Have you ever seen someone serve a cracked raw egg over dog food to their pet? That wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world, considering all the other things dogs are known to eat.
The thought of eating a raw egg makes most humans sick to their stomachs, but what happens when a dog eats one?
Let’s find out!
Cracked Raw Egg Over Dog Food: Can Dogs Eat This
Can you mix raw egg with dog food? The short answer is yes—raw egg in dog food won’t harm your furry friend. Eggs are just one of many human foods that a dog can eat. The longer answer is: the skin, fur, muscles, and bones of your dog will greatly benefit from the amino acids and fatty acids found in high quantities in eggs, one of nature’s best sources of protein—when offered moderately, of course.
Eggs also include a range of vitamins and minerals, including vitamin A, vitamin B, riboflavin, folic acid, iron, and selenium.
Actually, this human food is already a common ingredient in many commercial dog foods, providing significant protein and essential nutrients to dogs’ diets.
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Risks and Benefits of Raw Eggs for Dogs
Every dog is different; therefore, each pup will react differently to certain human foods. The same goes for eggs—even though we mentioned that eggs are a good protein source for your pup, tons of other advantages come with egg intake, as well as some risks, so let’s take a look at some of them in the table below.
Benefits |
Risks |
| ✅Great protein source | 🚩Some dogs are prone to egg allergies |
| ✅ A whole lot of vitamins | 🚩Raw eggs may contain salmonella |
| ✅Contains amino and fatty acids for building muscle strength | 🚩Potential choking hazard |
| ✅The eggshells are great for bone health | 🚩Your dog might become overweight |
| ✅Tackles loss of appetite | 🚩High in cholesterol |
Let’s start with the benefits.
Eggs are rich in critical agents required to keep a dog healthy and give it a necessary nutritional boost. They provide your pup with an excellent source of protein that’s very easy on its digestive system. Eggs also provide high quantities of essential amino acids required to construct proteins for muscle tissue formation, immune cell production, and hormone and enzyme release for various physiological processes.
The egg yolk is high in essential fatty acids, which help form and maintain many cells and tissues in the pup’s body. Also beneficial are eggshells—they contain significant levels of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, and other trace elements. These minerals are vital for a dog’s joint and bone health, metabolism, immunological function, and other vital physiological activities.
Lastly, eggs are a great appetizer, so if your dog is a picky eater or if you notice a sudden weight loss in your dog, give it some eggs with the meal, and you should see a change in its behavior. This way, your dog can consume more than 60 calories in a single meal and gain a healthy weight in no time.
A cosmetic bonus for including eggs in your dog’s diet is that they make its coat smooth and shiny and positively affect any skin problems, such as itchy or hardened skin.
Now the risks. Food allergy is the most prevalent health risk related to dogs, and unfortunately, eggs and other chicken products are among the top ten dog food allergies. Salmonellosis is another significant health danger related to raw eggs. This is because boiling at high temperatures rapidly kills the bacteria that cause the sickness. Salmonella can cause serious diarrhea, vomiting, dehydration, fatigue, and even death if left untreated.
Another item to keep an eye on is the eggshells. Even though some canines may chew eggshells without a problem, eggshell bits are still a potential choking hazard—this is exponentially more problematic for smaller puppies.
There are also obesity issues to look over—overfeeding your dog with protein and calories will surely result in it becoming overweight. Obese dogs are especially prone to health issues that cause them to live shorter than dogs with a balanced diet.
Now that we know all this, we can safely say moderation is key, as with any other food. You don’t have to give your pup an egg with each meal, which brings us to our next topic of discussion…
How Many Raw Eggs Can a Dog Eat in a Week
Can dogs eat a raw egg every day? No, but you may feed eggs to your dog several times each week. However, you’ll have to be careful because it depends greatly on his size and calorie requirements. The dog’s breed, age, weight, nutrition, exercise level, and overall health are also critical factors. One egg has roughly 55–75 calories, so keep that in mind and adapt their meals to suit the extra calories.
If the dog is of a smaller breed, crack the egg and divide it into several meals. Larger breeds can do fine with one whole egg in a meal, but if you’re managing your dog’s calories, it’s better to cut down on the eggs a bit and maybe serve them twice a week. Usually, people serve eggs with their dog’s regular meal, but giving them an egg only as a snack wouldn’t do any harm.
To avoid a pup getting salmonella, buy raw eggs from reputable suppliers and avoid chemically treated eggs. Lastly, to lessen the chance of Avidin affecting your dog’s biotin levels, it’s best to avoid giving your dog eggs every day of the week and limit it to only two or three days, depending on their size, activity level, and age.
| Are you also a cat owner and wonder if eggs are a safe feeding choice? Read this article to find out how to cook eggs for cats while maximizing their nutritional value. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is raw egg good for dogs with an upset stomach?
Because of their plain flavor, high protein content, and low-fat content, eggs can be suitable for dogs experiencing diarrhea if the egg is ingested properly and in moderation.
How often can I give my dog a raw egg?
This depends on your dog’s age, physical activity level, whether or not it has health problems, its size, and its breed. Smaller dog breeds should be okay with consuming a raw egg at least two times a week, while a bigger breed would do just fine with more than that.
Key Takeaways
Is it a good idea for my dog to eat a cracked raw egg over dog food? Yes, it is. It contains many beneficial components like protein, vitamins, and fatty and amino acids, making it a nutritional ingredient for homemade treats.
But just as with any other good thing, moderation is key. Consult your vet about this and decide on the best dosage based on their current diet and health condition. Bon appétit!
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