Everything You Need to Know About Feeding Raw Eggs to Dogs

Eggs are one of nature’s most complete foods — loaded with protein, healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals. Whether you crack them raw over your dog’s meal or lightly cook them, eggs can be a powerful addition to your dog’s diet.

In this guide, we’ll explore the benefits of feeding eggs to dogs, the difference between raw and cooked eggs, how to safely handle and store them, and why choosing pasture-raised, free-range eggs makes a big difference in both nutrition and ethics.

Eggs are often called “nature’s multivitamin” — and for good reason. They contain nearly every nutrient needed to support your dog’s overall health.

1. High-Quality Protein
Eggs contain all nine essential amino acids, making them a complete protein source that supports muscle growth, repair, and immune function.

2. Rich in Essential Nutrients
Each egg delivers a variety of vitamins and minerals, including A, D, E, B12, folate, riboflavin, iron, and selenium — all crucial for maintaining strong bones, a healthy immune system, and cellular health.

3. Promotes Healthy Skin and Coat
The omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids in eggs help reduce skin inflammation and contribute to a glossy, healthy coat.

4. Supports Digestive and Gut Health
Raw eggs contain natural enzymes that can help improve digestion and nutrient absorption — a nice bonus for dogs with sensitive stomachs.

5. Boosts Brain Function and Energy
Eggs are a great source of choline, a nutrient vital for brain health, memory, and metabolism. Combined with healthy fats and protein, eggs help sustain your dog’s energy throughout the day.

The great raw egg debate usually comes down to two concerns: biotin deficiency and salmonella risk. Let’s unpack both.

Raw eggs are perfectly safe for most healthy dogs. They’re easy to digest, enzyme-rich, and offer unaltered nutrients. However, raw egg whites contain avidin, a compound that can block the absorption of biotin (a B vitamin essential for healthy skin and coat).

To prevent biotin issues, avoid feeding raw egg whites by themselves — feed the entire egg or alternate between raw and cooked eggs during the week.

Cooking neutralizes avidin and kills any potential salmonella. Contrary to popular belief, lightly cooking eggs (scrambled, boiled, poached, etc.) doesn’t significantly reduce their nutrient value. It can also make eggs easier to digest for some dogs.

If you prefer cooked eggs, skip the butter, oil, and seasoning. A dash of coconut oil or olive oil is fine, but avoid salt, pepper, and anything from your spice cabinet. I personally prefer cooking eggs, sunnyside up, in water, to avoid adding unnecessary fat to the meal.

Raw or cooked, both are nutritious options — what matters most is that your dog enjoys them and digests them well.

Not all eggs are created equal. The diet and environment of the hen directly affect the nutritional quality of the egg.

Pasture-raised eggs come from chickens that roam outdoors, pecking at grass, bugs, and seeds — just as nature intended. This results in eggs that are:

In contrast, eggs from caged or “free-range” hens (which may only have minimal outdoor access) are often lower in nutrients due to poor diet and stressful living conditions.

If you can, buy local farm eggs or Vital Farms pasture-raised eggs. Costco also offers pasture-raised, organic, certified humane eggs. Not only are they better for your dog — they’re better for the chickens and the planet.

If you buy eggs in bulk or have small dogs, freezing eggs is a great way to avoid waste and portion meals easily.

How to Freeze Eggs:

Cooked or raw, frozen eggs retain most of their nutrients. They may look slightly different after thawing, but your dog won’t notice.

Each egg type offers unique benefits — rotating between them adds variety and nutrition to your dog’s diet.

Fun fact: Duck eggs are supposed to be tastier than chicken eggs, but I’m allergic to them.

Eggshells are a fantastic, bioavailable source of calcium when properly prepared.

To make eggshell powder:

Avoid using grocery store eggshells, as they may be chemically washed.

1. Biotin Blocker (Avidin): Avoid feeding only raw egg whites.
2. Salmonella: Buy from trusted farms, refrigerate eggs, and wash hands after handling.
3. Allergies: Introduce eggs slowly and monitor for signs like itching or loose stools.
4. High Fat/Cholesterol: Dogs with pancreatitis or hyperlipidemia should eat eggs occasionally, not daily.

The salmonella risk may be minimal for many dogs, but it’s worth mentioning because our veterinarians will.

Most dogs do well with eggs several times a week.

Always adjust based on your dog’s overall diet and caloric needs.

I feed eggs to my dogs nearly every day, based on recipes I formulated with Animal Diet Formulator software.

If you haven’t noticed, eggs have gotten ridiculously expensive. I’ve seen them priced at $8 a dozen — wild, especially when you’re feeding four large dogs. These days, I buy eggs from local homesteaders for around $5 a dozen or grab 18-count cartons from Costco for under $8. And every now and then, I get lucky and score some for free.

Just like sourcing raw meat, organs, or fish for my dogs, it all comes down to networking.

People are always surprised when I ask about food for my dogs, but once they understand that giving me food helps reduce waste, they’re happy to share freezer dumps, excess, and animal parts they don’t eat.

Sometimes all it takes is one conversation to open up a steady supply of fresh, local food.

When I read The Forever Dog Life, I was shocked by the number of eggs in each recipe. Did Dr. Becker and Rodney know how much eggs cost? Then I started formulating recipes regularly and realized that eggs correct more deficiencies than a base mix.

Eggs are one of the most budget-friendly, nutrient-packed foods you can feed your dog. Whether raw or cooked, they support muscle health, skin, coat, and immune strength. Just be sure to choose pasture-raised eggs from healthy, happy chickens — because how the hen lives determines how nourishing her eggs are.

If your dog hasn’t tried eggs yet, start small, go slow, and enjoy the glow-up that follows.