Can Dogs Eat Raw Eggs? Raw Eggs for Dogs

Can dogs eat raw eggs? Yes! Raw eggs are one of the most complete sources of food. They’re highly beneficial to dogs and make for a great additional source of raw food.

Eggs can be added to a dog’s raw meat diet, especially if you’re looking for more variety in her bowl. They’re also a wonderful nutritional booster for kibble-fed dogs and can entice picky eaters to eat.

Tip: Raw eggs are also a good inexpensive first introduction to raw food if you’re looking to transition your kibble-fed dog to a raw meat diet.

Raw eggs for dogs – which type can they eat?

Technically dogs can eat a variety of raw eggs, ranging from chicken to duck and quail, but the most common egg on the doggie menu would probably be the chicken egg.

You can feed your dog regular, non-organic eggs, but my personal preference is to feed raw organic chicken eggs. That’s because they come from healthy hens that spend time outdoors (= Vitamin D from the sunshine), eat organic feed and haven’t been fed a diet rich in antibiotics.

I either buy my eggs from a local organic farm, or I get the organic kind from grocery stores. I don’t mind spending a few extra dollars on a better quality as I consider it an investment in my dogs’ (and my own!) health, and I also enjoy supporting local farms.

Maybe you are even lucky enough that you have your own chickens laying eggs!

The picture above features my late pup Missy (on the right) and her brother Buzz with raw chicken eggs, liver and feet we bought at a local organic farm.

The benefits or raw eggs for dogs

As mentioned above, raw eggs are one of the most nutritious, complete foods because they’re rich in:

• All essential amino acids (known as the building blocks of protein)
• Iron, zinc, copper
• Selenium
• Vitamin A & D
• Phosphorus & Calcium
• B vitamins Thiamine (B1), Riboflavin (B2) & Folate (B9)
• Omega-3 fatty acids
• Collagen (in the eggshell membrane)

All of these make raw eggs great for:

• Stimulating muscle growth, regeneration and wound healing
• Regulating immune function
• Promoting healthy skin & coat
• Supporting joint health

Raw eggs are also great for weight loss because of their low calorie content and can easily replace treats. A large chicken egg only contains about 70 calories.

How to feed your dog raw eggs

Dogs can have raw eggs 1-4 times per week, depending on their respective size.

A smaller dog can have 1-2 raw eggs per week, while a larger dog will do fine with 3-4 raw eggs per week.

Can dogs eat eggshells?

Yes, the eggshell can be fed as well if the eggs are organic and haven’t been treated with chemical sanitizers. It’s the part of the egg that’s rich in calcium and phosphorus, and it’s where you’ll find the eggshell membrane that boosts joint health.

That being said, eggshells are actually a decent alternative for raw meaty bones, so if your dog is on a raw dog food diet and has trouble eating raw bones, try feeding eggshells!

I would add eggs to Missy’s & Buzz’s raw meals about 3 times per week. I’d either place a whole organic raw egg in their bowl or crack it open, but always including the shell.

If your dog doesn’t like larger chunks of eggshell, you can break it apart into tiny pieces and mix them in with your dog’s (raw) dog food.

Feeding the egg whole vs. cracking the egg

If you want to challenge your dog a little on a mental level, offer the raw egg whole rather than cracking it open for him. He’ll have to figure out how to eat it, which is a great boredom buster and interesting/fun to watch!

It may be a good idea to “play” the whole raw egg game outside on a grassy area to minimize clean up on your part!

The first time I offered Missy & Buzz a whole raw egg, they pawed at it and pushed it around with their muzzles for several minutes before they finally just bit into it and ate it. It was hilarious to watch and I regret not having video footage of the scenario!

Raw dog food recipes with raw eggs

The first picture features an organic whole raw egg, a chicken leg quarter, canned sardines and homemade turkey bone broth.

If you’ve ever fed your dog raw eggs, let me know in the comments if you typically feed the egg whole or cracked.

The second picture features an organic raw egg that I cracked open along with a duck wing, a chicken foot, beef oxlip, ground green tripe, ground beef lung, a secreting organ mix, turkey gizzards and pumpkin purée:

The third picture features an organic raw egg that I cracked open along with ground duck (from Darwin’s) and an air-dried lamb ear (from one of my favorite single ingredient dog treat subscription brands Real Dog Box):

Adding a cracked egg over a dog’s dry food – benefits

Like I briefly mentioned earlier, you don’t have to feed your dog a raw dog food diet in order to be able to feed him or her raw eggs. If you’re a kibble feeder, you can certainly add a cracked egg over your dog’s dry food as well.

Your pup will reap the following benefits:

• Improved skin health
• Shinier coat
• Great for a slow introduction to fresher foods
• Low calorie food
• Adds variety and nutrients

What’s great about it FOR YOU is that you can boost your dog’s dry food with a raw egg with little to no effort. After all, it’s raw!

Fried or scrambled eggs for dogs – benefits

That being said, it requires more work for you to fry or scramble eggs for your dog than feeding them raw. But if you’re up for it, that’s ok too, and if you’re already cooking eggs for yourself, you might as well share some with your dog.

However, your dog will benefit LESS from eating fried or scrambled eggs than from raw eggs. That’s because cooking destroys a good amount of nutrients found in raw eggs.

Also, let the cooked eggs cool off a little to ensure that your pup won’t burn his or her mouth when eating them. You also don’t need to add any salt to your dog’s eggs, so when you’re cooking eggs for both of you, it’s a good idea to cook your dog’s eggs first before you add salt and/or other spices to the pan.

Tip: This option is also great for picky eaters who won’t eat raw eggs.

Will my dog get sick from raw eggs?

It’s highly unlikely that your dog will get sick from eating raw eggs.

That’s because dog stomachs are equipped to handle bacteria present in raw food such as salmonella. They’re a lot more acidic than our human stomachs, which means that their digestive systems can handle raw food without causing sickness.

The only time a dog may get sick from eating raw eggs or raw food in general is when his immune system is compromised, for example when he has cancer.

For more information on this topic, see That Mutt’s article Will my dog get sick from salmonella in raw or dry dog food?

Can puppies eat raw eggs?

Yep, you probably guessed it – puppies can eat raw eggs the same way adult dogs can.

They can get introduced to raw eggs once they’re 3 weeks old. Between 3 weeks and 7-8 weeks of age, puppies still drink some of their mother’s milk, but they also start getting introduced to solid foods.

Raw-fed puppies

During the 3-8 week time frame, puppies who get introduced to raw dog food typically get a mix of raw goat milk, some slippery elm, a little fish oil, an egg and a little yogurt in addition to their mother’s milk.

By the time they’re 8 weeks old, they start getting introduced to regular raw dog food and can have about 2 raw eggs per week.

Kibble-fed puppies

Just like raw-fed puppies, those who are raised on kibble can start eating some raw eggs between 3-8 weeks of age. After that, they can have raw eggs mixed in with their dry food twice per week.

Have you fed your dog raw eggs?

Let us know in the comments below!

Barbara Rivers writes regularly for That Mutt. She is a blogger, raw feeder and dog walker and maintains the blog K9s Over Coffee. 

Related posts:

How to safely feed your dog raw bones

5 common mistakes when feeding your dog raw