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Ingredient file // Animal protein

Dried Egg Product

Useful egg protein without a special health promise

Dried egg product comes from egg grading, breaking or hatchery operations, with most of its water removed. It supplies digestible protein and fat. The ingredient list cannot tell you how much egg the recipe contains.

Role in the food Supporting nutrient
Dried Egg Product
What it is
Egg contents from grading, breaking or hatchery operations, dried with shells largely removed.
Made from
Egg contents, mainly whites and yolks
Main job
Animal protein and fat
Typical amount
Dog trials tested 4 to 12%
Watch for
A diagnosed egg allergy
Not the same as
Eggshell meal

Straight answer

Is Dried Egg Product safe for dogs?

Count it as protein, then judge the food

Dried egg product is a useful source of protein and fat. Its place on the ingredient list does not disclose the amount or the mix of whites and yolks. Check the food's nutritional adequacy statement and its other protein ingredients. Skip egg if your dog has a diagnosed egg allergy.

Why it is in the food
Animal protein and fat

Our read // In our catalog

In 1 of every 7 foods we track

Share of foods that list it

15%

479 of the 3,204 foods with an ingredient list on file, from 46 brands. 295 dry dog food, 170 wet dog food, 13 dog food topper.

Each square is 1% of the catalog

Where it sits on the label

Median position 9. In the top five of 59 foods, so it is usually a supporting ingredient.

Top five List position, heaviest first

Above the salt

92%

Almost always listed before the salt, so there is more of it than a pinch.

Price per lb

Foods with it $2.73
All foods $3.25

Median of the cheapest bag price across 250 priced foods, 16% below the catalog. The price is the food's, not the ingredient's.

Who leans on it

14%

of the foods that list it are from Blue. 46 brands use it in total.

What it is

How it is made

Egg graders, breaking plants and hatcheries produce egg material that does not become cartons of shell eggs. Removing shells and water gives pet food makers a dry ingredient they can store and measure into recipes.1,4,5

  1. 01 // Source Egg material Egg contents come from grading, breaking or hatchery operations.
  2. 02 // Process Shells separated Processors remove shells before drying; the ingredient standard permits only unavoidable traces.
  3. 03 // Process Water removed One pet food supplier spray dries the separated egg contents into a fine powder.
  4. 04 // Output Dried egg product The powder reaches the kibble plant with concentrated egg protein and fat.

What is in it

Composition, dry matter

53

% protein

A tested spray-dried egg sample was about 53% crude protein. It also contained substantial fat, so it adds energy alongside protein.

Crude protein 52.8%1
Crude fat 29.7%1
Ash 3.9%1

These figures describe one tested powder, not every supplier's product. The share of whites and yolks affects the balance of protein and fat; the bag does not disclose that mix.1,2

Why it is in the bag

A real backup protein, rarely the main one

  1. Main nutrition
  2. Supporting nutrient
  3. Does a job
  4. Mostly filler

Makers add dried egg product for protein and fat in a dry form they can store and measure, and a dog trial found its protein highly digestible. When it appears below the named meats and meals, it likely tops up the food's protein rather than carrying it. Labels list ingredients by weight without percentages, so its exact share in any bag is a judgment from position.1,6

  1. 01

    Adds digestible protein

    Drying removes water before the ingredient is weighed into a recipe. In a small dog trial, the tested powder's protein was highly digestible.1

  2. 02

    Adds fat and energy

    The tested powder contained substantial fat as well as protein. That gives formulators another source of energy when they balance a recipe.1

  3. 03

    Uses egg industry output

    Eggs that do not enter the shell-egg market are sometimes turned into a dry pet food ingredient. Selling that powder gives processors another outlet for egg material.4,5

How much One dog trial tested diets with 4, 8 and 12% spray-dried egg; those amounts are study treatments, not standard recipe amounts.1

Our read // The claims

What the evidence supports

Strong: controlled studies in dogs agree. Some: small or mixed dog data. Thin: mechanism or lab work only. None: nothing, or the evidence points the other way.

  1. Brands say

    Egg is the most usable protein for dogs

    Outruns the evidence

    Evidence

    1. Strong
    2. Some
    3. Thin
    4. None

    An eight-dog feeding trial estimated 91.3% protein digestibility for its spray-dried egg. Egg powders also performed well in a chick protein test. Neither study ranks every dog food protein by how dogs use it.1,2

  2. Brands say

    Egg improves a dog's blood health

    Outruns the evidence

    Evidence

    1. Strong
    2. Some
    3. Thin
    4. None

    In eight dogs, albumin, red blood cell counts and hemoglobin rose after the researchers switched from a control diet to an egg diet. That sequential design measured blood values, not a health benefit.1

  3. Brands say

    Dried egg makes kibble taste better

    Outruns the evidence

    Evidence

    1. Strong
    2. Some
    3. Thin
    4. None

    The authors reported a preference for the egg recipe, but their table labels the control as Diet A and gives it 23 of 40 first visits and a 0.52 intake ratio. This test cannot support a taste advantage.1

  4. Owners say

    Egg is a common dog allergen

    Outruns the evidence

    Evidence

    1. Strong
    2. Some
    3. Thin
    4. None

    A review found egg implicated in 11 of 297 dogs with documented food reactions, behind beef, dairy and chicken. Those selected cases cannot measure how common egg allergy is among all dogs.3

  5. Critics say

    Dried egg product is ground eggshells

    Outruns the evidence

    Evidence

    1. Strong
    2. Some
    3. Thin
    4. None

    The ingredient standard largely excludes shell and limits ash on a dry matter basis. Eggshell meal has its own definition. The word product does not turn dried egg contents into ground shells.4

Straight answers

What owners ask

  1. Q01

    Is it just filler?

    No

    It supplies protein and fat, and dogs digested the tested powder's protein well in a feeding trial. A small inclusion makes a small contribution to the finished food, but this ingredient has a nutritional job.1

  2. Q02

    Does it contain eggshells?

    Only traces

    The ingredient standard calls for egg material largely free of shell. Eggshell meal is a separate ingredient. The label does not tell you the exact shell residue, but it should not be a bag of ground shells.4

  3. Q03

    How much is in this bag?

    Label won't say

    Ingredients are listed by weight without their individual percentages. The egg's place tells you how its weight compares with nearby ingredients, not its exact amount. Feeding trials cannot supply the missing number for your bag.1,6

Who uses it

Brands, best sellers and the company it keeps

Top brands, by foods that list it

  1. Blue 69 / 186
  2. Fromm 47 / 67
  3. Nutro 45 / 71
  4. Purina 43 / 185
  5. Merrick 40 / 107
  6. Iams 22 / 31
  7. Authority 19 / 34
  8. NutriSource 14 / 91
  9. Koha 13 / 29
  10. Health Extension 12 / 47

Foods that list it / all the brand's recipes we track.

Plus 36 more brands.

Amazon best sellers that list it

  1. #3 Purina Pro Plan Adult Complete Essentials Shredded Blend Chicken & Rice Formula Dry Dog Food
  2. #5 Blue Life Protection Formula Adult Small Breed Chicken and Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food
  3. #10 Iams Proactive Health MiniChunks Chicken & Whole Grains Dry Dog Food
  4. #20 Purina Pro Plan Adult Small Breed Shredded Blend Chicken & Rice Formula Dry Dog Food
  5. #26 Purina Pro Plan Puppy Chicken & Rice Formula Dry Dog Food
  6. #30 Blue Life Protection Formula Puppy Chicken and Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food
  7. #39 Purina Pro Plan Adult Sensitive Skin & Stomach Lamb & Oatmeal Formula Dry Dog Food
  8. #42 Iams Adult Large Breed Dry Dog Food

Rank on Amazon's dog food best seller list, checked October 2026.

Usually listed with, share of the foods that list it

  1. Chicken 57%
  2. Mixed Tocopherols 48%
  3. Natural Flavor 39%
  4. Chicken Fat 37%
  5. Chicken Meal 36%
  6. Peas 26%
  7. Brown Rice 25%
  8. Carrots 21%
  9. Beef 20%
  10. Oatmeal 20%
  11. Barley 20%
  12. Chicken Broth 19%

On the shelf

Foods that list Dried Egg Product

479 foods in our catalog list it. These 60 list it highest on the label.

Halo Adult Grain-Free Holistic Surf & Turf Recipe Dry Dog FoodHaloHalo Adult Grain-Free Holistic Surf & Turf Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 2 on the labelHalo Small Breed Adult Grain-Free Holistic Game Bird Medley Dry Dog FoodHaloHalo Small Breed Adult Grain-Free Holistic Game Bird Medley Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 2 on the labelFromm Four-Star Beef Frittata Veg® Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodFrommFromm Four-Star Beef Frittata Veg® Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 3 on the labelNature’s Logic Original Canine Can: Sardine Wet Dog FoodNature's LogicNature’s Logic Original Canine Can: Sardine Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 3 on the labelMerrick Kitchen Comforts Chicken Casserole Wet Dog FoodMerrickMerrick Kitchen Comforts Chicken Casserole Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 3 on the labelMerrick Grain Free Puppy Plate Real Beef Wet Dog FoodMerrickMerrick Grain Free Puppy Plate Real Beef Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 3 on the labelMerrick Grammy’s Grain Free Chicken Pot Pie Wet Dog FoodMerrickMerrick Grammy’s Grain Free Chicken Pot Pie Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 3 on the labelDave’s Pet Food Naturally Healthy Chicken & Rice Entrée For Dogs / Wet Dog FoodDave's Pet FoodDave’s Pet Food Naturally Healthy Chicken & Rice Entrée For Dogs / Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 4 on the labelArtemis Osopure Grain Free Chicken Formula Wet Dog FoodArtemisArtemis Osopure Grain Free Chicken Formula Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 4 on the labelArtemis Osopure Grain Free Duck Formula Wet Dog FoodArtemisArtemis Osopure Grain Free Duck Formula Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 4 on the labelFromm Four-Star Trout & Whitefish Recipe Dry Dog FoodFrommFromm Four-Star Trout & Whitefish Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 4 on the labelKirkland Signature Nature’s Domain, Turkey & Pea Stew, 24-count Grain-Free Wet Dog FoodKirkland SignatureKirkland Signature Nature’s Domain, Turkey & Pea Stew, 24-count Grain-Free Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 4 on the label
Show 48 more
Halo Puppy Holistic Chicken & Chicken Liver Recipe Dry Dog FoodHaloHalo Puppy Holistic Chicken & Chicken Liver Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 3 on the labelHalo Adult Dog Holistic Chicken & Chicken Liver Recipe Dry Dog FoodHaloHalo Adult Dog Holistic Chicken & Chicken Liver Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 3 on the labelArtemis Osopure Grain Free Beef Formula Wet Dog FoodArtemisArtemis Osopure Grain Free Beef Formula Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 4 on the labelNature’s Logic Original Canine Can: Turkey Wet Dog FoodNature's LogicNature’s Logic Original Canine Can: Turkey Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 4 on the labelNature’s Logic Original Canine Can: Venison Wet Dog FoodNature's LogicNature’s Logic Original Canine Can: Venison Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 4 on the labelSolid Gold Nutrientboost Beef Meatball Wet Dog FoodSolid GoldSolid Gold Nutrientboost Beef Meatball Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 4 on the labelSolid Gold NutrientBoost Chicken Meatball Wet Dog FoodSolid GoldSolid Gold NutrientBoost Chicken Meatball Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 4 on the labelIams Proactive Health Puppy With Chicken AND Rice Classic Ground Wet Dog FoodIamsIams Proactive Health Puppy With Chicken AND Rice Classic Ground Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 4 on the labelPedigree Puppy Chopped Ground Dinner Can, Lamb & Rice Wet Dog FoodPedigreePedigree Puppy Chopped Ground Dinner Can, Lamb & Rice Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 4 on the labelMerrick Lil’ Plates Petite Pates Lamb Grain-Free Wet Dog FoodMerrickMerrick Lil’ Plates Petite Pates Lamb Grain-Free Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 4 on the labelMerrick Grain Free Real Duck Wet Dog FoodMerrickMerrick Grain Free Real Duck Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 4 on the labelMerrick Real Texas Beef Grain Free Wet Dog FoodMerrickMerrick Real Texas Beef Grain Free Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 4 on the labelMerrick Backcountry Grain Free Real Chicken Wet Dog FoodMerrickMerrick Backcountry Grain Free Real Chicken Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 4 on the labelMerrick Backcountry Grain Free Real Beef Wet Dog FoodMerrickMerrick Backcountry Grain Free Real Beef Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 4 on the labelNutro Chicken Entreé topped with Bites of Real Chicken & Spinach Grain-Free Wet Dog FoodNutroNutro Chicken Entreé topped with Bites of Real Chicken & Spinach Grain-Free Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 4 on the labelHalo Adult Dog Holistic Turkey, Turkey Liver & Duck Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodHaloHalo Adult Dog Holistic Turkey, Turkey Liver & Duck Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 4 on the labelFromm Four-Star Zealambder™ Recipe Dry Dog FoodFrommFromm Four-Star Zealambder™ Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 4 on the labelDave’s Pet Food Naturally Healthy Chicken & Beef Entrée For Dogs / Wet Dog FoodDave's Pet FoodDave’s Pet Food Naturally Healthy Chicken & Beef Entrée For Dogs / Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 5 on the labelDave’s Pet Food Stewlicious Meaty Beefy Stew For Dogs / Wet Dog FoodDave's Pet FoodDave’s Pet Food Stewlicious Meaty Beefy Stew For Dogs / Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 5 on the labelJinx Chicken & Vegetable Bone Broth Stew Wet Dog FoodJinxJinx Chicken & Vegetable Bone Broth Stew Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 5 on the labelKoha Minimal Ingredient Stew Duck Stew Wet Dog FoodKohaKoha Minimal Ingredient Stew Duck Stew Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 5 on the labelArtemis Osopure Grain Free Lamb Formula Wet Dog FoodArtemisArtemis Osopure Grain Free Lamb Formula Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 5 on the labelArtemis Osopure Grain Free Turkey & Salmon Wet Dog FoodArtemisArtemis Osopure Grain Free Turkey & Salmon Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 5 on the labelVictor Classic Chicken and Rice Formula Pâté Wet Dog FoodVictorVictor Classic Chicken and Rice Formula Pâté Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 5 on the labelVictor Classic Lamb and Rice Formula Pâté Wet Dog FoodVictorVictor Classic Lamb and Rice Formula Pâté Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 5 on the labelNature’s Logic Original Canine Chicken Feast Wet Dog FoodNature's LogicNature’s Logic Original Canine Chicken Feast Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 5 on the labelAbound Chicken, Peas & Sweet Potato in Gravy Wet Dog FoodAboundAbound Chicken, Peas & Sweet Potato in Gravy Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 5 on the labelPedigree Puppy Pouch, Turkey Wet Dog FoodPedigreePedigree Puppy Pouch, Turkey Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 5 on the labelPedigree Puppy Pouch, Beef Wet Dog FoodPedigreePedigree Puppy Pouch, Beef Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 5 on the labelBlue Wilderness Wild Meals Chicken & Sweet Potato Wet Dog FoodBlueBlue Wilderness Wild Meals Chicken & Sweet Potato Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 5 on the labelBlue Wilderness Wolf Creek Stew Chicken Wet Dog FoodBlueBlue Wilderness Wolf Creek Stew Chicken Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 5 on the labelBlue’s Stew Hearty Beef Wet Dog FoodBlueBlue’s Stew Hearty Beef Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 5 on the labelMerrick Lil’ Plates Petite Pates Beef Grain-Free Wet Dog FoodMerrickMerrick Lil’ Plates Petite Pates Beef Grain-Free Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 5 on the labelMerrick Slow-Cooked BBQ Chopped Pork Grain-Free Wet Dog FoodMerrickMerrick Slow-Cooked BBQ Chopped Pork Grain-Free Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 5 on the labelMerrick Grain Free Big Texas Chunky Steak Tips in Gravy Wet Dog FoodMerrickMerrick Grain Free Big Texas Chunky Steak Tips in Gravy Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 5 on the labelCesar Filets in Gravy Wood-Grilled Chicken Wet Dog FoodCesarCesar Filets in Gravy Wood-Grilled Chicken Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 5 on the labelCesar Mini Pouches Filets in Gravy Angus Beef Mini-Pouch Wet Dog FoodCesarCesar Mini Pouches Filets in Gravy Angus Beef Mini-Pouch Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 5 on the labelCesar Mini Pouches Rotisserie Chicken Mini-Pouch Wet Dog FoodCesarCesar Mini Pouches Rotisserie Chicken Mini-Pouch Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 5 on the labelNutro Tender Beef Recipe Grain-Free Wet Dog FoodNutroNutro Tender Beef Recipe Grain-Free Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 5 on the labelPurina Pro Plan All Ages Sport Active 27/17 Turkey & Barley Formula Dry Dog FoodPurinaPurina Pro Plan All Ages Sport Active 27/17 Turkey & Barley Formula Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 5 on the labelMerrick Full Source Grain-Free Raw-Coated Kibble with Beef & Bison Dry Dog FoodMerrickMerrick Full Source Grain-Free Raw-Coated Kibble with Beef & Bison Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 5 on the labelLotus Oven Baked Small Bites Sardine Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodLotusLotus Oven Baked Small Bites Sardine Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 5 on the labelLotus Oven Baked Regular Bites Sardine Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodLotusLotus Oven Baked Regular Bites Sardine Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 5 on the labelBlue Wilderness Wild Cuts Trail Toppers Chunky Salmon Bites in Hearty Gravy Grain-Free Dog Food TopperBlueBlue Wilderness Wild Cuts Trail Toppers Chunky Salmon Bites in Hearty Gravy Grain-Free Dog Food TopperTopper // No. 5 on the labelBlue Wilderness Wild Cuts Trail Toppers Chunky Duck Bites in Hearty Gravy Grain-Free Dog Food TopperBlueBlue Wilderness Wild Cuts Trail Toppers Chunky Duck Bites in Hearty Gravy Grain-Free Dog Food TopperTopper // No. 5 on the labelBlue Wilderness Wild Cuts Trail Toppers Chunky Chicken Bites in Hearty Gravy Grain-Free Dog Food TopperBlueBlue Wilderness Wild Cuts Trail Toppers Chunky Chicken Bites in Hearty Gravy Grain-Free Dog Food TopperTopper // No. 5 on the labelBlue Wilderness Wild Cuts Trail Toppers Chunky Beef Bites in Hearty Gravy Grain-Free Dog Food TopperBlueBlue Wilderness Wild Cuts Trail Toppers Chunky Beef Bites in Hearty Gravy Grain-Free Dog Food TopperTopper // No. 5 on the labelDave’s Pet Food Dave’s Stewlicious Shepherd’s Pie with Lamb & Beef For Dogs / 13.2 oz Wet Dog FoodDave's Pet FoodDave’s Pet Food Dave’s Stewlicious Shepherd’s Pie with Lamb & Beef For Dogs / 13.2 oz Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 6 on the label

Sources

What we read

Checked September 1, 2026.

  1. 1 Spray-dried egg in the diet of dogs: implications for recovery nutritional, palatability and haematology Semina: Ciências Agrárias, 2019 // Journal
  2. 2 The amino acid composition and protein quality of various egg, poultry meal by-products, and vegetable proteins used in the production of dog and cat diets Poultry Science, 2019 // Journal
  3. 3 Critically appraised topic on adverse food reactions of companion animals (2): common food allergen sources in dogs and cats BMC Veterinary Research, 2016 // Journal
  4. 4 Official Feed Terms, Common or Usual Ingredient Names and Ingredient Definitions AAFCO, 2025 // Regulator
  5. 5 PETFOOD - EGG POWDER GEPRO, 2026 // Industry
  6. 6 Reading Labels AAFCO, n.d. // Regulator
  7. 7 Biological Contaminants U.S. Food and Drug Administration, n.d. // Government
  8. 8 Tips for Safe Handling of Pet Food and Treats U.S. Food and Drug Administration, n.d. // Government
An ingredient on its own tells you very little. What matters is how much of it there is and where it sits in the list. That is why we weigh the top five rather than reacting to any single name further down. Back to the wiki

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