Can dogs eat eggs? This is a question that many dog owners ask, and the answer may surprise you! Eggs can be a healthy part of your dog’s diet, providing them with essential nutrients that can promote overall health and well-being. Today we’re breaking down the health benefits of eggs for dogs and provide some tips on how to incorporate them into your pet’s diet.
The Health Benefits of Eggs for Dogs
If you are looking for a healthy and nutritious way to supplement your dog’s diet, consider adding cooked eggs to their menu! Eggs can provide many health benefits, including protein, essential fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals.
Vitamins: Eggs are full of vitamins A, D, and many B vitamins (including B12)! This wide vitamin profile can be helpful in rounding out your dog’s diet and providing some nutrient variety.
Minerals: Eggs also contain iron and calcium, which are both great for your dog’s overall health.
Protein: One of the biggest benefits of eggs for dogs is that they are an excellent source of protein. Protein is necessary for building and repairing muscle tissue, and it can also help maintain healthy skin and coat.
Fatty Acids: Eggs (like tuna) are also a good source of essential fatty acids, which can promote optimal health in dogs. These fatty acids can help support cognitive function, joint health, and a healthy immune system.
Low Calorie: Eggs, particularly egg whites, are low in calories and can help with weight management (check your dog’s calorie requirements here). If your dog is overweight or obese, incorporating egg whites into their diet can be a great way to help them lose weight safely and effectively.
Risks Associated with Feeding Your Dog Eggs
As with in humans, raw eggs pose a risk for food borne illness. It is important to feed them only cooked eggs, as raw eggs may contain harmful bacteria that can make your dog sick.
Salmonella bacteria can be present in raw eggs, but is killed when you cook the eggs. Salmonella can cause diarrhea and other gastric discomfort in dogs. So what’ll it be, hard boiled or scrambled?
Tip: Avoid giving your dog any scrambled eggs that have the addition of lots of cheese and/or salt. They’ll love it without any extra ingredients, no need to flavor it up!
Can Dogs Eat Egg Shells?
The answer to this question is also yes – dogs can eat egg shells! Egg shells are a great source of calcium, which is important for maintaining healthy bones and teeth. They are also a good source of other minerals such as phosphorus and potassium.
To feed your dog egg shells, simply crush them very finely, using either a blender or a mortar and pestle (we don’t want any shards of shell scraping up their mouth). Sprinkle the ground egg shells over their food or add them to a frozen treat!
What About Our Other Furry Friends?
According to the American Society For the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), you need to be careful about feeding eggs to any pet. Raw eggs can contain bacteria such as Salmonella and E. coli that can be dangerous to pets and people. Raw eggs also contain an enzyme called avidin that decreases the absorption of biotin (a B vitamin), which can lead to skin and coat problems for animals. Cooked eggs are generally just fine. We are asked about a few specific animals fairly often.
Can Hamsters Eat Eggs?
According to the ASPCA, raw eggs should not be fed to hamsters. As we stated above, raw eggs are dangerous to animals and people. Cooked eggs such as hard boiled or scrambled, however, are perfectly fine, and provide your friend an instant protein shot.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Eggs?
Yes, as long as they are cooked. Guinea pigs are omnivores and will readily eat a bit of hard boiled egg.
Can Rabbits Eat Eggs?
Yes, the ASPCA greenlights cooked eggs for rabbits, but like the rest of our furry friends never uncooked eggs.
Can Cats Eat Eggs?
Yes. The ASPCA states that cats can benefit from the protein in cooked eggs.