Can You Feed Raw Eggs To Your Dog?

Pet owners are always concerned about providing a wholesome diet to their dogs. They evade foods that they think may produce health issues, however, the perception is built on the basis of half-knowledge. There is so much information lingering on the internet these days that people easily believe anything that has been written in an assertive way. For that matter, let’s talk about raw eggs.

People have a misconception that eggs have high cholesterol thus they must be eliminated or avoided from a dog’s diet. Many pet owners also think that eggs expose their pets to Salmonella or E. coli infection. Though to some extent, it stands true, but you cannot simply avoid giving raw eggs to your pets as the chances of such infection are rare. Besides, the nutrition value of eggs is amazingly high.  So, let’s understand the risks and benefits of feeding raw eggs to your dog.

Potential Dangers Of Feeding Raw Eggs To Dogs

• Egg whites contain a protein called avidin which is known to hinder the absorption of biotin present in the egg yolk. Biotin or Vitamin B7 synthesizes fatty acid and glucose in the body. The presence of avidin interrupts this process which leads to inhibition of cell growth and fatty acid metabolism. As a result, the dog suffers from hair loss and dullness of the skin. However, remember biotin (in raw egg yolk) also reverses the effect of avidin when in equal amounts.
• Risk Of E-coli and Salmonella. Raw eggs may contain these microbes that cause bacterial infection in dogs which is why eggs are dreaded. Well, it all depends on the hen used for producing eggs. Organic eggs that are produced from healthy hens are safe for consumption in dogs as they are for humans.

Although eggs do cause harm when given in excess, providing them in moderation has many nutritional benefits.

Reasons You Should Give Raw Eggs To Your Dog 

• Eggs are a good source of essential amino acids, the building blocks of our body.
• They contain iron, selenium, riboflavin, vitamin B12, folate, fatty acids, and vitamin A.
• Eggshells are a great source of calcium. They can be grounded into a powder and used as a calcium source for your dog. Just mix some of it in your dog’s food and you are done.
• Eggs are a very cheap source of wholesome nutrition for dogs.
• Raw eggs are more nutritious than boiled or cooked eggs.

You can definitely feed eggs to your Fido because they are not just loaded with nutrients but are also very palatable for dogs. They love the taste of raw eggs.

However, when feeding eggs you must ensure they are ORGANIC and have to be kept in a cool and dry place. And yes, maintain moderation. Anything in excess isn’t good. Therefore, keep the count to 1-3 per day. Don’t go overboard. Still, if you feel you would avoid the yolk to keep your dog under optimum weight, provide supplements that suffice the nutrient deficiency. However, we still recommend you to feed a whole raw egg.

Hope the misconception is cleared. So, be happy and eggify your dog now!