can labradoodles eat eggs

Can Labradoodles Eat Eggs?

Can Labradoodles eat eggs? Both cooked and raw eggs are safe for Labradoodles to eat in moderation, as a healthy addition to their usual complete diet.

Some vet’s may recommend avoiding raw eggs due to the risk of salmonella and other harmful pathogens. But, both raw and cooked eggs can be a healthy source of protein and fat in your dog’s diet.

As long as your dog is not allergic to eggs, this ingredient can be great in raw or homemade diets, or just an occasional treat alongside their regular diet.

Can Labradoodles Eat Eggs and Other FAQs

You can click the links above to jump straight to a section that interests you. Or, keep reading to learn everything you need to know about feeding eggs to your dog.

Can Labradoodles Eat Eggs Safely?

If you’ve ever left a delicious egg unattended around your Labradoodle, chances are you already know the answer!

It’s fine for most Labradoodles to eat the occasional bit of egg. Some owners will choose to add cooked egg to their dog’s kibble as a treat.

can labradoodles eat eggs

Others even include it as a regular ingredient in their dog’s homemade diet.

Like any other individual ingredient, you should not give your dog too many eggs, or only eggs. They need a proper balance of nutrients to stay healthy.

We will look at the exact benefits of eggs for dogs in a moment, but for now, let’s learn when this food can be bad for Labradoodles.

Are Eggs Bad for Labradoodles?

Happily, in most cases, the answer to this question is “no”! But, that is not to say that your Labradoodle should be given unlimited access to eggs.

It’s vital to point out that not all dogs tolerate eggs well. As far as we know, the modern dog’s wild wolf ancestors did not suffer from any food allergies. So why are so many dogs allergic to eggs?

The reigning theory here is that the dog’s immune system doesn’t recognize the protein in eggs as a food source and instead mis-labels it as an invader.

Then, the immune system goes into attack mode, producing symptoms like itching, vomiting, diarrhea and respiratory distress.

Unfortunately, there is no pre-test you can order to find out if your Labradoodle has an egg protein allergy. The only way to find out is to offer eggs and see what happens next.

The best way to offer your Labradoodle their first taste of eggs is to wait until your dog has an empty stomach. Offer cooked eggs. Then wait a few hours to see what happens next.

If you don’t see any worrisome symptoms and your dog goes to the bathroom normally without distress, you can try to feed eggs as an occasional treat. But always be on the lookout for signs or symptoms of a developing food allergy!

Toxicity in Eggs

Dogs, like people, can be vulnerable to bacteria, parasites and other pathogens. Eggs also carry salmonella bacteria, although people are more susceptible to this disease than pets.

These pathogens are often found in raw eggs.

The most common cause of egg-borne illness is mishandling. However, many believe that dogs’ digestive tracks are perfectly able to handle pathogens found in eggs.

You can speak to your vet for more information on this topic. But for general discussion’s sake, eggs are not considered to be bad for Labradoodles.

Are Eggs Good for Labradoodles?

Just because eggs are not bad for Labradoodles doesn’t necessarily mean that they are good for your dog, either. Your dog might gobble up eggs with gusto but tasting good doesn’t always equal good nutrition.

So let’s talk about that for a minute. Are eggs good for Labradoodles?

Labradoodles, like all domestic dogs, are modern omnivores with carnivorous ancestors. The reason modern dogs are omnivorous like people rather than carnivorous like wolves is because of us.

Dogs have evolved over millennia to eat a more varied diet that includes animal protein and plant matter.

This is why most commercial dog foods feature a mix of nutrients and vegetable proteins rather than pure animal protein.

But the raw food movement has refocused many dog owners on feeding a pure animal protein diet. (This is a very individual choice that is beyond the scope of this particular article.)

Eggs, of course, are pure animal protein. Many “people” dieticians and nutrition experts regard eggs as the “perfect protein.”

What Nutrients Are in Eggs?

Eggs are loaded down with nutrients. In fact, all parts of the egg – the shell, the white and the yolk – contain valuable nutrition.

You may have heard that egg whites (NOT yolks or shells) contain an agent called avidin that inhibits absorption of biotin, one of the high-value B vitamins your growing Labradoodle needs.

But the full picture is much less alarming: your Labradoodle would have to eat a whole lot of egg whites to experience any actual deficiency!

Feeding a whole raw or cooked egg as a part of your dog’s regular treat rotation each week is perfectly healthy as long as your canine veterinarian agrees.

Your dog will get more overall nutrition from raw eggs but feeding raw eggs may not be suitable for all dogs so be sure to ask your veterinarian.

Eggs also pack a nutrient punch for relatively few calories per serving, which is good for keeping your dog’s diet nutritious without a risk of putting on the pounds.

Nutritional Breakdown

The typical large egg contains the following:

  • 77 calories
  • 6 grams of protein
  • 5 grams of fat
  • Trace carbohydrates

Egg whites are 100 percent protein. Egg yolks and shells also contain these essential vitamins, minerals and amino acids.

  • Vitamins: A, B1-3, B5, B6, B7-9, B12, D, E, K
  • Minerals: Selenium, Iron, Potassium, Calcium, Copper, Iodine, Iron, Magnesium, Manganese, Phosphorus, Sodium, Zinc
  • Nutrients: Choline, Carotenoids
  • Antioxidants: Lutein, Zeaxanthin
  • Essential fatty acids (Omega-3)

Now, let’s take a closer look at the different ways you might want to serve eggs to your Labradoodle.

Can Labradoodles Eat Raw Eggs

Dogs explore their world primarily through their nose and mouth. So here again, if you were to leave a raw egg unattended in your kitchen and your Labradoodle saw it, you would very likely wonder where it went when you returned to the kitchen!

Some people say that dogs should not eat raw eggs because of the risk of pathogens like salmonella bacteria.

But most experts admit that the canine digestive tract is well equipped to handle any pathogens present in raw eggs.

Feeding whole, shelled, raw eggs can be an important source of nutrients for your dog. This is especially true if your pup is on a raw food diet.

However, always talk with your dog’s veterinarian before you feed a Labradoodle puppy raw foods. And if your Labradoodle has any kind of known immune health issue, talk with your veterinarian before adding raw eggs to their diet.

Can Labradoodles Eat Egg Shells

You may be wondering if it is safe to feed your Labradoodle egg shells. This is typically quite safe as long as the egg comes from a healthy hen.

Egg shells can provide valuable nutrition and a nice crunch, especially for senior dogs who cannot enjoy harder chews like bones anymore.

It is worth mentioning that the healthiest eggs you can feed your Labradoodle will always come from healthy free-range hens that are fed an organic and nutritionally appropriate diet.

What Should I do if my Labradoodle Eats an Egg?

Most Labradoodle owners should not panic if their dog eats an egg – raw or cooked. However, if your dog has an allergic reaction, things can be more serious.

If it is the first time your Labradoodle has eaten an egg, watch them closely to ensure that they do not have a bad reaction.

You may need to take them to the vet if you notice any signs of allergy.

But in most cases, you do not need to worry if your Labradoodle eats eggs.

How to Prepare Eggs for Labradoodles

If you know that your Labradoodle is not allergic to eggs, you may be hoping to introduce them as part of your dog’s diet. Here are some ways you can offer this food to your doodle dog:

  • A raw egg as part of a homemade diet
  • Plain scrambled egg
  • Boiled egg broken up on kibble
  • Poached egg
  • Cooked egg with broken up eggshell

You should avoid using too much oil or fat when cooking an egg for your dog, as this makes the food much less healthy and can lead to obesity.

Can Labradoodles Eat Eggs?

Most Labradoodles can eat eggs as a part of their diet with no consequences. A few may be allergic to this food, but for most there is no problem.

Have you tried feeding your Labradoodle eggs? How did your dog like them?

If you want to add eggs to your dog’s regular treat rotation, be sure to follow the guidance here when offering eggs for the first time.

Once you are sure your dog likes eggs and tolerates them well, you can add eggs to the weekly treat rotation for your pup to enjoy!

References and Resources

  • Freeman, L. (et al), ‘What Every Pet Owner Should Know About Food Allergies’, Clinical Nutrition Service at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine (2021)
  • Gunnars, K. ‘6 Reasons Why Eggs are the Healthiest Food on the Planet’, Healthline (2018)
  • Down, S. ‘Pathogens in Eggs’, Wiley Analytical Science (2016)
  • Cheung, L. (et al), ‘The Nutrition Source: Eggs’, Harvard, T. H. Chan School of Public Health (2021)

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