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Ingredient file // Animal protein

Dried Egg

Useful egg protein, with no special powers

Dried egg is shell-free egg with most of its water removed. In dog food it adds protein that dogs digest well, plus a good share of fat, and that is the whole of its job.

Dried Egg
What it is
Egg whites and yolks dried into a powder after the shells are removed.
Made from
Egg whites and yolks
Main job
Digestible animal protein
Typical amount
Dog studies tested 4 to 12%
Watch for
A diagnosed egg allergy
Not the same as
Eggshell meal

Straight answer

Is Dried Egg safe for dogs?

Count it as protein and read on

Dried egg contributes protein and fat. Its place on the ingredient list shows its order by weight, not its exact share. Check the named protein sources around it and the guaranteed analysis for the whole food. If your dog has a diagnosed egg allergy, choose a food without it.

Why it is in the food
Digestible animal protein

Our read // In our catalog

In 1 of every 26 foods we track

Share of foods that list it

4%

122 of the 3,204 foods with an ingredient list on file, from 15 brands. 87 dry dog food, 10 dog food topper, 9 wet dog food.

Each square is 1% of the catalog

Where it sits on the label

Median position 8. In the top five of 38 foods, so it is usually a supporting ingredient.

Top five List position, heaviest first

Above the salt

97%

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

Price per lb

Foods with it $4.04
All foods $3.25

Median of the cheapest bag price across 64 priced foods, 24% above the catalog. The price is the food's, not the ingredient's.

Who leans on it

21%

of the foods that list it are from Now Fresh. 15 brands use it in total.

What it is

How it is made

Egg processors break and filter shell eggs to supply liquid egg for food manufacturing. Eggs diverted from that market can enter feed production. Drying the contents removes water, making the egg easier to store and ship.1,3

  1. 01 // Source Shell eggs Eggs diverted from the human food market provide the whites and yolks for the feed ingredient.
  2. 02 // Process Broken and filtered In egg processing plants, machines break the eggs, leave the shells behind and filter the liquid egg.
  3. 03 // Process Spray dried Liquid egg enters a dryer as fine droplets and loses most of its water.
  4. 04 // Output Dried egg A shell-free powder that supplies egg protein and fat to the dog food recipe.

What is in it

Composition, dry matter

53

% protein

The rounded protein content of the egg powder tested in a dog study. The same powder was also about 30% fat.

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

These figures describe one powder, not a fixed recipe for dried egg. A separate analysis of spray-dried powders measured more fat, about 39% of dry matter, so products differ.1,2

Why it is in the bag

What the manufacturer gets

  1. 01

    Adds digestible protein

    In a dog feeding trial, protein digestibility rose as more spray-dried egg was added to the diet. Egg supplies protein alongside the recipe's other ingredients.1

  2. 02

    Uses diverted eggs

    Eggs diverted from the human food market can supply protein to animal feed. Removing water makes the resulting powder easier to handle and store than liquid egg.1,3

How much A controlled dog trial tested 4, 8 and 12% spray-dried egg added after extrusion without changing stool characteristics.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 dogs get

    Outruns the evidence

    Evidence

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

    An 8-dog crossover trial estimated 91.3% protein digestibility for its egg powder. That supports high digestibility. The trial did not compare egg with every other protein, so it cannot rank egg first.1

  2. Owners say

    Egg can trigger a food allergy

    Evidence

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

    A review identified egg as a trigger in 11 of 297 dogs with documented food reactions. Those cases show that egg allergy occurs; they do not measure how likely an individual dog is to develop one.4

  3. Critics say

    Dried egg is just filler

    Outruns the evidence

    Evidence

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

    The powder tested in an 8-dog feeding study contained 52.78% protein and 29.67% fat on a dry matter basis, and its protein was highly digestible. It contributes nutrients and energy.1

Straight answers

What owners ask

  1. Q01

    Is it just filler?

    No

    Dried egg supplies protein and fat. The dog feeding trial found its protein highly digestible, so it has a nutritional job even when egg makes up only a modest part of the recipe.1

  2. Q02

    Is it the same as eggshell?

    No

    Dried egg is the dried whites and yolks with the shell removed. Eggshell meal is a separate feed ingredient, made from the ground shells left over at egg-breaking and powder plants, and used mainly as a calcium source.3,5

  3. Q03

    Can dogs be allergic to egg?

    Yes

    Egg triggered reactions in 11 of 297 dogs with documented food reactions in a research review. That count concerns dogs already known to react to food. A dog with a diagnosed egg allergy should avoid dried egg.4

Who uses it

Brands, best sellers and the company it keeps

Top brands, by foods that list it

  1. Now Fresh 26 / 35
  2. Solid Gold 26 / 46
  3. Nulo 15 / 117
  4. Earthborn Holistic 15 / 28
  5. Tiki Dog 8 / 30
  6. Blue Seal 6 / 19
  7. Natural Balance 6 / 48
  8. Evanger's 5 / 30
  9. Go! Solutions 5 / 46
  10. Stella & Chewy's 3 / 85

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

Plus 5 more brands.

Amazon best sellers that list it

  1. #90 Solid Gold Mighty Mini Toy & Small Breed Chicken, Chickpea & Pumpkin Recipe Grain-Free 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. Peas 57%
  2. Mixed Tocopherols 54%
  3. Flaxseed 48%
  4. Chicken Fat 35%
  5. Natural Flavor 30%
  6. Potatoes 30%
  7. Brown Rice 30%
  8. Sweet Potatoes 26%
  9. Chicken 23%
  10. Canola Oil 23%
  11. Oatmeal 22%
  12. Chicken Meal 21%

On the shelf

Foods that list Dried Egg

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

Now Fresh Large Breed Turkey, Salmon & Duck Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodNow FreshNow Fresh Large Breed Turkey, Salmon & Duck Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 2 on the labelNow Fresh Small Breed Puppy Turkey, Salmon & Duck Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodNow FreshNow Fresh Small Breed Puppy Turkey, Salmon & Duck Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 2 on the labelNulo FreeStyle True Boost Skin & Coat Functional Mixers Salmon Recipe Grain-Free Dog Food TopperNuloNulo FreeStyle True Boost Skin & Coat Functional Mixers Salmon Recipe Grain-Free Dog Food TopperTopper // No. 2 on the labelNulo Raw Lamb Recipe with Raspberries Freeze-Dried Dog FoodNuloNulo Raw Lamb Recipe with Raspberries Freeze-Dried Dog FoodFreeze-Dried // No. 3 on the labelEarthborn Holistic Puppy Vantage Dry Dog FoodEarthborn HolisticEarthborn Holistic Puppy Vantage Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 3 on the labelEarthborn Holistic Small Breed Dry Dog FoodEarthborn HolisticEarthborn Holistic Small Breed Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 3 on the labelNulo Raw Duck Recipe with Pears Freeze-Dried Dog FoodNuloNulo Raw Duck Recipe with Pears Freeze-Dried Dog FoodFreeze-Dried // No. 4 on the labelStella & Chewy’s Gourmet Pate Gourmet Pâté for Dogs with Chicken & Chicken Liver - Grain Free Rich in Protein with Smooth Texture Wet Dog FoodStella & Chewy'sStella & Chewy’s Gourmet Pate Gourmet Pâté for Dogs with Chicken & Chicken Liver - Grain Free Rich in Protein with Smooth Texture Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 4 on the labelSolid Gold Barking at the Moon High Protein Duck, Pea & Egg Recipe Dry Dog FoodSolid GoldSolid Gold Barking at the Moon High Protein Duck, Pea & Egg Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 4 on the labelStella & Chewy’s Gourmet Pate Gourmet Pâté for Puppies with Chicken & Salmon - Grain Free Rich in Protein with Smooth Texture Wet Dog FoodStella & Chewy'sStella & Chewy’s Gourmet Pate Gourmet Pâté for Puppies with Chicken & Salmon - Grain Free Rich in Protein with Smooth Texture Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 5 on the labelBlue’s Stew Country Chicken Wet Dog FoodBlueBlue’s Stew Country Chicken Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 5 on the labelSolid Gold Barking at the Moon High Protein Beef, Egg & Pea Recipe Dry Dog FoodSolid GoldSolid Gold Barking at the Moon High Protein Beef, Egg & Pea Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 5 on the label
Show 48 more
Now Fresh Lamb & Pork Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodNow FreshNow Fresh Lamb & Pork Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 2 on the labelNow Fresh Trout, Salmon & Herring Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodNow FreshNow Fresh Trout, Salmon & Herring Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 2 on the labelNow Fresh Grain-Free Large Breed Adult Recipe Dry Dog FoodNow FreshNow Fresh Grain-Free Large Breed Adult Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 2 on the labelNow Fresh Grain-Free Large Breed Puppy Food Recipe Dry Dog FoodNow FreshNow Fresh Grain-Free Large Breed Puppy Food Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 2 on the labelNow Fresh Grain-Free Small Breed Adult Recipe Dry Dog FoodNow FreshNow Fresh Grain-Free Small Breed Adult Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 2 on the labelNow Fresh Grain-Free Small Breed Puppy Recipe Dry Dog FoodNow FreshNow Fresh Grain-Free Small Breed Puppy Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 2 on the labelNow Fresh Grain-Free Red Meat Recipe for Adult Dogs Dry Dog FoodNow FreshNow Fresh Grain-Free Red Meat Recipe for Adult Dogs Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 2 on the labelNow Fresh Grain-Free Fish Recipe for Adult Dogs Dry Dog FoodNow FreshNow Fresh Grain-Free Fish Recipe for Adult Dogs Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 2 on the labelNow Fresh Good Gravy Large Breed Adult Beef Dry Dog FoodNow FreshNow Fresh Good Gravy Large Breed Adult Beef Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 3 on the labelNow Fresh Good Gravy Small Breed Senior Salmon Dry Dog FoodNow FreshNow Fresh Good Gravy Small Breed Senior Salmon Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 3 on the labelNow Fresh Grain-Free Small Breed Red Meat Adult Recipe Dry Dog FoodNow FreshNow Fresh Grain-Free Small Breed Red Meat Adult Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 3 on the labelNow Fresh Turkey, Salmon & Duck Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodNow FreshNow Fresh Turkey, Salmon & Duck Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 4 on the labelNow Fresh Turkey, Salmon & Duck Grain-Free Dry Puppy Dry Dog FoodNow FreshNow Fresh Turkey, Salmon & Duck Grain-Free Dry Puppy Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 4 on the labelNow Fresh Grain-Free Large Breed Senior Recipe Dry Dog FoodNow FreshNow Fresh Grain-Free Large Breed Senior Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 4 on the labelNow Fresh Grain-Free Small Breed Fish Adult Recipe Dry Dog FoodNow FreshNow Fresh Grain-Free Small Breed Fish Adult Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 4 on the labelNow Fresh Grain-Free Adult Dog Food Recipe Dry Dog FoodNow FreshNow Fresh Grain-Free Adult Dog Food Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 4 on the labelNow Fresh Grain-Free Puppy Dog Food Recipe Dry Dog FoodNow FreshNow Fresh Grain-Free Puppy Dog Food Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 4 on the labelEarthborn Holistic Western Feast Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodEarthborn HolisticEarthborn Holistic Western Feast Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 4 on the labelNulo Raw Chicken Recipe with Blueberries Freeze-Dried Dog FoodNuloNulo Raw Chicken Recipe with Blueberries Freeze-Dried Dog FoodFreeze-Dried // No. 5 on the labelNulo Raw Turkey Recipe with Cranberries Freeze-Dried Dog FoodNuloNulo Raw Turkey Recipe with Cranberries Freeze-Dried Dog FoodFreeze-Dried // No. 5 on the labelNow Fresh Good Gravy Beef Recipe For Seniors Dog Food TopperNow FreshNow Fresh Good Gravy Beef Recipe For Seniors Dog Food TopperTopper // No. 5 on the labelSolid Gold Holistique Blendz Complete Health with Oatmeal, Pearled Barley & Ocean Fish Meal Dry Dog FoodSolid GoldSolid Gold Holistique Blendz Complete Health with Oatmeal, Pearled Barley & Ocean Fish Meal Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 5 on the labelEarthborn Holistic Unrefined Smoked Turkey with Ancient Grains & Superfoods Dry Dog FoodEarthborn HolisticEarthborn Holistic Unrefined Smoked Turkey with Ancient Grains & Superfoods Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 5 on the labelEarthborn Holistic Unrefined Roasted Rabbit with Ancient Grains & Superfoods Dry Dog FoodEarthborn HolisticEarthborn Holistic Unrefined Roasted Rabbit with Ancient Grains & Superfoods Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 5 on the labelEarthborn Holistic Unrefined Smoked Salmon with Ancient Grains & Superfoods Dry Dog FoodEarthborn HolisticEarthborn Holistic Unrefined Smoked Salmon with Ancient Grains & Superfoods Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 5 on the labelEarthborn Holistic Great Plains Feast Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodEarthborn HolisticEarthborn Holistic Great Plains Feast Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 5 on the labelNulo Raw Beef Recipe with Apples Freeze-Dried Dog FoodNuloNulo Raw Beef Recipe with Apples Freeze-Dried Dog FoodFreeze-Dried // No. 6 on the labelStella & Chewy’s Gourmet Pate Gourmet Pâté for Dogs with Duck & Chicken - Grain Free Rich in Protein with Smooth Texture Wet Dog FoodStella & Chewy'sStella & Chewy’s Gourmet Pate Gourmet Pâté for Dogs with Duck & Chicken - Grain Free Rich in Protein with Smooth Texture Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 6 on the labelTiki Dog Pate Chicken, Beef & Beef Liver Cups 4ct Wet Dog FoodTiki DogTiki Dog Pate Chicken, Beef & Beef Liver Cups 4ct Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 6 on the labelAnnamaet Original Senior Dry Dog FoodAnnamaetAnnamaet Original Senior Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 6 on the labelAnnamaet Sensitive Skin and Stomach Dry Dog FoodAnnamaetAnnamaet Sensitive Skin and Stomach Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 6 on the labelGo! Solutions Skin + Coat Care Beef with Grains Dry Dog FoodGo! SolutionsGo! Solutions Skin + Coat Care Beef with Grains Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 6 on the labelNow Fresh Grain-Free Small Breed Senior Recipe Dry Dog FoodNow FreshNow Fresh Grain-Free Small Breed Senior Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 6 on the labelNow Fresh Grain-Free Senior Dog Food Recipe Dry Dog FoodNow FreshNow Fresh Grain-Free Senior Dog Food Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 6 on the labelEvanger’s Super Premium Chicken with Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog FoodEvanger'sEvanger’s Super Premium Chicken with Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 6 on the labelEarthborn Holistic Unrefined Roasted Lamb with Ancient Grains & Superfoods Dry Dog FoodEarthborn HolisticEarthborn Holistic Unrefined Roasted Lamb with Ancient Grains & Superfoods Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 6 on the labelBixbi Rawbble ProteinBlend Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodBIXBIBixbi Rawbble ProteinBlend Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 7 on the labelNulo Raw Turkey & Salmon Recipe with Strawberries Freeze-Dried Dog FoodNuloNulo Raw Turkey & Salmon Recipe with Strawberries Freeze-Dried Dog FoodFreeze-Dried // No. 7 on the labelNow Fresh Good Gravy Beef Coated in Bone Broth Dry Dog FoodNow FreshNow Fresh Good Gravy Beef Coated in Bone Broth Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 7 on the labelNow Fresh Good Gravy Salmon Small Breed Dry Dog FoodNow FreshNow Fresh Good Gravy Salmon Small Breed Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 7 on the labelNatural Balance Gentle Balance Dry Dog FoodNatural BalanceNatural Balance Gentle Balance Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 7 on the labelBlue Seal Native Level 4 Chicken Meal & Rice Formula Dry Dog FoodBlue SealBlue Seal Native Level 4 Chicken Meal & Rice Formula Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 7 on the labelEarthborn Holistic Meadow Feast Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodEarthborn HolisticEarthborn Holistic Meadow Feast Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 7 on the labelEarthborn Holistic Ocean Fusion Dry Dog FoodEarthborn HolisticEarthborn Holistic Ocean Fusion Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 7 on the labelNulo Gently-Cooked Meals Beef & Sweet Potato Recipe Frozen Dog FoodNuloNulo Gently-Cooked Meals Beef & Sweet Potato Recipe Frozen Dog FoodFrozen // No. 8 on the labelSolid Gold Mighty Mini Lamb Food for Toy & Small Dogs Wet Dog FoodSolid GoldSolid Gold Mighty Mini Lamb Food for Toy & Small Dogs Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 8 on the labelNow Fresh Good Gravy Premium Quality Salmon Recipe Dog Food TopperNow FreshNow Fresh Good Gravy Premium Quality Salmon Recipe Dog Food TopperTopper // No. 8 on the labelBlue Delights New York Strip Hearty Gravy Wet Dog FoodBlueBlue Delights New York Strip Hearty Gravy Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 8 on the label

On labels as

Other names for this

Manufacturers do not all use the same wording. These all mean the same thing.

Dried Eggs Whole Dried Egg

Sources

What we read

Checked October 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 Evaluation of spray-dried eggs as a micronutrient-rich nutritional supplement Frontiers in Nutrition, 2022 // Journal
  3. 3 Egg Products and Food Safety U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service, 2011 // Government
  4. 4 Critically appraised topic on adverse food reactions of companion animals (2): common food allergen sources in dogs and cats BMC Veterinary Research, 2016 // Journal
  5. 5 Eggshells Feedipedia (INRAE, CIRAD, AFZ, FAO), 2012 // Database
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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