Can Dogs Eat Bacon?

Is bacon one of your favorite foods? You may enjoy preparing it in the morning, having a few slices with your eggs, or adding it to anything else that you like to eat in the morning. And while you’re having that crispy, delicious piece of bacon, you might notice your four-legged friend quickly coming up beside you, begging for a piece of it. Most dogs love the smell of bacon, no matter what kind you’re cooking, and you may give into your pup’s requests, tossing some bacon to it. However, while dogs are omnivores, meaning they eat meat, fruits, and vegetables, bacon isn’t the best treat to give your dog for a few reasons.

Is Bacon Good for Dogs?

A small amount of bacon here and there isn’t much of a problem. However, you don’t want to give your dog multiple slices of bacon because it contains too much sodium. Excessive salt isn’t good for dogs of any size, and eating a bit too much of it can lead to health issues for your pup, including pancreatitis. When dogs end up with pancreatitis, it can have a lasting negative impact and may ultimately lead to the animal’s death. You don’t want that to happen to your pup, which is why it’s better to avoid preparing bacon for your pet.

Can Dogs Have Turkey Bacon?

While pork bacon contains excessive sodium, turkey bacon doesn’t, so it’s an excellent alternative if you want to give your dog some bacon. However, if you absolutely want to give your dog some bacon, choose a low-sodium turkey option to ensure that it has minimal salt. And, even with less salt, don’t overdo it. Remember that bacon is a treat for your four-legged friend, so it’s not something you need to give your pet all the time. If you like to make turkey bacon for yourself, you can prepare an extra piece for your pooch and serve it in their feeding bowl or use it as a reward for good behavior!

Although turkey bacon is the healthier alternative, it’s still not the most beneficial thing for your pet to eat. If you want to prioritize feeding your dog only the best, most nutritious foods, consider ditching the bacon altogether.

Can Dogs Eat Pork?

Now that you know more about dogs eating bacon, you’re probably wondering if they can eat pork. Because dogs are omnivores and would typically consume meat if they lived in the wild, it’s safe to give your furry friend some pork. However, you don’t have to go out of your way to season it like you would when preparing a pork chop for yourself.

For example, you can remove the pork chops from the packaging and place them directly in the oven, baking them for several minutes before removing them, allowing the pork chops to cool down, and then cutting them into small pieces. Once you’ve cut the chops into small pieces, you can add them to your dog’s food bowl. Avoid using seasonings because some aren’t good for dogs to eat, including onion powder, which can be incredibly toxic for these animals.

Can Dogs Have Ham?

While some pork products are safe for dogs, ham isn’t one of the best things to feed your furry friend. The problem with ham is that it has an incredibly high salt content. Because it contains so much sodium, it puts dogs at risk of experiencing countless symptoms that can cause harm to their health. A dog eating ham may become lethargic and begin vomiting or experiencing diarrhea. Because of these symptoms, you’re better off not giving your dog any ham, even if it’s what you’ve served yourself for dinner!

You may wonder if there is a difference between ham steaks and deli ham. However, both contain a lot of salt, and too much salt is naturally bad for dogs. So, whether you’re preparing a sandwich with deli ham or eating a ham steak that you’ve prepared in the

oven, make sure your dog isn’t getting into this meat. You wouldn’t want it to start experiencing negative symptoms from consuming meat with too much sodium.

Are Rib Bones Safe for Dogs to Eat?

Dogs love bones. It’s the kind of treat they look forward to gnawing on for hours on end. And chewing on bones is good for dogs because it can help strengthen their teeth. However, that doesn’t mean all bones are good for them. For example, if you’ve recently prepared a rib roast, you may have some bones left over that you’re thinking about giving to your four-legged friend. If so, it’s not the best idea for a few reasons.

Sadly, rib bones can cause damage to the intestines, putting your dog at risk of losing its life. You don’t want to make the mistake of thinking something is safe for your pooch only to find out it’s incredibly harmful and puts the animal’s life at risk. If you’re eating ribs and have bones left over, you can dispose of them in a safe space where your dog wouldn’t have access to them. Avoid tossing them in the trash, especially if your dog can quickly get into the garbage in your kitchen.

Raw bones are the best choice if you want to give your dog a bone. You can typically find raw beef and lamb bones in most pet stores. These are safer alternatives to giving your dog any cooked bones that could harm its health.

Can Dogs Eat Pork Bones?

Pork bones, much like cooked rib bones, aren’t ideal for your furry friend because of the risk of splintering. If these bones splinter while your dog bites into them, they could begin to choke or experience damage to the intestines, which puts the animal’s life at risk. Your best bet is to stick with high-quality bones sold at pet stores and available specifically for dogs to consume.

What Types of Meats Are Best for Dogs to Eat?

While dogs shouldn’t eat bacon because of how much salt it contains, they can safely consume other types of meat! One of the best meats to give your dog is chicken. You can prepare unseasoned chicken in the oven, on the stove, in the crockpot, or even in a pressure cooker and then shred it before adding it to your dog’s food bowl. Some people like to sprinkle a bit of the shredded chicken on top of dry dog food, enticing their pup to eat its dinner! In addition to chicken, it’s safe to give your dog cooked lean ground turkey, steak, and even ground beef. Dogs would eat meat in the wild, so it comes as no surprise that you can prepare these types of entrees for your beloved pooch.

What Your Dog Can Eat Instead

There’s no shame in wanting to give our dogs whatever food will make them happy. There just happens to be many other choices out there that are much healthier and more nutritious than pretzels. Here is a list of all the junk foods that your dog can eat.

Fruits

There are many fruits that dogs can eat which are packed with vitamins, dietary fibers, and antioxidants. The best are berries like strawberries, blueberries, cranberries, and raspberries. Dogs can eat bananas, oranges, apples, melons, mangos, and pineapples. Make sure fruits with pits, stems, cores, and seeds have been ridden from these items. Several of them are choking hazards and peach pits can be toxic. Grapes of any kind are poisonous to dogs, and even raisins shouldn’t be given to them.

Seafood

When seafood is free from shells, tails, bones, and legs, they are safe for a dog to eat. Dogs can have lobster, shrimp, salmon, crab, tuna, flounder, and a variety of other fish that is lower in mercury. Fish with too much mercury fed too often to our dogs can cause mercury poisoning. Uncooked or undercooked seafood can contain harmful pathogens and bacterium like salmonella which can make a dog extremely ill. Always ensure that seafood is thoroughly cooked before feeding it to your dog.

Beans

Beans can be great sources of dietary fibers and proteins which are necessary for a dog’s health. Dogs can have a wide variety of beans, including lima beans, pinto beans, black beans, garbanzo beans, soybeans, butter beans, kidney beans, navy beans, and even green beans. Beans should always be cooked thoroughly and fed to dogs in moderation to avoid tummy aches. Beans shouldn’t replace meat in a dog’s diet, since the meat they eat is a richer source of proteins.

Vegetables

As stated earlier, garlic and onions contain toxins that are bad for dogs, and even seasonings containing traces of these vegetables could cause problems. Avocado is another poisonous food because it contains a toxic chemical called persin. Other veggies are considered great sources of fiber and vitamins for dogs. Dogs can eat carrots, pumpkins, spinach, celery, brussels sprouts, broccoli, kale, and many other vegetables instead.

Nuts

Most nuts aren’t toxic to dogs, save for walnuts and macadamia nuts. Other nuts aren’t necessarily poisonous, but they can contain lots of salts, fats, and proteins that are difficult to digest. They also aren’t very practical because they can be choking hazards due to their shapes, sizes, and shells. Cashews, almonds, and pistachios are fine for dogs to eat moderately, especially when they are made into butter which is safer to eat in terms of obstruction.

Conclusion

Believe it or not, dogs can eat lots of different types of human foods. But, if you’re thinking about giving your pet bacon, think again! Traditional bacon has too much sodium, which harms dogs of all sizes. If you want to provide this treat to your pet, choose low-sodium turkey bacon as a healthy alternative, and make sure you’re only giving your pet a small amount of it. Consider the bacon a treat instead of a full meal!

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