Can Dogs Eat Eggs?
Yes. Cooked eggs (hard-boiled, scrambled or as an omelet with no oil or salt) are an excellent protein for dogs. Raw is not a good idea: raw egg white blocks biotin and can carry Salmonella.
What it gives your dog
A medium egg provides about 6-7 g of protein with a very high biological value, plus fat, vitamins A, D, B2 and B12, choline and selenium, for about 70-80 kcal. It is cheap, easy to prepare and almost every dog likes it. The shell, washed, baked and ground, is also the calcium source we use in our homemade recipes.
Raw egg white contains avidin, a protein that binds biotin (vitamin B7) and prevents it from being absorbed; eaten often, it can eventually cause skin and coat problems. Heat denatures avidin, so cooked eggs do not have this drawback. Raw eggs can also transmit Salmonella.
How to serve it
- Hard-boiled (10 minutes), peeled and chopped
- Scrambled or as an omelet in a nonstick pan, with no oil, salt or milk
- Mixed into their food or as a treat
- The shell only finely ground, as a calcium supplement in recipes
How much can they eat?
Small dog (under 10 kg / 22 lb): half an egg, 2-3 times a week; medium dog (10-25 kg / 22-55 lb): one egg, 3-4 times a week; large dog (over 25 kg / 55 lb): one or two eggs, 3-4 times a week. If you use egg as the protein in a homemade recipe, follow its amounts.
Risks
- Raw egg white: biotin deficiency if fed often
- Raw egg: Salmonella
- Eggs fried or scrambled with butter and salt: fat and sodium
- Egg allergy (uncommon)
- Large pieces of shell: can be irritating
Frequently asked questions
Can dogs eat raw eggs?
It is not recommended. Raw egg white contains avidin, which blocks biotin absorption, and raw egg can carry Salmonella, a risk for the dog and for whoever handles it. The odd raw egg does not usually cause problems, but if you plan to give eggs often, cook them: hard-boiled or scrambled, they lose that drawback and keep their protein.
Can puppies eat eggs?
Yes, cooked and in small pieces, once they eat solid food. It is a very complete treat and most puppies love it. Like any extra, keep it under 10 % of what they eat in a day: for a small puppy, a quarter or half an egg a few times a week is enough. If it is the first time, start small and check that their stools stay normal.
Can dogs eat eggshells?
Ground, yes, and they are a good calcium source: half a teaspoon (about 2.5 g) provides around 950 mg. Wash the shells, bake them for 10 minutes at 150 °C (300 °F) to dry them and grind them until they look like flour. Do not give them in pieces. Use it only in homemade recipes that call for it: adding calcium to a complete commercial food unbalances it.
General information reviewed against veterinary sources. If your dog has eaten something that worries you, call your vet or a 24-hour emergency vet right away, without waiting for symptoms.