Before you toss a rasher of bacon, it is good to think, “can dogs eat bacon?” Those crispy slices can be hard to resist, and congratulations, they are not toxic to dogs.
Yes! Dogs can eat bacon, but should they?
This article will explore the health benefits and risks of serving your pooch bacon, along with extra spicy ways to munch it safely.
Can Dogs Eat Bacon?
YES, dogs can eat bacon, But first let’s see what bacon is made of.
Bacon is sliced from the belly pork, injected with brine, and later seasoned, processed, and preserved with chemical preservatives. There is a high concentration of fat than protein.
It is a highly processed food that is not toxic for dogs but also not a healthy option. In this age and time, numerous human foods are available that you can serve your dog, too, instead of unhealthy ones.
If you are still tempted to feed your furry friend their favorite snack, here is how bacon can benefit them!
Health Benefits of Bacon for Dogs
Looking at the medium rare side of it, bacon can be a delicious snack to munch on. Even though it might not be the healthiest one, your pooch can get SOME benefits.
Talking about the pros and benefits of bacon, the first one that comes to mind is that bacon is low on calories, meaning it does not add up to your dog’s weight. Putting one rasher of bacon in their meal or as a treat will not make your dog obese.
Even though a treat-sized amount does not make much difference, it can give your pooch energy to hop around as it also has vitamins like B1, B2, B3, B5, and B6. Moreover, no one can resist the delicious taste of bacon. It can be crunchy and pleasurable to munch on with your dog.
However, despite bacon being a source of protein and low carbs, there are better options than bacon in the market.
Risks and Side Effects of Feeding Your Dog Bacon
Bacon has a list of cons you should consider before tossing bacon to your pooch.
1. Preservatives
Bacon is a highly processed item preserved with chemicals like nitrates and nitrite to stretch its shelf life. These chemicals, in high amounts, can be deadly to dogs (study).
Preservatives do not add anything to the dog’s nutritional value. So next time you get your pooch store-bought bacon or dog food, it is essential to check the ingredients beforehand, as this can lead to life-long health problems and many vet visits.
2. Toxic seasonings
Suppose you have seasoned, marinated bacon one evening, and your dog jumps across to snatch the bacon. In this case, you straightaway grab it back.
Seasoned snacks are a BIG NO for dogs. It has solid spices and high sodium concentrations, which can be allergic to your dog. The seasoning used often includes garlic, which is a toxin for dogs.
3. Pancreatitis
One slice of bacon can have up to 3.34 grams of fat, which is only problematic once your dog keeps munching on bacon all day. Excessive fat content can cause pancreatitis in dogs, which is an excruciating condition (study).
A rasher or two occasionally as a treat will not harm your dog. However, it is always recommended to consult your veterinarian before introducing new treats or meals to your pooch.
4. Upset stomach
Every dog parent is familiar with gastrointestinal issues in dogs. An upset stomach and ache can be caused due to problems in digesting the bacon. Especially if a dog eats raw bacon, it can show symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea. It can bring a lot of discomfort to your dog, and belly rubs might not work too.
5. Choking hazards
Due to the texture of bacon slices, they can be hard to chew on. They can get stuck in their teeth, or your dog may struggle to swallow them.
This is why smaller bacon pieces are preferred over the big chunky ones, as they are easier to chew and digest. If a dog gets choked by the bacon, it can go breathless or face discomfort in its throat.
6. Behavioral problems
Sounds strange, right? But apparently, bacon has a palatable taste. Meaning it can be very addictive to your pooch, and they might show behavioral problems—tantrums, hyperactivity, and even scratching things around the house to convince you to buy another bacon.
If your dog shows such inappropriate behaviors, you’ll likely need to train them.
7. Allergies
Your dog can be allergic to seasoned bacon. It has an excessive amount of spices and salts, which makes it harmful to dogs. You must consult with your veterinarian to ensure that your furry friend is not allergic to bacon or certain spices.
Lastly, it is essential to note that the dog’s size also matters. A small dog may not tolerate small amounts of raw or seasoned bacon, while big and adult dogs might pass.
However, if your dog has overeaten bacon, keep them under observation if they show any signs, and consult the veterinarian for better advice.
Can Dogs Eat Raw Bacon?
Serving dogs raw bacon is a BIG NO.
Raw pork or bacon has Salmonella or Trichinella, two harmful bacteria that can cause severe gastrointestinal problems to the dog. There will be a high chance of bacterial contamination that can lead to risks. Even though a dog might have a healthy digestive system, giving them raw meat will be challenging to digest.
Moreover, the high-fat content in bacon can cause pancreatitis, so serving dogs cooked bacon and other meals is essential.
Can Dogs Eat Turkey Bacon?
Technically, yes. Turkey bacon is not toxic to dogs but has a very small nutritional value. It also has high fat and salt content, which is dangerous to dogs and can even be life-threatening.
Adding turkey bacon to regular meals is not advisable. Instead, you can give tiny amounts of it as a treat occasionally.
Lastly, only cooked turkey bacon shall be served. Uncooked bacon can cause choking hazards, gastrointestinal problems, and pancreatitis.
Ways to Safely Serve Bacon to Your Dog
1. Plain cooked bacon
Instead of serving your pooch a luxurious spicy marinated bacon, you can give them plain baked or fried bacon as a treat. Including bacon in main meals regularly is unhealthy, but plain cooked bacon can be a great option if you want to add something crunchy and delicious to your pooch’s treats.
You can cook the bacon and remove the fat or oils with a napkin, so there is minimal fat intake.
2. Homemade treats
Another healthy way to incorporate bacon into your dog’s munch list is to cook bacon yourself and at home and serve it with other treats. Instead of buying processed store-bought bacon, you can cook it at home with other cereal or cookie treats and serve them together. This way, a little bit of bacon fat will not harm, as there are other healthy treats.
3. Bacon-flavored treats
How about we give dogs the flavor of bacon without having to give them bacon? Yes, you can bring bacon-flavored commercial dog food or treats for them. There are also bacon-flavored dental chews that your dog can enjoy without the risks of bacon.
In fact—if your dog loves bacon so much, they might also like bacon-flavored toothpaste!
4. Bacon bits
Finally, you can also add bits of bacon to their meal. If you want to extract the protein from bacon without risking the bad part, when you serve them their nutritious bowls, you can top it with small crispy chunks of bacon that give them a fantastic flavor and a reason to woof you more.
Conclusion
In a nutshell, Yes, your dog can eat bacon, but in moderation, as it does have a few pros, which are not enough to ignore the cons and risks it can bring to a dog’s life.
If your doggo is always ready to snatch bacon from you, you can occasionally give them rashers as a treat. It is essential to cook and serve your bacon without any additional seasonings.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, dogs should not eat bacon grease or fat. Excessive fat can lead to several problems in dogs, like Pancreatitis. It can be more challenging for small dogs to digest the grease if consumed in awfully massive amounts. Moreover, whenever you serve cooked bacon to dogs, always wipe off the excess oil with a napkin.
Both bacon and sausages are highly processed food items that are not nutritious to your pooch. However, you can feed them safely by serving them in small amounts, cooking at home, or even topping them in their main meal bowl. If your dog has eaten excessive pieces of bacon and sausage, it can show symptoms like vomiting or diarrhea.
Bacon bones or pork bones should not be served to dogs. They can cause severe choking hazards and breathlessness in dogs. If your dog swallows the bone, it will be challenging for its metabolism to break it down. The dog might get an upset stomach and aches. If your dog has eaten pork bone(s), please consult your veterinarian immediately. In addition, if your dog loves bacon, you can easily purchase bacon-flavored chew balls or toys.
No, giving dogs raw meat or bacon is not advisable. Raw bacon can lead to further complications and discomfort for dogs, as it is challenging to digest raw bacon. It is very chewy in texture, making it harder for dogs to chew, and it can get stuck in their throat.
Yes! Eggs are a great source of protein, and along with crispy bacon, it’s a party for your pooch. Moderation must be considered, as too much of anything harms your dog. However, before adding anything new to your dog’s food menu, do consult your veterinarian.
