{"id":938,"date":"2022-01-10T19:10:24","date_gmt":"2022-01-10T19:10:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/maven.pet\/all-about-pets\/?p=938"},"modified":"2025-09-11T17:42:29","modified_gmt":"2025-09-11T17:42:29","slug":"are-eggs-good-for-dogs-cats","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/maven.pet\/all-about-pets\/how-to-guides-helpful-tips\/are-eggs-good-for-dogs-cats\/","title":{"rendered":"Are Eggs Good For Dogs Or Cats? Pros, Cons and Tips"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

When it comes to this topic, the first question you may have wondered about is\u2026 Can dogs eat eggs?<\/a> The short answer is, yes they can, as can cats. However, there are benefits and risks to be aware of. The question then becomes, “are eggs good for dogs? What about cats?”<\/strong>. Basically, should your pet eat eggs? Let’s look at what to keep in mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Truth be told, eggs are one of the most complete and nutritious foods you can give your pet. Their biological value, meaning, the fraction of amino acids (protein) absorbed by the gut that is retained by the body for growth and\/or maintenance, is huge: 100%! That is powerful!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The benefits that come from including eggs in dogs and cats\u2019 diet do not end here. They are also a good source of Vitamin A, Riboflavin, Folate, Vitamin B12, Iron, Selenium and Fatty Acids. These are all needed to ensure homeostasis – the body\u2019s ability to keep its internal environment balanced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Feeding eggs to our four-legged best friends might raise some doubts and concerns. Should they be offered cooked or raw? Is it best to give the whole egg, or only the yolks? Getting answers to these and many other questions will allow you to make a conscious decision on if and how your buddy is going to benefit from the egg\u2019s superpowers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Every pet is unique and has their own needs. At the end of the day, what matters most is ensuring that their diet is high-quality, balanced and nutritious, and that the feeding plan adopted fits your lifestyle. Your vet can help you figure out what is in your pet\u2019s best interest!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Raw egg whites contain enzyme inhibitors<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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It\u2019s a fact! Whites contain enzyme inhibitors that can have a negative impact on digestion, especially in very young and old animals. However, this only becomes harmful for their health if eggs are given on a daily basis – 1 per meal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Raw egg whites can cause Biotin deficiency<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Egg whites contain avidin, a Biotin inhibitor. Biotin, also known as Vitamin B7, plays an important role in cellular growth, fatty acid metabolism and is good for skin and coat. Deficiencies of this nutrient are quite rare and it would take an extraordinary amount of eggs to make biotin decrease dangerously.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the plus side, and this is how we know Nature has its own way of keeping everything balanced, egg yolks are very high in biotin! As long as you feed the entire egg, avidin will not be a concern.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What we suggest is that the egg is fed as a whole, so we can avoid this issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cooking the egg will also solve the problem of avidin. Heat has the ability to neutralize the enzyme, so it can no longer bind and inhibit Biotin, allowing the vitamin to be used by the body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Raw eggs may contain salmonella<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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True story! The chances of an egg being contaminated with salmonella are less when we are talking about a store-bought pasteurized egg, properly stored and eaten within the expiration date. However, contamination is still possible\u2026 And we should be aware of it when considering eating or feeding our pets raw or cooked eggs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dogs have the great advantage of dealing with bacteria a lot better than humans. In fact, they are known to be much more resistant to bacteria intoxication than most animals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That being said, we should never disregard any preventive safety measures. Ensuring a proper storage and that the eggs are kept cool will maintain the harmful bacteria at a manageable level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following the expiration date, making sure that the eggs are stored appropriately and cooking them all the way through, will highly decrease the chances of getting food poisoning or any gastrointestinal issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Raw eggs are more nutritious than cooked eggs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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This is also true! The cooking process has an impact on any food\u2019s nutritional value, and eggs are no different. On the other hand, cooked eggs are way safer regarding the bacteria content and are also better for digestion!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to include eggs in your pet\u2019s diet<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you were wondering “are eggs good for dogs or cats?” or “should my pet eat eggs?”, all the cards are now on the table. We hope that with all the information above, you have the means to make a conscious decision about if and how to include eggs in your buddy\u2019s diet. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here is what you need to know in terms of feeding amount:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If the pet is on a BARF diet:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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