The simple answer to “Can dogs eat Pork?” is yes if well cooked. Raw pork may contain a parasite called Trichinella Spiralis larvae that can lead to Trichinosis
Due to the carnivorous nature, the majority of dog owners believe that all kinds of meats are very natural for dogs. That can be a wrong opinion because some of them may contain a few ingredients which are not suitable for your dog which has symtoms of vomitting or diarrhea.
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Pork is an option that you have to pay close attention before allowing your dog to eat it. Can dogs eat pork? This is a complicated problem and has many aspects.
Yes, dogs can eat pork with precautions.
Must be well cooked to kill parasites.
Can dogs eat pork?
Can dogs eat pork? The short answer is yes. You can feed your dog pork but with some specific conditions. For example, it must be cooked well, and your dog isn’t allergic to pork. Your dog can eat plain pork safely if you make sure that doesn’t have all the spices & sauces which people usually cook with.
Don’t let your dog eat any food with condiments like BBQ sauce which is high in sugar and salt and add-ons such as spice rubs and seasoning (garlic powder, nutmeg, and onion powder, for example…) that means you are putting your pet in danger because of their high toxic feature.
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How much pork can you feed your dog?
When letting your dog try a new kind of food for the first time, you have to remember the key is to always begin with a small amount. Pork is noexception. Moreover, according to some statistics, compared to chicken and turkey, dogs have the higher opportunity to get the food allergy to pork.
This makes sure if your dog is allergic to that food or has any signs of a health problem, it isn’t a severe case. You just need to stop feeding it pork once more time.
After a period, you see that your pup reacts to pork well, you can serve it that food in moderation. In particular, pork is known to contain a hard-to-digest fat ingredient for dogs. If you allow it to overeat pork, your dog can end up indigestion and pancreas inflammation.
How about raw pork?
No. Raw and undercooked pork are harmful to both humans and dogs even it can end up the severe health problems because the parasite Trichinella spiralis larvae in raw pork can lead to the parasite infection (trichinosis).
The symptoms of the Trichinella spiralis infection in dogs include pain and stiffness, muscle inflammation, lethargy, elevated fever, diarrhea, vomiting, and upset stomach.
Depending on the health condition of each dog, the number of symptoms in their bodies will be different especially the weaker the immune system is, the more severe symptoms your dog has.
Are pork bones the great options?
Many owners usually toss their dog the leftover pork bone after their meals. However, you shouldn’t do that without any thinking in your mind. Although dogs like chewing, not all cases are safe.
When bone is well cooked, it will dry out, leading to the brittle and fragile condition. If you let your dog gnaw a cooked pork bone, it can be broken into the sharp pieces to stab to your dog’s esophagus and internal organs and cause choking. It’s not easy for uncooked bones to splinter off, but it is still possible.
When it comes to pork bone, some of you may wonder that how about raw pork bone? Can your dog consume this type? The answer is no, it can’t. Although raw bones aren’t brittle and fragile, they are raw, and as I mentioned, you knew what will happen if you allow your dog to eat raw pork.
Can my dog eat preserved pork such as ham and bacon?
No for both questions. Although ham and bacon are made from pork, there are some significant differences compared to pork when you allow your dog to consume.
According to the World Health Organization in 2015, the kinds of preserved meats including sausage and bacon can cause cancer (known as carcinogens).
What’s more, the stomach of your dog can’t handle the fatty bacon which is high in salt. In case your dog eats a significant amount, it has the high opportunity of pancreatitis even leading to death.
Ham also comes with a high content of salt dangerously so your dog may feel thirst more even ending up the “bloat” condition which occurs when the stomach of your dog fills up with fluid, food, and gas. In this case, other organs must bear pressure, threatening your dog’s life.
What you have to do if your dog eats preserved or raw pork?
In this case, you have to observe your dog’s the unusual symptoms. If there is any appearance of reaction, you need to take it to the veterinarian timely.
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What is alternative meat to feed my dog?
Chicken is also a source of protein to add to the diet of your dog. Apart from the easy-to-digest feature, this kind of food also provides amino acids, fats, minerals, and other essential vitamins.
According to the advice of veterinarians, chicken meat for dogs, having gastrointestinal issues should be boiled, unseasoned and plain. Or if you still want to feed your dog pork, you can refer to the following pork recipes which even suit diabetic dog:
Some pork recipes for your dog:
Bacon dog treats:
Ingredients:
- 2 slices of diced bacon
- 1 cup of pumpkin puree
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup of old-fashioned oats
- 3 cups of whole wheat flour
Directions:
After preheating your oven to 350 degrees F, let you line the baking sheet with parchment paper (or silicone baking mat) then set aside.Prepare a big skillet then adjust it at medium-high heat. Put bacon inside and wait until it turns into brown color and crispy. This process takes you about 6-8 minutes. Set aside.Put pumpkin puree, eggs and bacon into the bowl of your electric mixer (it should come with the paddle accessory) then beat all of them at the medium-high level around 1-2 minutes. Next, go on adding 2 1/2 cups of flour and old-fashioned oats and beat at low speed until they are incorporated. When the dough isn’t sticky anymore, you can add 1/4 cup of flour. Finally, add bacon and beat well.To work with the dough, you need to sprinkle a thin layer of flour on the surface. Knead the dough until it reaches the stickiness after that you can roll it to 1/4 inch. Cut that dough into your favorite shapes by cookie cutters to put onto your baking sheet.You can take it out your oven when the color turns into golden brown (perhaps you need to wait 20-25 minutes)Let them cool completely before enjoying.Note: Keep in mind that baking time and serving size will vary. They depend on the size of the treats and their shapes as well as the tool to cut treats.
Peanut butter and bacon dog treats:
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup of creamy peanut butter
- 1 tsp of honey
- 1 egg
- Half cup of water
- 1 shredded carrot
- 2 – 3 pieces of the chopped and cooked bacon
- 1 cup of oat flour or 1 1/2 cup of rolled oats
- 1 cup of all-purpose or whole wheat flour
Directions:
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F. Put peanut butter, bacon, carrot, water, egg, and honey in a medium bowl to stir until you see they are well blended. The last step to form the dough is to add both kinds of flours which you have prepared as long as they can wet the mixture.You should prepare 2 pieces of plastic wrap or make a 1/4-inch layer of flour on the surface to roll out the dough.You can cut the dough by a dog bone shaped cookie cutter or follow your desired shape. Remember to put your results 1 inch apart on the parchment lined baking sheet.You need to bake them within 20-25 minutes before cooling completely on a wire rack.If your dog can’t consume all in once times, you need to freeze or store the rest in a re-sealable plastic bag or a sealed container up to a week.
Dog biscuits by Joan:
Ingredients:
- 2 1/2 cups of the sifted whole wheat flour
- 1/2 cup of dry milk powder
- 1 cube of the crumbled beef bouillon
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 cup of cooked ground pork
- 1 cup of the grated carrot
- 6 tsp shortening
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup of cold water
Directions:
Preheat your oven to 175 degrees C (350 degrees F). Prepare 2 cookie sheets and line them with a light layer of oil.Stir whole wheat flour, beef bouillon, milk powder and salt in a medium bowl then add the ground pork, egg, carrot, and shortening. Blend this mixture and add water gradually to form a stiff ball.Roll your dough out to 1/4 inch on a surface with the light layer of flour after that using a cookie cutter to cut into your desired shapes. Remember to reroll scraps to remove all remaining dough. Put cookies 2 inches apart onto the cookie sheets which you have prepared.Put them in the oven and wait for baking within 25 – 30 minutes.
Conclusion:
At the end of the post, perhaps you know the answer to the question “can dogs eat pork?” as well as other related aspects. If you haven’t got all that you need, I will list again below:
Yes, dogs can eat pork, but you have to make sure some specific conditions. For example, pork must be well cooked, and your dog isn’t allergic to it.
Keep in mind to just feed it a small amount for the first time. Also, dogs can’t eat raw pork, pork bones, as well as preserved pork such as ham and bacon. If you feed your dog one of these things and see some signs of a health problem, contact your veterinarian immediately.
When it comes to alternative meat, chicken is a perfect choice. In case, you want to have pork in your dog’s daily meals, consider my 3 recipes: dog biscuits by Joan, peanut butter and bacon dog treats, bacon dog treats.
I hope I’ve answered the question, “can dogs eat pork?” to your satisfaction. Please leave a comment or question below. I look forward to responding to your comments. Don’t forget to share the article with your friends and loved ones too.