Raw Eggs: Good or Bad?

[cxty]

Up until today all I've ever read about feedings eggs to dogs is that they should be fed raw. I've heard raw eggs are great for the coat, and full of more nutrients than cooked eggs. I also read that cooked eggs can be bad because they stick to the intestines.

Now today, on a list of "what not to feed dogs", I read this:

Raw egg whites contain a protein called avidin, which can deplete your dog of biotin, one of the B vitamins. Biotin is essential to your dog’s growth and coat health. Additionally, raw eggs are often contaminated with bacteria, such as salmonella, and you could end up giving your dog food poisoning in addition to biotin deficiency.

Symptoms of biotin depletion are hair loss, weakness, growth retardation and skeleton deformity. If your dog is suffering from these symptoms the situation is urgent, and veterinary treatment is needed. Cooked eggs are high in protein and make an excellent treat. It is only the raw eggs that should not be given to your dog.

So which is it?

[netti]

I give my dogs raw eggs and to date they seem to have no ill effects. I have my own chooks so sometimes we have an over supply.

I give them the whole uncracked eggs and have a laugh while they try and break them. I think it is like everything else in life - moderation.

Cheers Netti

[akisha]

once a fortnight i give akisha and trixie a bowl full of dry food then an egg mixed through. Both of the dogs are perfectly health and the egg is what keeps thier coat in such great shape. i dont feed them raw eggs regularly but i believe they are good to keep the coat healthy.

[tigerlily46514]

Me, i don't give raw eggs due to salmonella risk. True, it is not super common, but if you ever see a case, it is impressive illness, and can be fatal in some. And you'd feel like a goof for thinking well, "MY raw egg has no salmonella, i can tell by looking at it." I wouldn't risk my beloved dog's life on that!!!

The proteins and such in eggs will still be there after cooking. cooking does NOT reduce protein, just kills off bacteria. so i am surprised that cooking modifies this unusual-in-eggs only avidin protein that much!! I live and learn! THANKS for the post!! I googled this avidin, and you are right, Cxty!! It can deplete biotin!!! Who knew? Think of all those body builders and their raw egg milkshakes!!!

I do not give egg often anyway, cuz it is SO HIGH IN CHOLESTEROL. Egg whites=fine.

ONE Egg yolk= enuff cholesterol for a whole month!!

By the way, cooked eggs would never "stick to intestines".. Intestines actually look like slimey velcro, with bazillions of teeny tiny lil 'fingers' which are surfaces to absorb nutrients. Intestines are so NOT sticky!!

I think only things that would get stuck in intestines, are NONfood items, like those non-digestible chew sticks (not bully sticks--i hear those are good--, but the other kind that swells up in their guts.... RAWHIDES! that is the word, and actually, those do not "stick" either, but swell up and block off the colon).