---
title: "Can dogs and cats eat raw egg?"
description: "Raw egg and pets: risky — depends on amount or preparation. What it does, whether the dose matters, and how dogs, cats, rabbits and birds differ."
url: https://atoneplace.net/can-pets-eat/raw-egg/
site: "At One Place"
---

# Can pets eat raw egg?

**Raw egg: Risky — depends on amount or preparation**

Dogs: Risky · Cats: Risky

## By animal

| Animal | Verdict | Why |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Dogs | Risky | Salmonella risk, and raw white binds biotin. Cooked egg has neither problem. |
| Cats | Risky | Same. |

## What it actually does

Raw egg white contains avidin, which binds biotin and prevents its absorption; sustained raw-white feeding can cause a biotin deficiency showing as poor coat and skin. The bacteriological risk is real but modest for a healthy adult animal, and matters more for the humans in the household handling the bowl. Cooking denatures avidin and kills salmonella, so a scrambled egg has all the protein and none of the argument.

No reliable dose threshold has been published for this. Anything presenting a specific safe amount is extrapolating.

> Body weight decides almost everything here, so what is trivial for a 40 kg dog can matter for a 4 kg one, and a bird is smaller again. Where a real published threshold exists this page gives it; where none does, it says so rather than inventing one.

## Meat, fish and eggs

| Food | Worst verdict | Dogs | Cats |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Cooked bones | Not safe | Not safe | Not safe |
| Tuna | In moderation | In moderation | In moderation |
| Bacon, ham and fatty meat | Risky | Risky | Risky |
| Raw fish | Risky | Risky | Risky |

## Common questions

### Can dogs eat raw egg?

Risky — depends on amount or preparation. Salmonella risk, and raw white binds biotin. Cooked egg has neither problem.

### Can cats eat raw egg?

Risky — depends on amount or preparation. Same.

### What does raw egg actually do?

Raw egg white contains avidin, which binds biotin and prevents its absorption; sustained raw-white feeding can cause a biotin deficiency showing as poor coat and skin. The bacteriological risk is real but modest for a healthy adult animal, and matters more for the humans in the household handling the bowl. Cooking denatures avidin and kills salmonella, so a scrambled egg has all the protein and none of the argument.

## Related pages

- [Can pets eat cooked bones?](https://atoneplace.net/can-pets-eat/cooked-bones/)
- [Can pets eat tuna?](https://atoneplace.net/can-pets-eat/tuna/)
- [Can pets eat bacon, ham and fatty meat?](https://atoneplace.net/can-pets-eat/bacon/)
- [Can pets eat raw fish?](https://atoneplace.net/can-pets-eat/raw-fish/)
- [Can pets eat chocolate?](https://atoneplace.net/can-pets-eat/chocolate/)
- [Can pets eat grapes, raisins, sultanas and currants?](https://atoneplace.net/can-pets-eat/grapes/)
- [Can pets eat onion, garlic, leek and chives?](https://atoneplace.net/can-pets-eat/onion-garlic/)
- [Can pets eat xylitol and birch sugar?](https://atoneplace.net/can-pets-eat/xylitol/)
- [Everything, for dogs](https://atoneplace.net/can-pets-eat/dog/)
- [Everything, for cats](https://atoneplace.net/can-pets-eat/cat/)

## Sources

- Animal Poison Control Center — toxic and non-toxic lists — ASPCA (https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control)