Why can t dogs eat pork

Can Dogs Eat Pork?

We all know that dogs love to eat meat and that high-quality meat is a fabulous source of protein and healthy fats. Yet people often ask us (and the internet, it seems):Can dogs eat pork?

Its understandable pork is, in a way, more complex than some other meats, particularly when it comes to thehealth of your dog.

To find out more about if, how, when and why dogs can eat pork, we spoke to Braeden Ruud, Co-Founder and CEO of5-star-ratedRaised Right. This is what he told us.

Can dogs eat pork?

If fed the right way, pork is a nutritious protein source that is particularly helpful for dogs with allergy issues because pork is considered by many to be a novel protein. Veterinarians often recommend pork for dogs with allergies as its less likely to cause an allergic reaction when compared to other protein sources.

Some companies likeRaised Rightare aware of how helpful pork can be for dogs with allergies and this is why they offer limited-ingredient recipes with pork as the protein source.

Are there any risks with dogs eating pork?

With that said, we dont want you to confuse a complete and balanced dog food with different types of highly processed pork that are prepared for humans like bacon and ham. When were in the kitchen preparing meat for us humans to eat, we often add salt and a variety of seasonings. Too much salt and certain ingredients commonly found in spices like onion powder are very dangerous for dogs so you need to be careful on what table scraps you feed to your dog.

Why are people worried about pork?

The main reason people are worried about pork is because of trichinosis. Raw pork can potentially contain the parasite called trichinella, which can cause the parasite infection known as trichinosis. To avoid this all you need to do is make sure the pork is cooked properly.

According to the USDAs FSIS Compliance Guideline, theres variety of time and temperature combinations that eliminate trichinella from pork, but the simplest is to cook the pork to an internal temperature of 144 Degrees F (62.2 Degrees C) because once this temperature is reached trichinella is instantly eliminated.

To be on the safe side, we cook all of our recipes to 162 F and we test every single batch for E.coli, listeria, and salmonella because they are killed at 160 F so if these pathogens pass the lab safety test we know there is no risk of trichinosis as the trichinella parasite is killed at a much lower temperature (144 F), which makes it pointless to test for trichinosis.

We have never had a pet contract trichinosis from our food as we have a hold release program where we dont ever ship our food unless it passes the lab safety test. For transparency, we post the test results of every batch on our website for everyone to see.

Heres a chart showing the various time & temperature combinations listed in theUSDAs FSIS Compliance Guideline:

Can dogs eat sausages?

Pork sausage is high in fat, salt, and is usually processed with a variety of seasonings that arent safe for your dog. If youre making the sausage yourself from scratch and dont add any salt or seasonings then you can give some to your dog as a treat in moderation.

Can dogs eat ham?

Processed ham is very high in sodium and too much sodium can cause a variety of health issues for dogs. Symptoms can include diarrhea, vomiting, and dehydration. In more serious cases, too much sodium can cause seizures, comas, and kidney damage so it would be wise to avoid feeding processed ham to your dog.

Can dogs eat bacon?

With how processed bacon is, its not a good idea to feed too much of it to dogs because bacon usually contains high amounts of salt. Bacon is also very high in fat, which can cause indigestion.

Can dogs eat pulled pork?

Plain pork thats cooked properly is safe for dogs to eat just as long as there arent any seasonings or spices added to it. Also, make sure youre not adding any barbecue sauce to the pulled pork as its only safe to feed to your dog if its completely plain.

Can Dogs Eat Pork?

Eating meat is very natural for dogs, and commercially prepared foods contain ingredients like chicken and beef. So its no wonder that owners are curious about whether pork is safe for pups to consume.

Is it Safe for Dogs to Eat Pork?

Plain, cooked pork is safe for dogs to eat, as long as you keep it simple and leave off the bells and whistles people tend to cook with. Seasonings and spice rubs that contain the following ingredients are extremely dangerous because they are highly toxic to dogs if ingested:

Avoid feeding your dog food cooked in condiments such as barbecue sauce. Many sauces are high in salt and sugar and contain added flavoring, such as garlic and onion. If your dog happens to eat a piece of pork covered in barbecue sauce, keep an eye out for any unusual symptoms that may arise; if they do develop a reaction, contact your vet immediately.

Can I Feed My Dog Raw Pork?

Eating raw or undercooked pork is not safe for dogs or humans due to the parasite trichinella spiralis larvae, which can cause a parasite infection known as trichinosis. An infection transmitted by pork meat, it can occur when a dog eats the muscles of animals infected with the trichinella parasites. This more commonly affects humans than dogs. The infection will only produce subtle symptoms in dogs, including:

Not all these symptoms are present in dogs; typically, pets with a weaker immune system will have more severe symptoms.

How Much Pork Can a Dog Eat?

Like any other food you try out for the first time, feed your dog a small amount to see if theres any reaction. Certain meats, including pork, rabbit, and lamb, may cause allergic reactions.

Pork is also rich with a type of fat that is difficult for dogs to digest, which can lead to indigestion and inflammation of the pancreas.

Can I Give My Dog Pork Bones?

Although it may be tempting to toss your dog that leftover bone after dinner, think twice before you do. Even though dogs love to chew on them, its not 100 percent safe. Once cooked, the bone dries out, causing it to become fragile and brittle.

When gnawed on, it can splinter off into sharp pieces, causing damage to the esophagus and internal organs. That can also cause choking. And while uncooked bones have a lower chance of splintering, they still might do so. If your dog enjoys a good bone, consider a high-quality, edible dental bone as an alternative.

Is Preserved Pork, Such as Ham and Bacon, Safe for My Dog to Eat?

The answer to both of these meats is no! In 2015, the World Health Organization found that processed meats such as bacon and sausage were known carcinogens linked to cancer. Bacon is an incredibly rich and fatty food with a high salt content, which can prove to be too much for a dogs stomach to handle. Eating a large amount can cause pancreatitis, which can be fatal.

Ham may cause increased thirst and could lead to a deadly condition called bloat. Bloat occurs when a dogs stomach fills up with gas, food, or fluid, making it expand. Hams high salt content can cause dogs to become dehydrated and drink an excessive amount of water. This puts pressure on other organs, which potentially can be life threatening.

What Is an Alternative Meat to Feed My Dog?

Chicken is an extra source of protein to add to your dogs diet. It is easy to digest and filled with essential vitamins, minerals, fats, and amino acids. Veterinarians recommend feeding your dog plain, unseasoned, boiled chicken when theyre experiencing gastrointestinal issues.

Can Dogs Eat Pork?

Your dog can eat pork as long as there is no seasoning, sauces, condiments, onions or other ingredients that can be potentially toxic. Pork has a high fat content, which is why its better suited for treat time every once in a while than added to your dogs diet as a staple. If in doubt, always check with your vet before making pork a regular addition to your dogs diet.

Can dogs eat raw pork?

It is not recommended for dogs to eat raw pork. Raw or undercooked pork meat might contain trichinella parasites which can infect both dogs and humans, and theres also the risk of contamination with a range of harmful bacteria. For these reasons, its always best to cook pork before handing it over to your dog.

Although infections with trichinella are rare, the disease can be serious. If your pet has managed to get their paws on a piece of raw pork, look out for the following signs:

• Vomiting
• Diarrhoea
• Lethargy
• Fever
• Stiffness

Get in touch with your vet if you notice one or more of the symptoms above.

Can dogs eat pork bones?

Dogs love to chew on bones, so its likely that youll be deeply appreciated by your canine friend if you throw a pork bone in their direction at dinner time. However, pork bones arent the best choice for a dog treat. Cooked pork bones are fragile, meaning that small pieces can easily splinter off and get stuck in your pets throat or damage their mouth or other internal organs. Raw pork bones are less brittle, but theres still a risk of splintering and a range of other problems, so its not recommended to feed them. Find out more about the risks of feeding bones to your dog here.

If your dog loves a good chew, there are many specially-formulated dog dental chews they can have. Theyre just as tasty as the pork bone theyre craving and much safer to give.

Can dogs eat bacon?

If the smell of sizzling bacon gets your dogs attention like nothing else, its important not to give in and feed them too much of this tasty meat. Keep in mind that bacon not only has lots of flavour, but also plenty of fat which might prove too much for your pets stomach to handle.

An upset tummy is not the only concern when it comes to feeding bacon to your dog. The high fat content in bacon means it can be added to the list of possible causes for dog pancreatitis, a life-threatening condition.

As well as its high fat content, bacon is also high in salt, which can be unhealthy for your dog in excess. So if you want to feed bacon to your dog, only reserve a very small amount as a treat perhaps for training. Be careful to avoid fatty cuts, and if your vet has suggested your pet could have particular problems with fatty foods due to their risk profile or history of previous disease, its worth asking their advice first before feeding bacon to your dog.

Can dogs eat ham?

Much like bacon, ham is high in salt, and it also has a relatively high fat content. Ham therefore carries the same risks as bacon, so again its only appropriate in very small amounts as a training treat. Remember that your dog does not need either ham or bacon for nutritional value, and be careful not to overdo it because salty, fatty, or preserved meats can be unhealthy for your dog.

Can dogs eat cooked pork?

Yes, dogs can eat cooked pork in moderation, but just like with any other type of meat, its best to keep things simple when preparing a meaty treat for your pet. Save your condiments for the family dinner, and give your canine companion a plain and simple piece just a little bit as a treat.