Can dogs eat raw eggs? This is a frequently discussed question among dog owners, which often appears in internet forums and in numerous dog playgrounds. The topic primarily comes up again and again in connection with BARFing dogs . After all, BARF is about biologically appropriate raw feeding, the most natural form of nutrition for our beloved furry friends. But do the same principles that apply to raw beef , poultry or BARF horse meat also apply to eggs, and can dogs therefore eat raw eggs? haustierkost.de provides the answer.
Raw egg for dogs – yolk yes, egg white no
Raw eggs are a useful nutritional supplement for dogs to classic BARF dog food - provided that one basic rule is observed: only the yolk of the raw egg goes into the dog's food bowl. This is a true superfood that provides four-legged friends with natural unsaturated fatty acids and 13 valuable vitamins for dogs . These include vitamins A, D and E, which support the immune system and help to store minerals in the bones and promote cell renewal. Biotin, niacin and folic acid also provide valuable B vitamins, which are essential for a healthy organism.
Raw egg yolk also provides dogs with plenty of sodium, potassium, iron and phosphorus - all of which are minerals that are important for dogs' diets and are primarily involved in maintaining a healthy and shiny coat and also strengthening the immune system for a long and happy dog life.
In addition to the egg yolk, the eggshell can also be fed. However, it should first be ground into a fine powder. The easiest way is to buy it as ready-made eggshell flour in our BARF shop . This is a wonderful source of animal calcium and is particularly suitable for pets that cannot tolerate bones for dogs - for example older animals whose jaws have lost some of their strength over the years. But pregnant and lactating bitches as well as growing puppies also have an increased calcium requirement, which can easily be met with eggshell flour. Basically, however, calcium is a sensible addition to BARF meat for all dogs because it helps to neutralize the excess phosphorus in fresh meat. This is particularly relevant for different types of fish for dogs , for rabbit meat, for poultry for dogs and for offal for dogs .
Raw eggs for dogs: a useful nutritional supplement
Raw eggs are therefore perfectly suitable for dogs, as long as you stick to the yolk and the eggshell. The yolk in particular can be fed two to three times a week. It is important, of course, that it is raw, just like the rest of the food, so that no vitamins and minerals are lost due to the high temperatures during cooking.
But what about the egg white? Shouldn't it be a suitable source of animal protein? We can't disagree with that, of course, but egg white contains large amounts of the glycoprotein avidin, which in turn binds the biotin from the yolk and can therefore be the cause of biotin deficiency. This can be noticeable, for example, in dull fur, flaky skin and metabolic disorders.
Substituting raw egg for dogs with food supplements
Raw eggs can be used as a nutritional supplement to fresh meat for dogs and have numerous advantages. It is also possible to use actual food supplements from our BARF online shop instead of raw eggs. These have the advantage that the nutrients they contain can be precisely determined based on the quantities and can be individually adapted to the needs of the respective animal. They are also practical for holidays with dogs because they are easy to store and transport.
