Can Dogs Have Poached Eggs?

Whether you choose to feed your dog homemade food or just want to give him a protein punch, cooked eggs can fit the bill. Poaching the eggs keeps the calorie content low while maintaining their nutrient content, making them a tasty addition to your pooch's diet.

Eggs give your canine companion the same nutrients they give you, namely protein, selenium and riboflavin. They also provide vitamin A and B12 as well as some iron, giving your furry friend a nutrient punch without too much of a dent in your wallet. However, they can be somewhat high in calories, at about 74 calories for a large poached egg. Check with your vet to see if eggs will work if your pup is on a special diet or suffers from food allergies.

Poaching is one of the healthiest ways to cook eggs since you don't add any fat or calories as part of the cooking process from items such as butter or oil. All you need to do is heat some water to almost boiling and crack the egg into the water to cook for about four minutes. You can get fancy by using poaching rings to make the eggs perfect circles, but Fido isn't likely to mind if the eggs are a little jagged around the edges.

Hard-boiling is also a healthy way to prepare your pooch's eggs, so it really boils down to your personal preference and the texture your dog prefers. Poaching for at least four minutes firms the yolk so you can cut the egg into smaller pieces without a runny mess -- just like when you hard-boil eggs. Poaching is faster -- four minutes instead of about 10 to hard-boil -- but hard-boiled eggs are easier to store in the fridge for a couple of days until you're ready to use them.

Although there's discussion among pet experts about whether raw or partially cooked eggs are safe for your pup, all agree that cooking the eggs rids them of dangerous bacteria such as salmonella. Also, giving raw egg whites to your pooch can lead to a biotin deficiency, but cooked egg whites don't have the same problem. The best rule is to give your dog only items you would feel safe eating, which means cooking the eggs thoroughly before adding them to his bowl.