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Maybe you saw this in a show, or maybe you’re wondering if this is an easy way to get your dog some extra nutrition. Cracked raw egg over dog food has become a popular topic among those who are looking to get the best nutrition for their pets. Some people have tried it already while others are hesitant because they are worried about what raw eggs might do to their dogs.
Can you add a cracked raw egg to dog food? We’re going to look into this along with more information about feeding your dog raw eggs and seeing if that’s a good idea.
Can I Add Cracked Raw Egg Over Dog Food?
Surprisingly enough, the answer is yes. You can add a raw egg to dog food. Much like with humans though being able to consume raw eggs, there are risks you should be aware of before you start doing this to every meal.
Dogs face many of the same risks that humans face when eating raw eggs. The most significant risk of course is being exposed to salmonella. Many people have heard of this bacterial infection, but few people know what it really does because we tend to avoid it. Salmonella can cause significant digestive symptoms such as stomach cramps and diarrhea, and there’s often a fever that accompanies it as well.
Another fact is that salmonella leads to many food recalls with both human foods and dog foods. Many veterinarians would not recommend eating raw eggs for the specific reason. At the same time, few vets have a problem with eggs in general, they would just suggest that you cook them first to remove the risk of salmonella.
It really comes down to your comfort level though because the risk of salmonella is about the same for dogs and humans (though it’s often less for dogs). If you’re confident in the source and storage of your eggs, then you might be comfortable feeding a raw egg to your dog as well.
Eggs, whether cooked or raw, have many benefits for your dog such as adding protein and other valuable nutrients to their diet.
Are There Risks to Dogs Eating Raw Eggs?
As we mentioned above, the biggest risk is salmonella. There are also two other risks that you should be aware of when it comes to feeding your dogs raw eggs.
Eggs include an enzyme that’s called avidin. This is perfectly fine and healthy and small quantities, but in larger quantities it can prevent the absorption of biotin. It most commonly happens to dogs that eat eggs on a daily basis. This can lead to some health problems if your pet is unable to absorb biotin naturally.
The last major risk of feeding your dog raw eggs is once again common to both humans and dogs. If the eggs have not been stored properly, then your dogs might suffer from other bacterial infections aside from salmonella. Make sure that they’re kept in the fridge and that they’re not too old to ingest.
Nutrition of Raw Eggs for Dogs
Eggs are extremely nutritious, and they can be great for your dogs because they have a very balanced mix of protein, nutrition, fats, and much more. They also have many vitamins and minerals such as Vitamin A, vitamin D, iron, selenium, and other nutrients that your dogs need.
You also have to consider bioavailability. This measures how easy it is for your dog to absorb the proteins and other nutrients. Eggs are extremely bio-available and this makes them very easy for your pets to digest.
How Often Can My Dog Eat Cracked Raw Eggs in Dog Food?
If you recall from above, we said that eating raw eggs too often can lead to a biotin deficiency in your dogs. even if the risk of salmonella does not bother you, it’s best to not feed your dog raw eggs on a daily basis.
So how often should dogs have raw eggs? Allowing them to have raw eggs once or twice a week is probably best. it should mitigate the issues with the biotin absorption.
You should also consider the size of your dog. Dogs often need fewer calories than humans, so an egg might significantly add to their diet. This is especially true for toy breeds such as Pomeranians, but this isn’t as much of a concern for bigger dogs like Dobermans and German Shepherds. You don’t want to overfeed your dog because even healthy foods like eggs can increase their weight.
Make sure that you manage the calories and consider how much they’re already getting from kibble or whatever dog food you’re currently giving them, and try not to feed them too much.
Are Raw Eggs Healthy for Dogs?
Some people intentionally eat raw eggs, while others get it from raw cookie dough or cake batter. Others just like raw eggs because of their texture, but they have no problem with cooked eggs. We said before that eggs have highly bioavailable protein and are very healthy for your dog, but are raw eggs good for them?
Can Dogs Eat Raw Eggs in Their Dog Food?
Can dogs eat raw eggs? As we said above, the answer is yes that they can. It’s generally considered safe outside of the risk of salmonella. You can mitigate this somewhat by getting them by from a reliable provider, but there’s no way to 100% remove that risk.
Eggs in general are healthy for them though. They’re found in many popular commercial pet foods like Blue Buffalo and Nutram.
Myths About Dogs and Eggs
You might be wondering if raw eggs are good for dogs. They’re definitely healthy if they’re cooked, and generally considered healthy and safe raw. Let’s take a look at some of the common myths to see if this is the right decision for your pet.
Myth 1: High Risk of Salmonella
The biggest reason for not feeding your dog raw eggs is the risk of salmonella. While we don’t want you to believe that there’s no risk, because there is, the risk is probably lower than you think. First of all, the regulations around eggs means that there is a lower chance of salmonella in general both for you and your dog.
You also have to consider your dog’s digestive system. They are carnivores able to eat bones and other raw foods. They’re able to do this because their digestive system is more acidic and capable of breaking down food faster. Another benefit of this is that bacterial infections have a harder time clinging to their stomach.
Chances are that your dog will be able to eat a raw egg without facing salmonella. However, there is no guarantee of this and you need to consider this before feeding them raw eggs. This is especially true with dogs that are older or suffering from illnesses that would compromise them.
They get basically the same nutrients from cooked eggs, and those are perfectly healthy for them.
Myth 2: Instantaneous Biotin Deficiency
We also don’t want you to be too scared about the issues with biotin. While it is true that having a large number of eggs can cause biotin deficiency in your dogs, there’s several ways to mitigate this. The one we highly suggest is just feeding them eggs once or twice a week.
More than that though, it’s best that you give your dogs or whole eggs rather than just egg whites. Egg whites are what contain avidin, which inhibits the absorption of biotin. Surprisingly enough, egg yolks have a very large amount of biotin. Giving your dogs whole eggs reduces the chance of biotin issues.
Are Raw Eggs or Cooked Eggs Better for Dogs?
Both raw and cooked eggs can be a healthy treat for your dog. Aside from giving them more protein, there’s many other vitamins and nutrients that you can find in eggs. Similar to cooking meat though, the heat can remove some of the vitamins and minerals.
However, the main benefit of cooking eggs is that it removes the risk of salmonella and other bacterial issues. You’ll need to balance this with the loss of nutrients and figure out which one is right for you.
How to Feed Raw Eggs to Your Dogs
This couldn’t be easier. Just crack a raw egg over dog food or your pet’s food source. Make sure that you consider the proper portion for your dog. A smaller dog might eat too much if you give it a full egg, so consider half an egg or maybe even less for toy breeds.
We would say that larger dogs can likely have two eggs per week, with three being the maximum you should feed them. Aside from the risks of salmonella and biotin issues, having more than this can lead to excessive calories.
Can I Only Feed My Dog Chicken Eggs?
While chicken eggs are certainly the most available in America, you don’t have to be limited just to these eggs. Duck eggs can be very nutritious, and quail eggs are also good and might be better suited for smaller breeds. Not only that, but some pets are allergic to chicken and a different type of egg might be better for them.
Can I Feed My Dog Eggshells?
While most humans don’t like the texture or taste of egg shells, the truth is that they are also very nutritious. Many people feed their dogs raw egg shells because they have a large amount of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, and other nutrients that can be good for them.
While raw bones tend to have more calcium than eggshells, this can still be a great substitute especially if you’re already thinking of getting them eggs.
How to Feed Eggshells to Dogs
If you have a larger dog, then some people find it best just to put the whole egg in the dog bowl without cracking it. Some dogs find it enjoyable to open them egg themselves with their mouths. You might want to avoid messes though by cracking the egg and then just placing the shell in the dogbowl as well.
Much like humans, some dogs do not enjoy eating the shell. This is especially true with duck and chicken shells because they are tougher. If this is an issue, then you can soften the shells by crushing them with a mortar and pestle or a fork.
Quail eggs are smaller and also have softer shells. This makes them better for smaller dog breeds and for those dogs that don’t like the tough shells of chicken eggs.
How Many Eggs Should I Give My Dog?
This bears repeating because some people like to do too much of a good thing. Some people believe that giving their dogs eggs on a daily basis is a good idea. Whether we’re talking about raw or cooked eggs, you shouldn’t give your dogs eggs all the time.
Even if you have no fear of salmonella or other bacterial infections, another major issue is the amount of calories that your dog will get if you add too many eggs. Due to this, it’s best to give them two eggs a week at most. Larger breeds might be fine with three, but we don’t suggest going any higher than that.
If you have a smaller breed, then just one egg might be best for them. Giving them the whole egg at once might be problematic, so consider giving them just half an egg or even a quail egg.
Final Thoughts
Can you add cracked raw egg over dog food? The answer is a resounding yes, it could be a good idea for your dog’s nutrition. At the same time, raw eggs do have the risk of salmonella and other bacterial infections. While cooking does remove some of the nutrients, it also removes the risk of salmonella. You should only give your dog a maximum of two eggs color week in general so that you don’t overfeed them.