Can Chihuahuas Eat Eggs? All You Need To Know!

Chihuahuas are the smallest and most loyal breed of dog and they love to eat. It is important to know what exactly your Chihuahua can eat so their little stomachs do not become upset.

So, have you ever wondered if your furry friend could eat eggs? 

If you want to keep your dog healthy and happy, eggs are a great source of nutrition and are perfectly safe for your chihuahua! They are packed with protein and can be a perfect treat for your little chihuahua. They also contain amino acids, fatty acids, and vitamins that help support their inside and out. 

In this blog post, we will talk about the nutritional value of eggs and how they might affect a small dog. We will also share some egg recipes to try out, as well as how often eggs can be given to your favorite dog.

So, let’s get started!

Raw or Cooked: Which is Safe?

Before we give some new recipes, let’s talk about the safety of giving your dog eggs.

Eggs are perfectly safe to be given to dogs and they can make a great treat or meal! However, veterinarians always recommend cooking eggs before giving them to chihuahuas.

Nutritional Benefits of Eggs

Protein

Eggs are a great source of protein.  Protein is an essential nutrient that your dog needs in order to grow and function properly.  In fact, it’s the main part of your dog’s balanced diet and is needed for muscles, organs, bones, fur, etc.  Protein is a very important building block in every cell in your dog’s body.  

Vitamin A

Eggs are also full of vitamin A!  This can help support your dog’s eyes, coat, and immune system.  It’s also important for your dog to maintain a healthy weight.  This is because vitamin A can help with fat metabolism.  Fat metabolism helps your dog stay slim and healthy by converting food into energy.

Vitamin B5

Another vitamin found in eggs is vitamin B5.  This vitamin can help maintain your dog’s coat and skin health.  It also helps their metabolism stay normal, which allows them to grow at a proper rate.

Vitamin B12

Eggs are a great source of vitamin B12.  Vitamin B12 helps to release energy from food that your dog eats and can also help their mental health stay stable.  This is important for dogs that are in stressful situations or have mental issues.

It also helps with protein metabolism, which is needed in every cell of your dog’s body to function properly.

Vitamin D

They are also high in Vitamin D!  Vitamin D helps with calcium absorption, bone health, hormonal balance, and more!  Your Chihuahua needs Vitamin D for healthy teeth, bones, and gums.  It’s also important for their muscles to be able to contract properly so they can move!

Lutein & Zeaxanthin

Eggs are also full of antioxidants called lutein and zeaxanthin.  These are amino acids that help support your dog’s eye health.  Eggs are an easy way to make sure your pup is getting the most nutrition for their eyes.

Calcium

Eggs are a rich source of calcium which is essential for keeping their bones healthy and strong! Bone strength is very important if they love to jump around on your furniture or run around outside.  

Iron

Eggs are packed with iron.  Iron is a mineral that your dog needs to help make hemoglobin in its body.  Hemoglobin is important because it helps carry oxygen from the lungs all the way to each cell in the body.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

You may have heard of Omega-3 fatty acids before.  These are added to eggs during the process of production, which means your dog’s eggs will always have them!  

Omega-3 fatty acids can help keep your dog’s healthy skin and coat by preventing dandruff and other itchiness.  They are also important for heart health and can even prevent certain cancers!

How Much Egg Should I Feed My Chihuahua?

Eggs are actually a very healthy choice for dogs, but you should know how often eggs can be given to your dog. Just like people, too many eggs will not give any health benefits and might give them an upset stomach.

The average amount of eggs that should be given to a dog depends on its size. For a small dog like a chihuahua, around 1-2 eggs a week is the max. There really is no issue with giving your small dog more than 2 eggs in a week, but it isn’t needed and could be potentially unhealthy in high quantities.

Can Chihuahuas Eat Raw Eggs?

You may have heard that you can give your dog raw eggs to supplement their diet if they need more protein.  Raw eggs are a great and healthy choice for dogs, but there is one rule: you always cook the egg before giving it to your dog!  

Risks associated with feeding your chihuahua with raw eggs include:

Salmonella

There is a risk of salmonella when feeding your dog raw eggs. Salmonella is a type of bacteria that can be found in raw eggs.  This includes the yolk and white part of an egg, even if you didn’t crack it open! 

Salmonella, if ingested by humans or dogs, can cause them to get very sick with diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.

Biotin Deficiency

Another risk of feeding your dog raw eggs is biotin deficiency.  Raw egg whites can prevent dogs from absorbing biotin which can lead to critical health problems down the road.

Biotin is very important for heart function, hair and skin growth, and blood cell production! A biotin deficiency in dogs causes hair loss, seizures, dry skin, and lethargy.

Allergies

Dogs are known for being allergic to eggs!  Eggs are one of the top eight food allergies for dogs. Keeping them away from raw eggs is important to prevent an allergic reaction like vomiting, diarrhea, hives/rash, or raised red bumps.

Of course, there are other risks associated with feeding your chihuahua raw eggs; however, these are the most commonly known and talked about. If you plan to feed your dog raw eggs, it is important you cook them first and monitor their behavior after.

Can Dogs Eat Eggshells?

Many people think that eggshells can be given to their dogs as a calcium supplement.  This is true, but only if they are crushed and cooked. Raw eggshells can cause intestinal blockage and eating them is not recommended.

Eggshell calcium is difficult for dogs to digest, even if it has been cooked. Thus, it is more recommended to just give dogs other sources of these minerals.

Egg Recipes You Can Try

Chihuahuas love treats and snacks, so giving them an egg or two each day can be a great way to reward them for good behavior or just make their day! If you are interested in some new recipes to try out on your dog, here are some ideas for you!

Eggs and Oatmeal

This recipe combines two healthy ingredients that most dogs love. It includes ½ cup of old-fashioned rolled oats, one egg white, one whole egg, half an apple (chopped), a pinch of salt, and 1 teaspoon of cinnamon. 

You can simply combine all of these ingredients in a bowl and then cook them on a pan until they are golden brown.  Then you just have to let it cool before serving!

Eggs and Pumpkin

This recipe includes two healthy ingredients that dogs love: eggs and pumpkin! For this recipe, you will need to use a whole egg, half a can of pumpkin puree (plain), and one tablespoon of oil.  You will want to cook these ingredients on the stovetop in a pan until they are fully cooked. Just make sure not to overcook them!

Eggs and Peanut Butter

Dogs love peanut butter because it has lots of protein!  This recipe includes one egg, two teaspoons of peanut butter, and some water.  Mix all these ingredients in a bowl and then cook them on the stovetop until they are fully cooked.  

Eggs and Sweet Potato Chips

If your dog loves sweet potatoes, this is the treat for him! It includes one whole egg, two tablespoons of flour, one cup of sweet potato chips (or homemade), some salt, and some oil.  Mix these ingredients in a bowl until they are fully mixed together. Then, put them on a cooking sheet or glass dish and cook them in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 35 minutes.

Final Words

Eggs are a great source of protein and can be given to your chihuahua in moderation. They contain fatty acids and vitamins that help support their inside and out.

If you are worried about the risks of giving your dog raw eggs, you can try cooking them or looking for egg recipes online. Just remember to monitor their behavior afterward and keep an eye out for negative side effects.