Can Dogs Eat Eggs?

Yes, dogs can eat eggs, as long as they're fully cooked and plain. Hard-boiled, scrambled or poached eggs with no butter, oil, salt or seasoning are a good occasional source of protein.^1,2 Most vets advise against raw eggs because of Salmonella and bird flu risk, and frequent raw egg whites can interfere with biotin.^1,2,3 Eggs are fairly high in calories for a treat: one large egg is about 78 calories, close to a medium dog's whole daily treat allowance.⁴

Egg Nutrition for Dogs

Eggs provide high-quality protein, choline, selenium, riboflavin and vitamin B12. Almost all of the fat and about three-quarters of the calories are in the yolk.^4,5,6

Calculated from USDA FoodData Central values for hard-boiled whole egg and raw white and yolk.^4,5,6

How Much Egg Can a Dog Eat?

A healthy adult dog's treats, including fruit, should be no more than about 10 percent of daily calories.^7,8 Using the Merck Veterinary Manual's energy formula for a neutered adult, that works out to roughly 35 calories of treats a day for a 10-pound dog, 59 for a 20-pound dog, 98 for a 40-pound dog, 150 for a 70-pound dog and 196 for a 100-pound dog.⁹ Your dog's real needs depend on age, activity and body condition. PetMD's suggested amounts, once or twice a week, are below.² Think of them as the most to give: on an egg day, the egg uses about half to four-fifths of the treat allowance, so skip other treats that day. If you use egg as a meal topper, feed a little less of the regular food.

Share of treat allowance is our calculation for a 10, 20, 40, 70 and 100 pound dog.

Can Dogs Eat Raw Eggs?

• Salmonella: raw eggs can carry it, causing vomiting, diarrhea, fever and lethargy. Dogs can also shed Salmonella in their stool and saliva without looking sick, which puts the people around them at risk.^1,2,10 A 2026 Salmonella outbreak linked to shell eggs sickened people in 18 states.¹¹
• Bird flu (H5N1): the FDA lists unpasteurized eggs among raw ingredients that can carry H5N1 and says heat inactivates the virus. Dogs can catch H5N1, though cases are rare.^3,12
• Biotin: raw egg whites contain avidin, which binds the B vitamin biotin. An occasional raw egg is unlikely to matter, but feeding raw whites regularly can lead to biotin deficiency and skin problems. Cooking inactivates avidin.^2,13
• No extra benefit: raw eggs offer nothing that cooked eggs don't.²
• Raw eggs are on the ASPCA list of foods to avoid.¹⁴

If your dog ate a raw egg, he'll most likely be fine. Watch for vomiting, diarrhea, fever or lethargy over the next few days, wash your hands and clean up his stool carefully.^1,10

How to Cook Eggs for Your Dog

• Hard-boiled: cook until the white and yolk are solid, cool, peel and chop. Cooked eggs keep in the fridge for up to four days.²
• Scrambled or poached: cook in a nonstick pan or water with no butter, oil, milk, salt or seasoning.^1,2
• Skip human-style eggs: a pat of butter adds nearly half again the egg's calories, and a dash of salt more than doubles its sodium.^15,16,4 Omelets with onion, garlic or chives are toxic, and cheese adds fat and salt.¹⁷
• Deviled eggs, egg salad and quiche contain mayonnaise, onion and seasonings, so skip them.

Eggs for Dogs With Pancreatitis or on Low-Fat Diets

Egg yolk fat can cause problems for dogs with a history of pancreatitis, obesity or a low-fat diet. For those dogs, PetMD suggests egg whites only, or no eggs at all.^2,18 A cooked egg white is just 17 calories with almost no fat.⁵ Check with your vet first if your dog is on a prescription diet.

Can Dogs Eat Eggshells?

Eggshells are high in calcium, but most dogs don't need extra. A complete commercial dog food already has enough calcium, and adding more to a growing large-breed puppy's diet can make bone problems worse.¹⁹ Sharp shell pieces can also hurt the throat.¹ PetMD says ground, baked shells can be used only under your vet's guidance, for example in a vet-designed homemade diet.² A study that found less joint pain in dogs tested a commercial eggshell membrane supplement, not ground shells.²⁰

Can Dogs Be Allergic to Eggs?

Yes, but it's uncommon.^1,2 In a review of food-allergic dogs, egg was the trigger in about 4 percent, far behind beef, dairy, chicken and wheat.²¹ Signs include itchy skin, ear infections, vomiting or diarrhea, and rarely hives, swelling or trouble breathing.^2,1 See food allergies.

Can Puppies Eat Eggs?

Yes, puppies can have small amounts of plain cooked egg as an occasional treat once they're eating solid food, usually from about 8 weeks.^1,2,8 Never give puppies raw egg, because they're more likely to get sick from Salmonella.¹⁰

When to Call the Vet

Call your vet if your dog has a poor appetite, seems tired or uncomfortable, or keeps licking his lips or gulping after eating it. Get care right away for repeated vomiting, severe diarrhea, blood in vomit or stool, weakness or collapse.^2,1 Stop eggs and call your vet if you see allergy signs such as itching, hives or facial swelling, and call promptly if your dog swallowed sharp shell pieces and is gagging or vomiting.¹

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