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But there are a few reasons why your pup shouldn’t eat bacon except for a small piece as a rare treat.
Bacon is “safe” for dogs to eat and it is generally fine to let your pooch have a small slither of bacon, just don’t offer them a whole rasher and don’t feed them bacon often.
Arguably, we humans shouldn’t eat bacon too often either for the same reasons, since bacon is high in salt and fat. When we fry it, we’re adding even more oil and fat to the meaty treat. Salt and fat aren’t good for dogs, and they are more sensitive to these components than we humans are. Not to mention, eating too much bacon could lead to your pooch piling on the pounds.
Some dogs shouldn’t eat bacon at all though. For example, a pooch withpancreatitis should avoid eating bacon because the high-fat content could trigger a flare-up of their condition.
No, your dog shouldn’t eat bacon raw. Although raw bacon is technically “safe” for a dog to eat, it is more likely to make them sick. And just like any other raw pork product, there is the small potential that there are parasites or bacteria on the meat that could make your dog unwell. However, if your dog manages to eat a tiny scrap from the floor, they’ll probably be fine.
Technically yes, but they probably shouldn’t. Again, a tiny bit on occasion is probably perfectly fine for most healthy, adult dogs. However, this rich fat can cause gastrointestinal upset, especially if your dog has asensitive stomach. Some dogs with underlying conditions should avoid eating fat, including any dogs on a calorie-controlled diet or those with pancreatitis, so bacon fat is a no-no.
No, don’t feed your dog bacon grease. Again, it’s oily, high in fat, and very heavy on the stomach. It is pretty likely that bacon grease will upset your pooch’s stomach and cause gastrointestinal illness. If your dog has an underlying health condition affected by their diet or fat, you definitely should steer clear of spooning any grease onto their dinner.
Yes, dogs can eat pork as long as the meat is cooked, served plain, and it’s only a small amount. There are better protein sources out there, like chicken and fish, which are moredigestible and healthier for your pup to eat regularly. That is unless your pooch is allergic to pork. In which case, they shouldn’t eat any pork or pork products, including ham, bacon, and sausages.
Yes, eating a lot of bacon or regularly eating bacon is bad for dogs, just like it is for humans.
Firstly, bacon is high in fat and depending on how you cook it, you could add even more fat by frying it in butter or oil. Dogs do need fat for energy, but this should be in the form of “healthy” fats, including polyunsaturated fats. These are sometimes called “functional” fats because they play an important role in your dog’s body but your dog cannot produce them on their own and so must have them in their diet.
Bacon however is packed full of saturated fat and cholesterol. Cholesterol and saturated fat doesn’t pose the same risks to dogs as it does humans, because it is not as likely to clog their arteries and it’s unclear if it causes heart disease with the same prevalence as in humans. However, these fats are more likely to be stored in the body, increasing your pooch’s risk ofobesity. Obesity, in turn, can raise the risk of your dog developing other health conditions such as diabetes, cancer, and heart disease.
Too much fat can also causepancreatitis, and dogs who have suffered from the condition previously will need to avoid fatty foods for the rest of their life. Your dog can get pancreatitis if they eat a lot of fat at once (acute), or they can develop the condition over time even if they only eat a few fatty foods regularly.
In addition, processed meats like bacon, salami, and sausages, have been identified as carcinogens with links to causingbowel cancer and higher risk ofgastric cancer. (Conversely, red meat is theclass below and “probably” causes bowel cancer.)
Finally, bacon is full of salt and preservatives, usually nitrates. Nitrates themselves are a salt, so bacon is just generally high in sodium. Although your dog needs some salt in their diet, too much can make your pup unwell and cause dehydration or even sodium poisoning.
This might all sound scary, but as long as your pup is healthy and eating a balanced diet and exercising regularly, a little bit of bacon every now and then should be perfectly fine. Just like with humans, moderation is key.
Not unless you’re very, very unlucky and your dog eats a lot of bacon at once, no, it shouldn’t kill your dog.
Bacon itself isn’t toxic, but eating a lot of it at once could be the catalyst in triggering a condition like pancreatitis or bloat which can put your dog at risk. Pancreatitis could be caused by eating a lot of fat, while your dog might become bloated if they drink a lot of water to quench the thirst caused by salt.
If your dog somehow manages to eat a whole packet of bacon, or eats some bacon andvomits or shows signs of illness, don’t feed them any more and contact your vet for advice.
Moderation is key to keeping your pup happy and healthy. As long as bacon is kept as a special treat, your pooch should be perfectly safe.
So if bacon isn’t healthy for your pooch to eat, why do they love it so much? Well, bacon isn’t very good for us humans either, and yet many of us love the stuff. Like a lot of the foods humans and hounds enjoy most, bacon is fatty and salty so it’s full of flavour. A bit likecheese, bacon is a non-toxic, high-value, and super tasty treat for your dog but it is not necessarily healthy.
As with any food, it’s all about moderation. Giving your dog small amounts of cooked bacon infrequently should not cause harm, but there are much healthier human food alternatives. Just because a food isn’t acutely toxic to a dog, doesn’t mean they should indulge in it.
Wild Weenies Bac’n Me Crazy Recipe is sure to drive your dog wild! These all-natural, freeze-dried raw treats contain 95% bacon, red meat, and organs for a delicious snack packed with nutrition. Marie’s Magical Dinner Dust What’s Shak’n Bac’n Recipe is guaranteed to enhance mealtime for your pup. Simply sprinkle over your dog’s bowl and serve – it’s never been easier to add real, freeze-dried raw nutrition to your pup’s diet! Made with 95% bacon, red meat, and organs.
If you feed your dog bacon and they start experiencing symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, appetite loss, lethargy, signs of pain, or muscle stiffness, always contact your veterinarian.
As pet parents, we know and love bacon and you may want to share something so delicious with your best friend. We’ve shared information about the safety of bacon for your pup below!
If you’re looking for a version of bacon that’s considered safe for dogs, Stella & Chewy’s offers treats and toppers with real bacon that are safe and nutritious for your pup!
What AboutRaw Pork?
Along with not giving your dog bacon, it’s not advisable to add raw pork to your dog’s diet as it won’t do your dog’s stomach any favors. Raw bacon and raw pork products put your pooch at risk for trichinosis, a parasitic disease caused by a roundworm parasite known as Trichinella spiralis. PedMD lists the following symptoms of trichinosis:
This parasite causes discomfort by working its way into the muscles, resulting in inflammation, pain, and stiffness. So, if you have a package of uncooked bacon laying around while you prepare breakfast, keep it out of reach from any curious pup with a knack for getting into trouble.
That said, accidents happen. What do you do if your doggie snuck some of that bacon off the counter? Be prepared for your furry friend to experience some difficult bowel movements or even vomiting over the next 24 hours and check with your vet for good measure.