Can I put a raw egg in my dog s food

Mixing Raw Eggs with Dog Food: Pros and Cons of Adding this Superfood to your Pets Diet

Is it OK to put raw egg in dog food?

Raw eggs can be a nutritious addition to a dogs diet and can provide a boost to their coat and skin health, as well as support muscle development. However, it is important to be cautious when feeding raw eggs to dogs, as they can contain harmful bacteria that can cause food poisoning. It is recommended to thoroughly wash the eggs and cook them lightly before mixing them with the dog food to reduce the risk of bacterial contamination.

It is also important to note that while adding a raw egg to a dogs diet may have some benefits, it is not necessary for a balanced diet. Dogs can obtain all the necessary nutrients from a complete and balanced commercial dog food or a homemade diet formulated by a veterinarian or animal nutritionist. It is always best to consult with a veterinarian before making any changes to a dogs diet.

Can I mix egg with dog food?

Yes, you can mix egg with dog food as a nutritious addition to your dogs diet. Raw eggs contain a variety of vitamins and minerals, including vitamin A, riboflavin, and biotin, as well as high-quality protein. They can provide a boost to a dogs coat and skin health, as well as support muscle development. However, it is important to be cautious when feeding raw eggs to dogs, as they can contain harmful bacteria that can cause food poisoning. It is recommended to thoroughly wash the eggs and cook them lightly before mixing them with the dog food to reduce the risk of bacterial contamination.

How much raw egg should I feed my dog?

Feeding raw eggs to your dog can be a nutritious addition to their diet, but it is important to do so in moderation. Raw eggs contain a variety of vitamins and minerals, including vitamin A, riboflavin, and biotin, as well as high-quality protein. They can provide a boost to a dogs coat and skin health, as well as support muscle development. However, it is important to be cautious when feeding raw eggs to dogs, as they can contain harmful bacteria that can cause food poisoning. It is recommended to thoroughly wash the eggs and cook them lightly before mixing them with the dog food to reduce the risk of bacterial contamination.

So, how much raw egg should you feed your dog? The amount will depend on their size and

, as well as their overall health and nutritional needs. It is generally recommended to feed dogs no more than one raw egg per week, as part of a well-balanced diet. This can be mixed with their regular food or offered as a treat.

Can I give my dog raw eggs everyday?

It is generally not recommended to feed your dog raw eggs every day. While raw eggs can be a nutritious addition to a dogs diet, they should be fed in moderation as part of a well-balanced diet. It is generally recommended to feed dogs no more than one raw egg per week.

It is important to note that while adding a raw egg to a dogs diet may have some benefits, it is not necessary for a balanced diet. Dogs can obtain all the necessary nutrients from a complete and balanced commercial dog food or a homemade diet formulated by a veterinarian or animal nutritionist. It is always best to consult with a veterinarian before making any changes to a dogs diet.

Additionally, it is important to be cautious when feeding raw eggs to dogs, as they can contain harmful bacteria that can cause food poisoning. It is recommended to thoroughly wash the eggs and cook them lightly before mixing them with the dog food to reduce the risk of bacterial contamination.

Cracked Raw Egg Over Dog Food: 5 Benefits & 7 Risks

Youve seen it on the Internet.

Lots of dog parents put raw eggs in their dogs food.

And you wonder,

Is this practice safe?

Keep reading to discover:

• 5 benefits of raw eggs for dogs.
• The method to make eggs safe for your pooch.
• 7 risks of cracking raw eggs in your dogs food.
• Precisely why you shouldnt feed them too many eggs.
• And many, many more

Can I crack a raw egg in my dogs food?

You can crack a raw egg in your dogs food, but there are risks. Raw eggs cause bacterial illnesses, interfere with digestion, cause biotin deficiency and allergies. And its a choking hazard. But its also a great source of nutrition, it helps with arthritis and helps your dog eat more.

5 benefits of raw eggs for dogs

#1: A great source of vitamins

The wild ancestors of the modern dog had eggs as a part of their diet.

They used to steal eggs from nesting birds.

And its no wonder because eggs are a great source of essential vitamins.

Such as:

• Niacin.
• Folic acid.
• Riboflavin.
• Vitamins A, D, E, K.
• Vitamin B- complex.

FirstVet tells us that these help with:

• Growth.
• Metabolism processes.
• Immune system function and development.

Whats not to like about that?

#2: Helps with arthritis

Eggs are a classic example of whats outside is just as good as the inside.

The shells of dogs are great sources of:

• Calcium.
• Magnesium.
• Phosphorus.

Other trace minerals are also found in these white casings.

But did you know eggshells may help treat joint pain in arthritic dogs?

This is according to a study on 51 dogs. The researchers tested the efficacy of a supplement made from eggshell membranes.

The owners monitored the dogs condition with a weekly questionnaire.

Within 6 weeks, there were improvements on:

• Pain (22.5%).
• Quality of life (26.8%).
• Treatment response (22.5%).

And the dogs didnt experience any negative effects the whole time they took the supplement.

You might also want to know: 9 Ways To Massage A Dog With Arthritis (How-to)

#3: Encourages dog to eat more

A raw egg on the top is a great appetizer for your pooch.

Especially if they need to gain weight after an illness.

Almost all dogs like the taste.

I remember my friend telling me about her dog, Hela.

She had a love for eggs.

And it all started when she grabbed an egg tray on the kitchen counter. All 24 of the eggs dashed to the floor.

My friend came home to the dog licking her mouth after eating about half the eggs.

It was a miracle that she didnt have any bad reactions.

Needless to say, all eggs from that moment had their place in the cupboard. Far from Helas reach.

You might also like: 9 Ways To Deal With A Dog That Is Always Hungry

#4: Great source of protein

PetMD tells us that protein has a lot of essential roles in a dogs body:

• Growing hair.
• Providing energy.
• Hormone production.
• Forming new skin cells.
• Strengthening immunity.
• Building and repairing muscles.

Your dog needs these because their body only produces about half of the amino acids needed.

Eating protein-rich food supplies the amino acids missing.

#5: Rich in essential fatty acids

Essential fatty acids or EFAs are those that dogs cant produce. Which is why they have to get it from their food.

There are 2 classifications: omega-3 and omega-6.

According to Tufts, dogs need a mix of the 2 for maximum health benefits.

But commercial dog food diets are high only in omega-6. Because of this, vets will often recommend omega-3 supplements.

A good balance between these 2 is important.

Why?

Because omega-3s and omega-6s are a part of your dogs response to injury and infection.

They also help your pooch develop a healthy coat. And fatty acids help treat skin problems or even other medical conditions.

What are the sources of fatty acids?

TVP says that dog food companies and dog supplement manufacturers often get it from:

• Fish oil.
• Corn oil.
• Canola oil.
• Flaxseed oil.

Did you know? There are omega-3 enriched eggs. Farmers feed free-range hens with flaxseed. As a result, they lay eggs high in this fatty acid.

7 risks of cracking raw eggs in your dogs food

#1: Bacterial infections

As there are benefits to eating eggs, there are also risks. Especially when cracking raw eggs over your poochs dinner.

One of these is the risk of eating contaminated eggs.

Usually, cooking the eggs will kill the bacteria.

Uncooked eggs, on the other hand, may contain Salmonella bacterium.

And when dogs eat these, they can become sick with:

Salmonellosis

According to PetMD, this is an infection that could lead to other medical illnesses such as:

• Septicemia.
• Gastroenteritis.
• Spontaneous abortions.

This also affects humans. So theres a chance that youll also have an infection if your dog has this.

Here are the signs to look out for:

• Fever.
• Diarrhea.
• Vomiting.
• Collapse.
• Weight loss.
• Dehydration.
• Skin problems.
• Loss of appetite.
• Very fast heart rate.
• Slimy poop (mucus).
• Disinterest in activity.
• Swelling of lymph nodes.
• A lot of vaginal discharge.

And pregnant dogs can have sudden miscarriages with salmonellosis.

Warning: Take your dog to the vet if they display these signs. There are times when your dogs can get a chronic Salmonella infection.

Your vet will have to run a series of tests to diagnose your doggo. This also rules out other medical problems that have the same signs.

For more information, take a look at the CDCs article on Salmonella and eggs.

Youll also learn how to reduce the chances of getting infected. Whether its you or your dog.

#2: Contains enzymes that interfere with digestion

EmbarkVet explains that egg whites contain the avidin protein.

This is an enzyme that messes with your doggos digestion.

Because it prevents the absorption of several vitamins.

And when this is always happening, your dog can develop vitamin deficiencies.

One of which Ill talk about in risk #3.

#3: Biotin deficiency

The presence of avidin in eggs prevents the absorption of biotin.

Which is part of the B-complex vitamins found in eggs.

As a result, your dog can have a biotin deficiency.

And although its rare in dogs, it can have serious effects on them

In particular, their skin.

This study states that avidin in the egg whites binds with biotin in the yolk.

This prevents the dogs digestive system from absorbing it.

And as a result, the pooch will develop alopecia or hair loss. This happens around their face and eyes.

The researchers continue to say that the cause of this is feeding raw eggs to dogs.

#4: Possibility of allergy development

Eggs have a lot of protein.

And guess what?

Dogs can develop allergies to proteins!

According to FirstVet, eggs are among the top 10 foods that cause allergic reactions.

Food allergies happen because a dogs immune system starts attacking the body. Because it senses that there is a foreign substance thats dangerous.

This happens with certain proteins found in food.

Because of an overactive immune system, the skin barrier gets damaged.

This is why dogs allergic to eggs will display the signs of atopic dermatitis.

These are:

• Licking.
• Rubbing.
• Scratching
• Greasy skin.
• Yeasty smell.
• Hardened skin.
• Red, itchy skin.

And whats tricky is that, might take some time for the symptoms to show.

Helas battle with atopic dermatitis

My friends dog, Hela. The doggo who loved eggs in risk #3 had a very bad case of atopic dermatitis.

My friend had to go on a trip for 2 weeks. So she left Hela behind with a dog sitter.

And unknown to her, the sitter fed Hela the wrong kind of dog food. It had chicken and eggs as the main ingredients.

After 2 weeks, she came home to a very miserable doggo.

Hela had:

• Very itchy skin.
• A very patchy coat.
• Swollen, crusty eyes.

It was months of going to the vet and daily medications.

Hela even had to have treatment for infected eyes. They got so itchy that shed scratch at her eyes.

And it still flares up at times.

Its no joke treating atopic dermatitis.

Note: If you know that your pooch is allergic to eggs or other poultry products, keep a close watch on them.

This rule applies to all things theyre allergic to.

If you want to know your pets allergens you can have a test done.

Allergy testing for dogs

First, theres intradermal skin testing.

VCA says that its only performed by vet dermatologists. But its highly accurate.

It involves:

1. An anesthetized dog.
2. Shaving a portion of their fur to expose skin.
3. Injecting allergen compounds under the skin.
4. Monitoring for skin reactions from the allergens.

While the other test that vets use is a RAST test.

This involves your vet extracting a blood sample from your dog. And sending it to a lab for analysis.

Its not so expensive. And your local vet can do it. You dont need to search for a vet dermatologist.

However, there are a lot of instances of false positives. And these still need confirmation through an intradermal test.

But you can still use the results for hyposensitization therapy.

This is a treatment where the dog gets injected with their allergens at increasing doses.

This allows them to get used to it. And their flare-ups will decrease. Its not a cure-all though.

Spectrum Vet says that the allergy isnt removed. But its managed.

Want to learn more about food allergies in your pooch?

Then watch this video for more information:

#5: No nutritional benefit

Basically, feeding raw eggs is the same as feeding cooked eggs to your doggo,

Let me explain.

In terms of nutrition, your dog gets the same amount, as PetMD says.

But with cooked eggs, its minus the risk of salmonella.

A serious infection that can result in death. If not properly treated.

And it also prevents other bacteria from getting into your dogs system.

Especially if you manage to feed a bad egg to your dog.

Or the egg isnt prepared according to hygienic standards.

Note: Remember that eggs shouldnt be the sole source of nutrition for your dog. In fact, most of what it provides is already present in quality dog kibble.

#6: Choking hazard

Eggshells are great sources of essential minerals.

But they can cause choking, especially in small dogs.

It also happens to dogs of all sizes.

I mentioned in benefit #3 that its a great appetizer.

Well, it does its job too well. Some dogs scarf down all of the egg. Without even chewing.

As a result, they can choke down on the sharp pieces of eggshells.

They might even injure their digestive tract as it travels down.

The shells are also where salmonella lives.

So without proper disinfection, youre exposing, not just your pooch. But yourself to the bacteria.

#7: Too much can lead to an overweight dog

Dogs need protein. And yes, eggs are a great source of this.

But if you feed your pooch too many eggs, this can lead to an excess of protein in their body.

The AKC says that it can lead to weight gain. Because your pooch will consume more calories.

So they recommend that you limit eggs as a special treat. Not as a regular part of their diet.

Because an overweight dog will have a lot of problems.

Why is obesity dangerous for dogs?

According to this 2018 study, obese or overweight dogs tend to have shorter life spans. Theres also a risk of instantaneous death.

The study focused on 56,787 neutered dogs of 12 breeds, all across North America.

And the vets who did the experiment said that there needs to be an emphasis on obesity prevention in dogs.

Aside from this, an overweight dog can develop the following conditions:

• Skin disease.
• Osteoarthritis.
• Type 2 diabetes.
• High blood pressure.
• Orthopedic problems.
• Heart and respiratory disease.

If your dogs packing on the pounds, the AKC has some advice:

1. Measure meals.
2. Establish a schedule for feeding.
3. Limit snacks and tasty treats.
4. Choose low-calorie treats.
5. Exercise with your dog.

It may be hard to do these for your pet. But consistency is key with your pooch.

Plus, it also allows you to spend more bonding time with them.

Conclusion: Is it ok to put raw egg in dog food?

Its not okay to put raw egg in dog food. There are a lot of risks such as Salmonella infection, digestive problems, biotin deficiency, allergy development, or obesity. The eggshells can be a choking hazard for your dog. And theres no additional nutritional benefit putting it in their food.

Read next: Can Dogs Eat Chicken Nuggets? 9 Dangers + 5 Safety Tips