The other night I was trying out a new recipe for falafels. The recipe called for one egg white to be added – no yolk. Not being one to waste food, I simply whisked the egg yolk lightly so it was easier to divide between the bowls and added it to the dogs’ breakfast.

Can dogs eat eggs?

Eggs are an excellent source of nutrients for dogs.

• Eggs are a “perfect” source of high quality protein so they provide dogs with the essential amino acids required for metabolism. For situations when a dog needs extra protein like nursing or pregnant mothers or when you need to feed a small amount of food, then eggs are an ideal protein source.

• Eggs also contain essential fatty acids so they are ideal for dogs with itchy skin. The yolk is particularly high in fatty acids.

• Eggs provide the full range of minerals including iron, zinc and calcium. Egg shells are a good source of calcium, so you can include them along with the egg whites and yolk.

• Eggs contain all vitamins except Vitamin C. They are particularly good source of Vitamin A and B group vitamins.

Are egg whites safe to feed to dogs?

Egg whites can be problematic for dogs in two ways.

Firstly, egg whites contain an enzyme inhibitor so they can be difficult for some dogs to digest. Dogs which may not be able to digest eggs are very young dogs, senior dogs or dogs with a problem with their pancreas.

Secondly, egg whites contain a protein called avidin. Avidin binds to vitamin biotin, a B complex group vitamin, which makes it unavailable to the dog. For a dog to show symptoms of a biotin deficiency, they would need to eat large quantities of egg whites. In a study of rats, when force feed excessive amounts of avidin, the rats started to show signs of a deficiency.

If you are concerned about egg whites affecting biotin digestibility, then lightly cooking an egg will eliminate any effects. Alternatively, feed just the egg yolks raw and unprocessed so all the nutrients are highly available to the dog.

Tips for including eggs in your dog’s diet

I feed my dogs whole raw eggs once or twice a week, depending on availability and other protein sources they have eaten.

My dogs are accustomed to eating whole eggs, so once or twice a week, I crack an egg into their vegetables. I also crush the shell into a grit like consistency with the back of a spoon and I mix the whole egg and shell through the vegetable puree. For dogs who will don’t particularly like their vegetable mix, I find combining it with an egg improves palatability.

For dogs and cats that are not accustomed to eating eggs, you can lightly heat the egg so it is partially cooked and warm. Lightly cooking will improve the egg’s palatability and help you introduce eggs into your animal’s diet. Remember any cooking will reduce the nutrients available to your animal.

For more information about including eggs in your cat or dog’s or any other queries about formulating a whole food diet for your cat or dog, please contact me at jlconlon@fullstride.com.au or follow Full Stride on Facebook for more updates.

Until next time, enjoy your dogs.

Sources:

Billinghurst, I (1993), Give your dog a bone:the practical common sense way to feed dogs for a long and healthy life, Warrigal Publishing, Bathurst NSW.

De Bairacli Levy, J. (1992), The complete herbal handbook for the dog and cat, Farrar, Strauss and Giroux, New York.

Pitcairn, R.H & Pitcairn, S. H. (2005) Dr Pitcairn’s complete guide to natural health for dogs and cats, Rodale Inc, USA