 The Short Answer is: |
There is no risk associated with dogs eating quail eggs. In addition to providing a wide variety of nutrients, they are a great source of vitamin A, dietary fiber, and antioxidants. As well as being rich in vitamins, eggs also contain vitamins A, E, B12, B6, and B2. You should, however, give quail eggs to your dogs in moderation because of their high-calorie count. |
The purpose of this article is to explain “Can Dogs Eat Quail Eggs?“.
Some people even argue that quail and their eggs are an upgrade from chicken. Quail have long been eaten as a substitute for chicken.
As a matter of fact quail meat contains four times more vitamin C three times more iron and more amino acids than chicken meat.
Although eating quail eggs as a substitute has health benefits quail eggs have less sodium carbs and calories than chicken eggs when eaten in the same quantity.
As they produce more eggs than chickens do and require less feed to maintain a breedable quantity quail are also seen as more sustainable than chickens.
In fact quail lay 10 to 20 eggs at a time up to 300 in a year!
A fun fact about quails is that their wings make it impossible for them to fly long distances.
What about the meat of the matter? Is it safe to feed our dogs quail eggs?
What is the nutrition of a quail egg?
In order to determine whether our dogs’ nutritional needs align with those of quail eggs we first need to take a look at their nutritional content.
Again it is important to remember that quail eggs are smaller than chicken eggs.
An egg from a quail weighs about 9 grams while an egg from a chicken weighs about 50 grams.
Hence if you want to eat the same amount of food you may have to eat more quail eggs.
Quail eggs on average have one gram of protein and only one gram of fat. Despite having no carbs and only 13 milligrams of sodium quail eggs are still high in protein.
It is interesting to note that quail eggs have two percent of our daily iron and vitamin A needs.
Additionally they contain six percent of our daily value of vitamin B12 and riboflavin.
Our bodies use riboflavin to turn the food we eat into energy which is then used by our bodies.
As we now know quail eggs contain many nutrients that are great for us as well as our dogs.
Therefore we know they would probably enjoy having them as much as we do.
This brings up another question and it has to do with our dogs’ natural instincts.
Are quail eggs safe to eat raw?
The inquisitive nature of our dogs combined with their natural instinct to hunt leads to them eating things that are not suitable for them.
In fact when it comes to quail eggs it is actually ok to let their natural instincts take over as they are able to consume and digest raw quail eggs.
They can even eat the shell of the quail egg chewing it up and digesting it with their teeth.
Eggshells from quail are much softer than those from chickens so they will break down easier and would not create sharp edges that could injure your dog.
Its also important to keep in mind that dogs have been eating raw food for thousands of years and their bodies are adapted to processing it and extracting the nutrients that they need.
Dog owners often feed their pets whole raw quail eggs every day either as part of their regular diet or as a special treat.
It is important to remember that just like anything else in your dogs diet it needs to remain balanced.
Positive things can become negative when they are overdone.
So when you are considering adding quail eggs to your dogs diet ensure that you balance the nutrients from the quail with other foods that they may be eating.
Quail vs Chicken
People have been arguing about this question for years but what it comes down to is your dogs safety.
Compared to chicken eggs quail eggs have less sodium carbs and calories.
On the other hand chicken eggs have a bit more protein and fat which may be a good thing depending on your dogs diet.
Salmonella is one thing that chicken eggs lack which quail eggs do.
Despite being naturally better equipped to handle salmonella our dogs can still become ill from eating eggs with this bacteria.
It is not meant as a criticism of the use of chicken eggs in your dogs diet; it is simply the only major difference between the two aside from a few dietary differences.
We should also consider the fact that we have likes and dislikes as well just like our dogs.
Some dogs may not like the taste of quail or chicken eggs as they have their own preferences.
Try a different type of egg before writing off the idea altogether if your dog does not seem interested in eating eggs.
Where do I even get quail eggs?
Truthfully I havenot ever walked down the egg aisle at my local grocery store and seen quail eggs or anything other than chicken eggs.
Google indicates that depending on where you live your local grocery store may actually carry quail eggs for you to purchase if they are available locally.
What if your local grocer does not carry them?
In addition to these options there are several others you can use to find quail eggs.
To find people selling them locally in your area Google has become a great resource.
In addition to finding them online Google can lead you to several services that ship them directly to your home.
Currently I have been able to find quail eggs available for prime shipping on Amazon (this is not intended as an endorsement of Amazon).
Quail vs Chicken egg price
The cost factor is one of the most important things to consider when making any decision. It is important to be fiscally responsible whether we are preparing eggs for ourselves or our dogs. As such it is prudent to consider the price of quail eggs versus chicken eggs when deciding what we will purchase.
Quail eggs typically cost between $0.30 and $1.00 each depending on your location. Taking a look at prices it appears that a dozen eggs cost between $2.50 and $6.00. Depending on your location quail eggs are likely to be in the same price range as chicken eggs. In any case it is important to remember that the prices of products can change based on their availability on the market.
How often should you give your dog quail eggs?
We should also consider how often we should feed our dogs quail eggs. There is no definitive answer to this question. Even if your dog already has a balanced diet you may want to give them quail eggs as a special treat once in a while. Alternatively you can adjust their diet so that they are allowed to eat quail eggs every day as part of their diet.
The most important thing is to look at your dogs diet based on their nutritional needs and size. Our goal is to make sure we are meeting those nutritional requirements without exceeding them. In order to keep everything in balance you may want to remove something else from their diet if you include quail eggs in their daily diet.
Conclusion
Its always good to identify new foods that our dogs will enjoy and its something that I enjoy personally. There are times when I see dogs eating the same food every single day and I am saddened by that. I am not saying that their food isnot good that they are not healthy or that their owners are not loving them. My only question is how I would feel if I had to eat the same food every day for the rest of my life.
Because my dog is always looking for new foods that are safe for him to eat and that can be incorporated into his diet I love discovering new foods. Changing their diets on a weekly basis is not recommended but I like to do it every few months so they have something new to look forward to. Following my research for this article I recently started adding quail eggs to my dogs’ diet and to be honest I plan to keep them on it for years to come. The chicks enjoy chewing on the soft shells every day and they look forward to getting their eggs.
Amanda (Author)
With over a decade of experience, Amanda is a distinguished dog trainer. Her expertise in canine behavior has transformed countless lives, fostering harmonious human-canine connections. Through compassionate and personalized approaches, she empowers owners to understand and connect with their furry companions, creating a legacy of joyful tails and transformed lives.
Osvaldo Maciel (Content Reviewer)
Osvaldo Maciel, a stalwart in the field with 14 years of experience, is a revered dog trainer. His journey is defined by a profound understanding of canine behavior, shaping unbreakable human-canine bonds. Osvaldo guides owners to connect with their beloved pets, leaving an indelible mark of happiness and transformation. His legacy shines through the countless lives he has touched.
