Eggs are a food with few calories, plenty of antioxidants to help keep the body healthy over time, and a wealth of high-quality proteins to give the metabolism an energy boost. An average egg weighs around 50/60 grams, of which more than a third belongs to the yolk, which accounts for approximately three quarters of the total caloric content of around 80/90 kilocalories. All the fats found in eggs are concentrated in the yolk. About half of these consist of oleic acid, the same as that found in olive oil, followed by palmitic acid (1.2 grams) and stearic acid (0.5 grams). Eggs also contain linoleic acid (up to 0.7 grams) and, among the polyunsaturated fatty acids, omega-6 decisively outweighs omega-3, which is present only in small quantities. Eggs are extremely important in the human diet and prove equally fundamental in that of our four-legged friends. Dogs and cats, in fact, find in eggs a valid alternative to fish and meat for a varied and perfectly balanced diet.

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Eggs in the four-legged diet, an essential contribution

Eggs are a virtually perfect food for dogs and cats: readily available, easy to administer, economical and boasting an excellent nutritional profile. "As well as being a concentrated source of nutrients, they represent the ideal protein source thanks to the abundance and balance of all essential amino acids," explains Dr Barbara Tonini, veterinary surgeon. Eggs are therefore an extremely important food as part of a balanced diet for our four-legged friends.

"The yolk is rich in fats, particularly unsaturated ones (50 per cent is oleic acid) and phospholipids, especially phosphatidylcholine. The high choline content makes this food an excellent ally for the health of the liver and brain, since acetylcholine is a key neurotransmitter for the functioning of the latter. Fat-soluble vitamins such as A, D, K and E are also abundant, as are those of the B group (in particular B12). Finally, minerals such as potassium, iron, selenium, magnesium and calcium are present. Last but not least, an egg provides two essential antioxidants — lutein and zeaxanthin — which act at both immune and visual level," adds Dr Tonini.

The egg white is also an excellent source of high-quality protein. "They are called "ideal proteins" because they carry an excellent biological value, meaning that all the protein ingested is retained and used by the body," the expert concludes. And let us not forget the shell — many dogs love to crunch on it — which is perfect for a complete intake of substances indispensable to animal metabolism.

Indications and contraindications

How should eggs be given to a dog or cat? "Cooking is very important because it inactivates avidin (a heat-labile glycoprotein found in egg white), which prevents the absorption of biotin, and it sanitises against any bacteria, especially salmonella," explains Barbara Tonini. Cooking, however, should never be excessive, in order to optimise both digestibility and nutrient absorption. Maximum digestibility is in fact achieved when the yolk is raw and the white just coagulated; it is therefore preferable to cook eggs soft-boiled or poached for a time ranging from three to five minutes.

This perfect product of nature should be given above all at certain periods of our four-legged friends' lives. "In puppies, for example, or during pregnancy and lactation, in sporting dogs and in the course of kidney disease (the egg white being particularly useful from this point of view)," explains Dr Tonini. Eggs are also ideal in the case of hepatic and neurological conditions and in dogs affected by ammonium urate urolithiasis (a problem frequently seen in Dalmatians).

There are, however, also contraindications to bear in mind where eggs are concerned. "They should be avoided in the case of gallstones or in dogs and cats that suffer from allergies," adds Tonini. The veterinary surgeon will in any case determine the exact doses to be given based on the animal's weight and lifestyle, bearing in mind that, as with all foods, eggs may or may not be to our friend's liking, and their palatability in the bowl remains, as always, a purely personal matter of taste. Even — and especially — on four legs…