Can Dogs Eat Ham?
Can Dogs Eat Ham? Ham is a staple of holiday dinners and a weeknight sandwich favorite. And, just as with turkey, chicken, and other meat snacks, your dog will likely beg for a taste. But is ham safe for dogs to eat?
Is Ham Bad for Dogs?
Can Dogs Eat Ham? Ham is not toxic to dogs, but it’s not a great snack for them either. So if your dog accidentally ingests a small piece that has fallen on the floor, they’ll be fine. But incorporating ham into your dog’s diet on a regular basis can cause some serious health issues in the long run.
Ham contains a very high level of sodium, and a high-sodium dog food can cause medical problems like hypertension, kidney disease, heart disease, and obesity. Ham is also rich in fats, apart from salt. Fats, eaten on a daily basis for a prolonged period, can cause obesity and pancreatitis in dogs, and eating fatty foods even occasionally can result in your dog developing an upset tummy. Ham can also be rich in sugar, which can cause obesity and diabetes in canines.
If you do choose to give your dog a small amount of ham as a special reward, it’s preferably to serve it unprocessed and uncured ham with the fat trimmed. But most likely, you’re likely going to have a healthier snack for your dog stored away in the kitchen.
Key Points
- No, ham is not a food for dogs as it is too fatty and salty.
- Ham is not toxic to dogs, but eating it every day will lead to obesity and serious health problems like pancreatitis.
- If your dog ate a large amount of ham, watch out for the signs of stomach upset or salt poisoning.
Salted and sugared, ham is a lunch staple, holiday table centerpiece, and family dinner favorite. No matter the occasion, your dog is probably eyeing that piece of ham on your plate, leading you to question whether it’s okay to slip them a bite at the table.
Well, there’s bad news and there’s good news. Bad news is that ham is not good for dogs due to the excessive salt and fat content.
Can Dogs Eat Ham? And the not-so-good news? A little bit won’t harm your dog — and you’re still a great pet parent if you want to give a rare bite to an awesomely great dog. But making it a permanent fixture in your dog’s diet will lead to life-threatening illnesses like obesity and pancreatitis.
Learn more about why feeding your pup ham is not the best idea and better nutritional options that should be in their bowl instead.
Nutritional value of ham for dogs
Can Dogs Eat Ham? A healthy adult dog’s diet should include at least 18% protein and 5.5% fat, with a maximum of 0.08% sodium.
So, how does ham rank? While ham is probably going to be high in protein, with 3.18 grams per slice, you will need to watch the high sodium content. A slice of ham contains about 167 milligrams of sodium, too much for your dog.
The occasional morsel as a special treat? No problem, no way. But incorporating ham into your dog’s daily menu is a definite deal-breaker.
Hazards of Ham for Dogs
Excessive Fat Content
One of the biggest hazards of ham is that it contains too much fat. The hazard is not the ham but the fat that is cut with the ham, as explained by Dr. Sinn.
Fatty foods can cause pancreatitis, or pancreatitis inflammation. This can occur with any breed of dogs and might manifest with clinical signs such as:
Ham fat also delays digestion, which can lead to bloating and constipation.
Although mild pancreatitis will usually resolve itself, your dog may need professional help if the symptoms persist. Pancreatitis that is serious must be hospitalized and, in severe situations, can be life-threatening.
Can Dogs Eat Ham
Can Dogs Eat Ham? As a more fat-rich protein, ham is generally only safe for our dogs when served in very limited quantities. Just as for us, excess fat in their diets isn’t necessarily the best for our canines–and more fatty meats like ham aren’t any better.
Holiday Human Foods Your Dogs Can Have
Although dogs will not be able to enjoy onions and the other foods mentioned above, there are several holiday foods that they will be able to eat.
- Turkey: Yes, dogs are allowed to eat turkey. They can have chicken as well. Feed your dog white meat, without any salt or other spices. Do not feed them the skin or bones, however. The bones might seem like a safe and enjoyable treat, but they can cause serious harm.
- Green Beans: In case you think green beans would make fine dog treats, then you are right. Spot may be fed raw, steamed or canned green beans. They should be plain and oil-free, as well as spice-free and seasoning-free, even including salt. Broccoli and spinach are also green vegetables that are safe for dogs to consume, but they may lead to gas.
- Carrots: Not only can a dog safely eat carrots, but most dogs love the crunch and flavor. Although dogs can digest raw carrots, you may also try feeding your dog cooked carrots. The green tops are also safe for consumption.
- Cranberries: There are several fruits and berries that your dog can have throughout the year. Cranberries are consumed during holiday meals and can be given to your dog. He may not like the tart flavor, though. Don’t allow sugary cranberry sauces and relishes around him.
- White Potatoes: Yes, a dog is allowed to eat mashed potatoes, but no salt, pepper, garlic, milk, butter and other similar additions added to them. The skin is also not good for them, so peel the potatoes first before mashing if you are going to give some to your dog.
- Sweet Potatoes: You can feed cooked, mashed sweet potatoes to dogs as well, but the same rules apply. Plain is best—keep him away from the yams with marshmallows and sugar.
- Pumpkin: Pumpkin is a tasty, healthy dog treat and most dogs love to eat it. If you give your dog canned pumpkin, make sure to read the label. You don’t want to feed him canned pumpkin pie filling with spices and sugar he cannot digest.