Egg question

[stacwase]

I have a question for anybody on here who is knowledgeable about animal nutrition.

Are thoroughly cooked eggs (no oil or butter) good for dogs - and what would be the maximum percentage of the diet which would be recommended for eggs?

I know that the American Heart Association has lifted their ban on eggs for human consumption. While, before, they thought they increased blood cholesterol to unsafe levels, studies have found that this isn't the case. Eggs are the most complete food found in nature - containing complete protein and every essential vitamin and mineral except for vitamin C.

Do eggs contain anything which is harmful to dogs?

The reason that I'm asking is that I have 24 chickens who have begun laying, and so I have a readily-available source of protein. I feed organically, and don't use any medications - so I know that these eggs do not contain any harmful chemicals. (These chickens have it made, by the way - so no "anti-chicken-raising sentiments" please. They have a wonderful triple-insulated and heated coop, very clean conditions, and lots of room. When the weather is warm they will be playing outdoors, well-protected from predators, during the day.)

I could sell excess eggs, but if they're good for Max I would like to give him as many as would be prudent.

Thanks, in advance, for any advice you will give me!

[GraciesMommy]

Raw Eggs are NOT-- Cooked Eggs are very good for dogs. In fact, they are the most concentrated, valuable form of protein that a dog can get , as long as they are cooked. Apparently, raw egg whites bind to the biotin that a dog ingests and prevents it from being absorbed. Cooked eggs do not do this.

I got the above from another site...I let gracie have about a tablespoon of cooked egg this morning

[cali]

raw eggs are great. my mom gets fresh eggs from her bosses wife's chickens for the dogs, we never cook them so I have no clue, but raw eggs are exellent for the coat :D

[KYS]

posted by stacwase: (These chickens have it made, by the way - so no "anti-chicken-raising sentiments" please. >>>>>>

Send the left over eggs my way.:D

I always share my cooked egg breakfast with my dogs about 2 times a week. The rest of the week I eat bran cereal,
"that I better not share." ;)
Eggs are fine, I always follow the golden rule of
moderation.

[MariaM]

I believe raw eggs are good but I think thats only if the dogs are on a raw diet...cooked eggs I'm not sure about. I wouldn't take any advice from myself though.

[cyber-sibes]

Our old vet always recommended adding raw eggs to their food- he said it was good for their coat too. He said to do it a couple times a week.

[Albea]

I checked with my vet who said it was fine to give Carina hard boiled eggs. She loves them.;) Because Carina had to shed several pounds, I mix her dry food with carrots and green beans, adding a hard boiled egg is an extra source of protein without too many calories.

[wolfsoul]

Originally posted by GraciesMommy
Raw Eggs are NOT-- Cooked Eggs are very good for dogs. In fact, they are the most concentrated, valuable form of protein that a dog can get , as long as they are cooked. Apparently, raw egg whites bind to the biotin that a dog ingests and prevents it from being absorbed. Cooked eggs do not do this.


While this is true if you are only feeding egg white, when you feed the yolk along with it, it sort of "cancels it out."

Eggs shouldn't be fed more than a 1 or two times a week. Great for the coat!

[stacwase]

Great! I haven't heard anything which would prevent me from feeding eggs. Max eats 4 cups of dog food a day. If I gave him 4 eggs per day and cut down to 3 cups of food, I wonder if that would work. I'll have to count out the calories.

Thanks!

[cali]

4 eggs per day may be a bit much, if you need to cut down calories try replacing part of the kibble with cooked green beans.

[sammy101]

i put a egg in kodies food once a week,its supposed to be good for their Skin and their fur.:) Thats why he has such a shiny coat;) :D

[stacwase]

Originally posted by cali
4 eggs per day may be a bit much, if you need to cut down calories try replacing part of the kibble with cooked green beans.

At this point, he's getting the right amount of calories. Max is not overweight at all - he's extremely active. I just don't want to MAKE him overweight by giving him the eggs and not removing the appropriate # of calories from his kibble.

He's 87 lbs - I wish there was a reference where I could see what the right # of eggs would be, per pound of dog. KWIM?

[micki76]

I don't know how many eggs are ok, but 4 a day sounds a bit excessive to me for a dog or even a person.

[wolfsoul]

I have to agree. Eggs are very high in cholesterol. More than a couple times a week is not good for the heart. Also, if a dog is getting 4 eggs a day and the same amount of kibble ever day there is no variety in that, meaning that he wouldn't be getting the proper amount of nutrients.

[stacwase]

Two a day? One?

Maybe I'll add one egg to each dish of food - that would be 2 eggs. I have heard of people giving 2/day and reporting very noticeable improvements in their dogs' coats. Any more input?

Wolfsoul - are you saying that dogs need variety? I thought that most of the people on this board were of the "feed high quality kibble and nothing else" mindset. I do give him dog snacks occasionally, and let him eat low-fat people food without harmful ingredients, but I had got the impression that most of the people on this board were against that.

[wolfsoul]

Originally posted by stacwase


Wolfsoul - are you saying that dogs need variety? I thought that most of the people on this board were of the "feed high quality kibble and nothing else" mindset. I do give him dog snacks occasionally, and let him eat low-fat people food without harmful ingredients, but I had got the impression that most of the people on this board were against that.
No, I just meant that if you are going to add something to his kibble every single day, it shouldn't be the exact same thing of the exact same amount because it might put the nutrients off balance.

Edit: By the way, I'm not against giving "people" food. :) Depending on what the food is of course. ;) I do feel that variety in a diet is important. My catahoula will be given a homemade diet, as will Timber once she lives with me.

[stacwase]

OK - I got ya! I can see where you're coming from, too - it could lead to imbalances if I was supplementing the kibble with eggs and nothing else. Thanks for clarifying!

As far as the people food goes - I can understand why some people are against it, though I feed it carefully myself.

[LauraT7]

My mom used to give our German Shepherd 12 boiled egg (cut up) on top of her food every morning. she said it was good for her coat.

Just be REALLY sure to cut them up. Our Shepherd, Tisch, loved he eggs SO MUCH that once in awhile we'd give them too her whole ( boiled and un-shelled, of course) it was kinda fun to see her chase the slippery things all over the kitchen floor before she 'caught' it.

this backfired on us one day, when Tisch gulped it down so fast, that she choked on it. it filled her throat and she couldn't breathe. she panicked and ran - luckily she was inside the house, and my mom was quick to react - she cornered Tisch and basically gave her a doggie heimlich manuver and out popped the egg. After that episode, we were always VERY carefull to give particularly favorite treats in small bites!

I often gave Tristan a boiled egg on his food, as we got him from rescue and he had a very sparse coat. after lots of good food (including eggs, Omega oils, and other suppliments) he had the most beautiful, glossy coat you ever saw. it GLOWED.

I would be careful about too many, though - recently my teenage son (skin-child, not fur) was on a thing where he really liked eating boiled egss and egg-salad sandwiches. he was eating 4-6 eggs a day. too many - as they caused gas.

if that's too many for a 150lb active boy, I'm sure it's too many for a dog! LOL! and you have to live with the 'odor'!

however, if you have any 'extras" - we'd be happy to help you use up all those eggs!!


laura