Can Dogs Eat Scrambled Eggs? Vet Approved Nutrition Facts & Safety Guide
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Eggs are generally considered to be an affordable form of high-quality protein, and with more and more people keeping backyard chickens, you may even luck into a neighbor or friend who’s desperate to get rid of excess eggs. There are multiple ways you can prepare eggs, but scrambled eggs are often considered the simplest and one of the quickest ways to prepare eggs.
If you’ve been looking for high-quality proteins to add to your dog’s diet or to use as a treat, then you may have wondered about the addition of eggs. Since scrambled eggs are quick and easy to make, let’s talk about whether they’re safe for dogs or not. The short answer is yes, dogs can eat unseasoned scrambled eggs.
Can Dogs Eat Scrambled Eggs?
Yes, dogs can eat plain scrambled eggs. The caveat here is that scrambled eggs are often prepared with a handful of additives, including butter or oil, milk, salt, and even cheese, and these are things that are generally recommended to avoid giving to dogs.
Scrambled eggs with other ingredients, like onions and garlic, should not be fed to your dog due to the toxicity to dogs that these ingredients pose. Butter, milk, and cheese have the potential to cause stomach upset, vomiting, and diarrhea for your dog since dogs aren’t capable of properly digesting lactose, and oils can also lead to stomach upset and diarrhea.
Some salt is safe for dogs, but the necessary level of salt required for proper bodily functions is achieved through your dog’s regular diet. Providing them with treats that have added salt can lead to too much salt consumption, which can be dangerous and even deadly for dogs.
Are Scrambled Eggs Healthy for Dogs?
Eggs are an excellent source of protein, with around 5 grams of protein per egg. A large egg only contains around 78 calories, making this a lower-calorie option than many other proteins, like chicken and beef. They’re low in carbohydrates, coming in at around 0.7 grams of carbs per egg.
Eggs are also an excellent source of multiple vitamins and minerals, including sodium, which is just another reason to avoid giving your dog salted scrambled eggs. Eggs are high in phosphorus, potassium, calcium, and magnesium, as well as choline, pantothenic acid, riboflavin, and vitamin B6.
On the downside, eggs are high in fat, with a single egg containing around 9.5 grams of fat. Excess fat can lead to acute health conditions for your dog, like pancreatitis and stomach upset. It can also contribute to weight gain and obesity over time. Because of these concerns, eggs should be offered sparingly to your dog.
Of course, all of these nutrition facts are for chicken eggs. There are multiple types of eggs that dogs can eat, with each bringing a very different nutritional profile. Check out some of the other egg options that your dog can eat if you’re looking for something different than chicken eggs.
Safety Guide for Scrambled Eggs
Undercooked and raw eggs can lead to illness, with salmonella being the top concern. Chickens are commonly carriers of salmonella, so it’s not unheard of for eggs to become contaminated. When feeding your dog scrambled eggs, ensure they are fully cooked.
Believe it or not, dogs can eat eggshells, which are a great source of calcium and other minerals. If feeding eggshells to your dog, it’s extremely important to ensure they are thoroughly washed. Many people bake or boil eggshells before feeding them to their dog in order to reduce the risk of foodborne illness.
In Conclusion
Scrambled eggs can be a good snack for dogs, but their high fat content can make them unsuitable for daily feeding, especially in dogs prone to pancreatitis and obesity. Dogs can safely eat scrambled eggs, but they should be fully cooked to reduce the risk of salmonella and other foodborne illnesses.
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Featured Image Credit: MSPhotographic, Shutterstock
