National Egg Day

Photo by Olga Burmistrova

Are eggs safe to feed my dog and cat? The answer is yes, and no. Raw eggs can be dangerous for both cats and dogs. Raw eggs contaminated with salmonella can cause infection, diarrhea, fever, vomiting, and lethargy. Raw egg whites also prevent the absorption of biotin in dogs.

Cooked eggs are a good supplement for cats and dogs but if your dog or cat has diabetes or kidney disease, they are not recommended. Portion size is very important also. A dog may eat an egg a day, but they really shouldn’t have an egg more than three times a week. An average egg has about 7grams of protein and 4 grams of fat and is about 60 calories. For a food that is so packed with nutrition that doesn’t sound like many calories. For us, it’s not but for a cat, that is nearly 1/3 of her daily caloric intake and for dogs, it varies depending on the size of your dog.

Unless you are having trouble getting your cat to eat anything and she will eat eggs, (mine have no interest no matter how they are cooked.) skip the eggs and give your cat her regular food. The same goes for your dog. If you want to cook them something special an egg every once in a while, is fine but you should not rely on eggs to replace regular food.

The bottom line is eggs are fine in moderation.