If you are wondering whether your dog can eat eggs, the short answer is yes! However, we must take some precautions to ensure our dogs stay safe. It’s Easter weekend, and with it, our focus moves on to eggs. However you like to make them (if you celebrate Easter), be it hard-boiled or soft-boiled, dogs will want a bite or two as well. So, what can we give them? Not chocolate eggs, that’s for sure!

Important: dogs with pancreas diseases and diabetes shouldn’t eat eggs!

Hard-boiled Eggs Are The Best Choice For Dogs

The safest option, no matter the type of food, is to cook the food thoroughly. That rule applies to the eggs as well. The reason for following the rule “better safe than sorry” is that, yes, of course, dogs can eat raw eggs, but they can be a source of bacteria. To be specific, it can be a source of bacteria called Salmonella. 

Don’t feed your dogs raw eggs because they may contain Salmonella.

Salmonella’s danger stems from its ability to spread from dogs to people. Both dogs and people will show an array of signs pointing to problems with the digestive systems. For the dogs, the symptoms are:

• Fever
• Anorexia
• Vomiting
• Abdominal pain
• Diarrhea 

The human symptoms are very similar, with nausea, pain, vomiting, and fever being the same. Not every Salmonella infection is the same or comes from the same type of these bacteria. Some are more dangerous, and the one we are talking about can cause serious issues if left untreated. Why?

Because of the rapid loss of water from the organism during vomiting and diarrhea episodes. Basically, the dog’s body loses much-needed water too fast. Failure to rehydrate a dog quickly can have fatal consequences. 

This is not to scare you, just for the reading impact. It is the truth with any other disease in which the body loses water too fast. Dogs don’t know they have to drink lots of fluids when they vomit or have diarrhea. And, if we don’t take them to a vet soon, the situation can be quite dangerous.

Bottom line? Hard-boiled eggs are just as delicious to dogs as raw eggs.

Is Eggshell Bad For Dogs?

As with many things regarding our beloved pets, this one is debatable as well. Depending on who you ask, some will say, “Of course they are dangerous!” while others think, “They are perfectly safe!”

Why the debate? Eggshells are not toxic, and dogs can eat them. However, sometimes dogs get hurt trying to chew the sharp edges of the cracked eggshell. The injury can also happen at a lower level of the digestive system—in their esophagus. How often does the injury happen? Well, no one actually knows, but to be honest, it is not common. However, this leads us to the same rule we love to follow when it comes to our pets: “Better to be safe than wonder why on Earth did I give those eggshells to my dog?!”

Eggs are actually a great natural source of calcium. Dogs can benefit from them. So, how should we give eggshells to dogs? One way is to crush them into smaller parts and mix them with other food. The other way is what I’ve seen some people do online. They turn eggshells into literal dust! That’s OK, but there is no need for that. 

The quickest and safest way is to hard-boil an egg, crush the entire egg until the eggshells and the egg are well mixed with no big, sharp eggshells, and voilà! Give it to your dog! Bon appétit!

Health Benefits of Eggs for Dogs

Eggs are a perfect bundle of nutrients! They are full of proteins, vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids. Here is a list and amounts of minerals, vitamins, and other important nutrients in an average 58g egg.

As you can see, they have everything we (and our dogs) need. You can also give your dog scrambled eggs, not just hard-boiled ones . Whatever you choose, be sure not to add salt or other seasoning–if you’re preparing the egg for your dog. 

How Many Eggs Can a Dog Eat?

Stick to one egg a day. Dogs can eat more than just one egg, but they shouldn’t. Also, eggs shouldn’t be the only source of nutrients. They are healthy, but to quote, “All things are poison and nothing is without poison; only the dose makes a thing not a poison.” (Paracelsus) Essentially, anything could hurt you, no matter how healthy it is, if you consume it too much. 

One egg a day is safe to give to your dog.

Final Thoughts

This Easter, share the joy of the holidays with your dogs by giving them a hard-boiled egg. You will include them in your everyday activities, which they will love! And you can make it even more fun–an egg hunt with dogs! For this activity, you need:

• Eggs
• A dog
• A smelly treat 

Make sure you rub the egg in the smelly treat for the best effect! Crush the egg whole with the eggshell and make a ball shape out of it. Let the dog sniff the egg, hide it, and then tell your dog to find it. While the children look for the chocolate eggs, your dogs will look for their own little special treat! Happy Holidays!

Read Next: 13 Fruits Safe For Dogs To Eat

Cover photo by Spiritze