Eggs are one of nature’s perfect foods. Full of vitamins, minerals, proteins, and natural fats – eggs are eaten in the wild by hundreds of animal species. At home, chicken eggs are a staple around the world, and we often give them to our pets. But what about quail eggs for dogs? Are they safe for your pup to eat? And should you serve them cooked – or is it okay to feed raw eggs to your dog?
Eggs are an ingredient in many raw diet and organic diet plans for dogs, and pet food manufacturers like Blue Buffalo, Freshpet, Canidae, American Journey, and Purina Beyond also include eggs to add valuable nutrients and protein to dogs’ daily diets.
Quails’ eggs are a cheap and delicious source of nutrition, and they’re totally safe for your pets to eat. They’re a great alternative to chicken eggs, and you can often find these tiny, speckly eggs at your local supermarket or farmers market.
In this article, we take a look at whether these tiny eggs are good for dogs. and if quail eggs vs chicken eggs are better for dogs.
What are quail eggs?
Quail eggs are laid by a small bird called the quail (funnily enough!), which is part of the pheasant family. Quails live all over North America, Central America, South America, Europe, Asia, Australia, and Africa – in fact, quails can be found on pretty much every continent in the world except for Antarctica!
Coturnix is the species of quail where most of the commercially available quail eggs come from. This is because they’re prolific layers and have been bred especially for their high egg production rate. Not to mention that these sweet little birds are also very delicious roasted in the oven!
Can dogs eat quail eggs?
Yes, dogs can eat quail eggs safely – and they have a ton of nutrition packed into these tiny shells. In fact, quail eggs contain higher amounts of some vitamins and minerals than chicken eggs.
Just make sure you don’t overfeed quail eggs to your dog. Just like humans – eating too many eggs can cause digestive upset, diarrhea, and vomiting (not to mention a lot of stinky gas!)
Can all breeds of dogs eat quail eggs?
It’s safe for all dogs to eat quail eggs, unless they’ve been diagnosed with an egg-specific allergy or intolerance. Even puppies can enjoy these tiny, nutrient-rich eggs as part of a balanced diet, and it will help them grow into strong, healthy adult dogs.
Are quail eggs good for dogs?
Quail eggs are super healthy for your dog. If your dog found them in the wild, they would definitely be munching down on an entire egg, because they’re so tasty!
As well as being delicious, these eggs are full of essential vitamins and minerals that keep your dog’s brain, fur, skin, heart, blood, and immunity in peak condition.
Quail egg nutritional benefits for dogs
These eggs provide a ton of goodness for your dog’s inner and outer wellbeing:
- Increased energy
- More alert
- Healthy skin and fur
- Supports blood cell regeneration
- Improves eye health
- Boosts your dog’s immune system
- Essential fatty acids and protein
- Quail eggs are a tasty addition to your dog’s normal, balanced diet, or as a special treat – and they’ll love you for it!
Let’s take a look at the many nutrients inside a quail egg that can improve your pet’s health.
Nutrients inside quail eggs for dogs
- Protein: quail eggs contain many fatty acids that are essential nutrients for your dog’s skin. Protein also contributes to muscle development and repair to help your dog stay fit and strong.
- Iron: this prevents anemia ,and supports your dog’s red blood cells to carry oxygen around their body, keeping your pup fit and alert.
- Fat: quail eggs contain healthy fats and fatty acids to power your dog throughout their energetic days of exercise and play.
- Vitamin A: this is responsible for keeping your dogs skin and coat shiny and healthy. It also contributes to vision and brain health.
- Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin): this helps your pup maintain healthy digestion by metabolizing the amino acids and carbohydrates in their diet.
- Vitamin B6: this vitamin is needed for your dog to regulate their hormones and immunity responses, and it’s another one that’s essential for healthy blood cells.
- Vitamin B12: this helps regulate your dog’s brain function and nervous system. It’s also essential for healthy blood cells.
- Vitamin E: one of nature’s wonder vitamins, this helps your dog maintain a strong immune system, as well as keep their heart, muscles, liver, and skin in top condition.
- Zinc: necessary for immune and thyroid health
- Selenium: this aids healthy growth in adolescent dogs, and boosts your dog’s antibodies, which increases their resistance to disease.
- Folate: this is in charge of regulating your dog’s production of red blood cells.
- Potassium: your dog’s kidneys, heart, and bone health thrives on potassium. It also aids in muscle development and fluid regulation in your dog’s body.
- Phosphorous: this is essential for your dog’s motor functions and muscle health.
As you can see, these tiny speckled eggs pack a mighty punch when it comes to nutrient-rich snacks for your dog!
Are quail eggs or chicken eggs better for dogs?
As you can see from the image below, quail eggs are much smaller than chicken eggs. One chicken egg is approximately the size of 5 quail eggs. The average quail egg weighs about 9 grams, while an average chicken egg is around 50 grams.
Some dogs with allergies can’t tolerate chicken eggs, but may be able to eat quail eggs with no negative side effects.
Nutrition in quail eggs vs chicken eggs
| Quail Egg | Chicken Egg | |
| Protein | 1.17 grams | 6.28 grams |
| Fat | 1 gram | 4.75 grams |
| Vitamin A | 48.9 IU | 244 IU |
| Vitamin B6 | (trace) | 0.1 mcg |
| Vitamin B12 | 0.1 mcg | 0.6 mcg |
| Vitamin B2 | 0.1 mcg | 0.2 mcg |
| Vitamin E | 0.1 mcg | 0.5 mcg |
| Iron | 0.3 mcg | 0.9 mcg |
| Folate | 5.9 mcg | 23.5 mcg |
| Phosphorous | 20.3 mg | 95.5 mg |
| Potassium | 11.9 mg | 67 mg |
| Zinc | 0.1 mg | 0.6 mg |
| Selenium | 2.9 mcg | 15.8 mcg |
Are raw quail eggs for dogs okay?
Can dogs eat raw eggs? Yes – they can, and raw eggs are great for your dog’s health as part of their already balanced diet. They’re also perfect for dogs following a raw foods diet. As long as the raw eggs come from a quality supplier with healthy quails, your dog will be just fine eating raw quail eggs.
Unlike humans, dogs have the ability to ingest and digest higher levels of bacteria than we do. This means they’re less likely to contract salmonella from raw eggs.
But the unique thing about quails is that they don’t carry salmonella bacteria – or pass it on through their eggs, which makes the risk of contracting salmonella incredibly low, even for humans.
So raw eggs are okay for them. Just make sure to feed your dog these eggs in moderation – as any type of egg can give your dog an upset stomach if you feed them too much.
Are frozen quail eggs okay for dogs?
Freezing excess quail eggs is fine if you have too many and don’t want to waste them. They will keep for 12 months in the freezer.
Just make sure to unfreeze them in your refrigerator (in a glass dish in case of leakage) before serving to your dog. Once they’re thawed, you can keep the eggs in the refrigerator for 14 days, or serve them raw to your dog.
Are cooked quail eggs good for dogs?
If you’re unsure about feeding eggs to your dog raw, then boiled or scrambled quail eggs are perfectly fine to feed to your dog – but cooked quail eggs will lose a little of their nutritional value in the cooking process.
Make sure you serve unshelled quail eggs, whichever way you cook them!
You can soft boil, hard boi, or scramble quail eggs for your dog just as you would for yourself, but make sure you don’t add any butter, salt, or fat to the eggs. Your pet will love them just as they are.
How often can dogs eat quail eggs?
How often your dog can eat quail eggs depends on their tolerance to eggs. Most dogs are fine eating a serving of eggs every day as part of their balanced diet.
If your dog has never eaten quail eggs before, make sure you introduce them slowly to your pet’s diet to check for any side effects.
And if your dog experiences an upset stomach or diarrhea, then you might be adding eggs to their diet too quickly, or feeding them too many eggs at once.
Start your dog off with one raw or cooked quail egg to be on the safe side – and to check if they like the taste!
How do you feed quail eggs to dogs?
Whether you’re feeding quail eggs to your dog raw or cooked, the most important thing to note is to remove the shells.
Many pet parents just give their dog a whole raw egg to munch on, as the shells contain valuable calcium. But eggshells can be toxic to some dogs (and not that pleasant to eat!) so if you’re worried – make sure to remove the shell before feeding.
To serve your dog quail egg, simply put a raw egg or boiled egg in the food bowl along with their daily meals, or feed them one as a snack,
Recommended serving sizes of quail eggs for dogs:
- For small dogs 5 to 20 pounds – 1 egg
- For dogs 20 to 40 pounds – 2 eggs
- For dogs 40 to 60 pounds – 3 eggs
- For dogs 80+ pounds – 4+ eggs
Can dogs eat quail eggs everyday?
If your pup has existing issues such as weight problems or high cholesterol – check with your vet to see whether your pet can eat eggs every day.
For most healthy adult dogs, eating quail eggs every day is a great addition to their diet.
Are quail eggs good for dogs with food allergies?
Our canine friends can sometimes have allergies to chicken eggs. But allergic or intolerant dogs can mostly tolerate quail eggs with no ill effects.
Feed your pet one or two quail eggs to check if they have any allergic reactions – or consult with your vet if you’re unsure about whether quail eggs are the right choice for your allergic dog.
Are quail eggs bad for dogs in any way?
Your dog might be one of the few that are allergic to quail eggs, so feeding them these eggs might not be a good choice.
Also, overfeeding quail eggs to your dog can result in unpleasant side effects. Eggs are a rich food, and if your dog eats too many, this can cause stomach upsets, vomiting, and diarrhea. Not to mention stinky, sulfur farts!
Make sure to feed your pet these treats in moderation so they get all the benefits of egg – without the downsides.
Where to buy quail eggs for dogs
Always make sure you buy quail eggs from a reputable supplier with healthy birds that are raised in a good environment.
Quail eggs are becoming more popular, so you might find them at your local supermarket, farmers market, or you can buy them directly from farmers who breed quails.
The benefits of buying directly from a farm means you can see for yourself if the birds are healthy, that their pens and feeding areas are clean, and that they’re treated well.
If you go to a farm and find a dirty environment with birds that look sick – avoid buying from there, and try somewhere else. Eggs from sick birds put your dog at a higher risk of consuming bad bacteria.
You can also find quail eggs in cans at Asian grocers, or buy canned quail eggs online from Amazon.
In summary – quail eggs for dogs are a great choice!
Quail eggs are one of nature’s super dog foods. They’re highly nutritious and safe for your dog to eat either raw or cooked.
Always make sure to introduce quail eggs to your dog’s diet slowly. This will help you keep an eye on any allergies, and avoid any gastrointestinal upsets that can be caused by introducing a new food too quickly.
If you’re unsure whether quail eggs are a good choice for your dog – have a chat to your vet before you start feeding them to your dog.
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