, riboflavin, and more.

Interestingly, a dog can also eat eggshells, which will provide the same nutrients as eating an egg. Just make sure that you clean the shells properly or boil the eggs to remove any harmful chemicals.

Eggs and Salmonella

As with humans, there is a concern that dogs could contract salmonella when consuming rare eggs. Owners who are concerned about salmonella can boil eggs before feeding them to their dogs.

Eggs and Biotin Deficiency

In addition to salmonella, there is the concern that dogs could contract something called biotin poisoning from eating rare eggs in very large quantities. This deficiency is caused by the presence of an enzyme in eggs that inhibits a dog’s absorption of biotin. This enzyme is particularly abundant in the egg white. Biotin is important to your dog as it helps in things such as promoting healthy skin, healthy cells, digestion, and metabolism.

Dogs and Egg Allergies

In some cases, it is possible that your dog is allergic to eggs. Dog allergies present themselves in a number of ways including itching, issues with breathing, and digestive problems. For this reason, you are better off starting small at first before increasing the portions. Again, remember that these side effects are rare for most dogs.

Preparing Eggs for Your Dog

When preparing the eggs for your dog you have a lot of freedom depending on what your dog likes and the recommendations of the vet. In addition, you should keep in mind that you are better off preparing a meal that will not only fulfill your dog but also provide the numerous health benefits offered by an egg. To this end, it is probably a bad idea to prepare a meal that involves the use of cooking fats and other things like butter. If you must fry the egg, then be careful to avoid adding things like onions, which are incompatible with dogs. The easiest way to prepare the eggs is to boil them. The rule of thumb is to keep things as plain as possible.