Can Dogs Eat Eggs?
Yes, dogs can eat eggs, and cooked eggs are a healthy, protein-rich treat. Serve them plain and fully cooked - boiled, scrambled or poached with no butter, oil, salt or seasoning. Avoid raw eggs, which can carry salmonella and, fed often, interfere with a B vitamin. Keep eggs to a treat-sized portion (a quarter of an egg a week for a small dog, up to about two for a very large one) so treats stay under 10% of daily calories.
Yes - dogs can eat eggs, and cooked eggs are one of the better human foods to share. They’re packed with high-quality, easily digested protein and are a favourite training reward. The key rules: cook them, keep them plain, and treat them as an occasional extra rather than a meal.
Are eggs good for dogs?
Cooked eggs offer genuine nutritional value:
- High-quality protein that supports muscle and tissue repair
- Omega fatty acids in the yolk that help keep skin and coat healthy
- Vitamins A, D, E and several B vitamins that support the immune system and metabolism
They’re also gentle on the stomach, which is why plain scrambled egg sometimes features in a bland diet for a recovering dog (on a vet’s advice).
Cooked, not raw
Always cook eggs before feeding them:
- Salmonella. Raw eggs can carry salmonella, which can make a dog (and the people in the house) ill, causing vomiting and diarrhoea.
- Biotin absorption. Raw egg whites contain avidin, a protein that binds a B vitamin called biotin. An occasional raw egg won’t cause a deficiency, but fed regularly it can interfere with nutrient absorption.
Boiled, scrambled or poached are all fine - as long as they’re plain. No butter, oil, salt, cheese, or seasonings, and never with onion or garlic.
How many eggs can a dog have?
Eggs are calorie-dense, so portion to your dog’s size and keep all treats under 10% of daily calories. As a rough guide:
- Small dogs (up to ~10 lb): about a quarter of an egg per week
- Medium dogs: half to one egg per week
- Very large dogs (90 lb+): up to about two eggs per week
Introduce eggs gradually the first time and watch for any stomach upset, since some dogs are sensitive to them.
A few cautions
- Eggs add fat and calories - go easy with dogs that are overweight or prone to pancreatitis, and check with your vet first.
- Egg allergies exist in dogs; stop feeding eggs and consult your vet if you see itching, ear problems or tummy upset.
- Shells are sometimes ground up as a calcium source, but only do this under veterinary guidance - a balanced diet usually already has enough calcium.
References
- Can Dogs Eat Eggs? Benefits, Risks, and Feeding Tips - PetMD
- Can Dogs Eat Eggs? - American Kennel Club
- Can Dogs Eat Eggs? (& What About Raw Eggs?) - Hill’s Pet
This article is general information, not veterinary advice. Introduce new foods gradually and check with your vet if your dog has a medical condition.
