One of the most asked questions here at DNM is, ” Can dogs eat eggs?” And there are a lot of myths and misconceptions about raw feeding and eggs!

It seems the poor egg is often dragged through the mud as a dangerous food for dogs. But is it?

Some say that eggs are too high in cholesterol … or they worry that they pose a risk of salmonella and will cause a biotin deficiency.

To that, I say nonsense!

Eggs are a cheap and safe source of raw food for your dog. And they’re one of the most complete and nutritious meals you can choose!

So let’s review the facts around the answer to, “Can dogs eat eggs?”

The Health Concerns And Facts About Feeding Eggs To Dogs

I wanted to share with you some of the most common concerns and the health benefits of feeding your dog eggs. So that you can feel confident that you’re boosting his diet and health when you do feed them.

Eggs Are A Complete Food Source

Eggs are an important source of nutrition and not only for those who eat them but also for the chick living inside it. Eggs contain all the nutrients necessary to grow a new chicken.

And this is why eggs are also one of the most complete sources of amino acids, the building blocks of protein. So feeding them to your dog is a great way to boost his protein intake.

Eggs Provide Nutrients, Vitamins, And Minerals

In addition to protein, feeding eggs to your dog is an easy way to offer him a range of nutrition support. They provide many key nutrition components including:

Vitamin A

Riboflavin

Folate

Vitamin B12

Iron

Selenium

Fatty Acids

Egg Whites Contain Enzyme Inhibitors

One of the reasons people worry about feeding eggs is due to the egg whites. This is because egg whites contain enzyme inhibitors. And the concern is that they can interfere with digestion, especially in very young and old animals.

This is true, but it only means that eggs should not be the mainstay of your dog’s diet. If you are feeding a well balanced fresh diet you won’t be putting him at risk.

In fact, it’s perfectly safe to feed several eggs a week to the average dog. You can start by feeding your dog just one egg. If you don’t see evidence of digestive upset, then he should have no trouble with eggs being added as part of his diet.

Cooking the egg white will help to avoid this problem … but most of the nutrition will be lost. So feed them raw if you can.

Does Feeding Egg Whites Cause Biotin Deficiency In Dogs?

Egg whites contain avidin, a Biotin inhibitor. Biotin is one of the B vitamins. It’s important for your dog’s cellular growth, fatty acid metabolism, and his healthy skin and coat.

However, biotin deficiencies are quite rare. And it would take eating an extraordinary amount of eggs to create a deficiency.

Egg yolks are very high in biotin, so as long as you feed the entire egg, there are few worries. When you feed a complete fresh diet there are other good sources of biotin in his diet as well. The liver is a particularly good source.

Again, cooking the egg white will eliminate this possible risk but your dog will lose much of the nutritional value.

Aren’t Eggs A Salmonella Risk?

Your dog is actually well equipped to handle the bacteria in raw foods …

But there are a few things you want to consider when choosing your eggs to keep the bacterial levels at a normal level.

The health of the hen laying the eggs is very important. Ideally you want to feed your dog eggs from organic, free-range healthy chickens.

Feeding quality eggs along with proper storage and keeping the eggs cool, you’ll keep bacteria at a manageable level.

Feeding The Whole Egg … Don’t Forget The Shells

Ok, so by now I’m sure you are seeing why feeding your dog eggs is a great idea. And we’ve discussed feeding the whole egg and why egg whites only should be for people, not dogs.

But when I say the whole egg, I really mean the whole egg.

Feeding your dog a whole cracked egg includes the shell. Yep, you read that right. This offers a nearly complete food source. And the shells can also be valuable for dogs who have difficulty eating bones.

Or you can dry the shells out to feed at a later time. Just simply grind them in a clean coffee grinder until they are powdered. You can then sprinkle the powder on your dog’s next meal to boost it.

Time To Get Cracking

Eggs are cheap, easily obtained and an outstanding source of nutrition for your dog. The overall health benefits of eggs certainly outweigh the risks.

But it’s important to remember that many eggs are sprayed with a chemical to make them look shiny … so it’s best to get your eggs from a local organic farmer.

And by feeding eggs whole, as nature intended, you’ll counteract any possible harmful imbalances.

So try feeding your dog a few eggs a week and you’ll see better health, inside and out. And the next time you hear someone ask, ” Can dogs eat eggs?”, you can confidently share all the reasons why they need them.

[RELATED: 11 Reasons To Feed Your Dog Fruits And Vegetables]