If you are a dog owner and have been pondering in your heart, “Can dogs eat sausage?” then this article is for you.
Dogs are Man’s best friends among all the pets he has as friends. Due to the friendliness and loyalty of dogs, many dog owners love to give them whatever they consume as humans.
However, some exceptions exist; for instance, sausage is a food loved by all humans, and many dog owners may want to feed dogs with it.
You may have attempted sharing your juicy bratwurst or Sausage with dogs, but have you asked yourself this big question: “Can dogs eat Sausage?.” Pausing to know what happens to your dog when it eats sausage is pertinent.
This article will help you know the pros and cons of feeding your furry friends sausage, which will guide you in protecting your dog’s health.
Can Dogs Eat Sausage?
The answer to this question is Yes. However, avoid using sausages as a dog’s primary source of protein. If you must feed them sausages, cut them into smaller pieces, and give them a smaller portion.
Sausages that are processed contain various ingredients and spices and could be harmful to the dog’s health when they eat them. Instead of feeding the dog sausages that are harmful, providing them cooked meat is more nutritious.
Various experiments have shown canines prefer hotdogs to carrots, and you must control this obsession in your dogs. It’s not wrong to feed your dog sausages occasionally, but excess sausage can be unhealthy and harmful to the dog’s digestive system.
Have you wondered what raw sausages could do to dogs? Your dogs could die if you feed them sausages not cooked adequately due to the E.coli and Salmonella in them.
Is Sausage Bad for Dogs?
The simple answer to this question is Yes. If sausages harm humans health, then it’s not safe for dogs. Humans can eat a small portion of Sausages and be fine, but a considerable amount of sausages given to dogs frequently are unfriendly to their health.
You may be wondering why. Dogs are lower animals, and unlike humans, they need fewer calories. Feeding them a piece of sausage produces more than the fats and calories they need to live daily. 640-800 calories daily are what is recommended by experts for any dog weighing 15 kg.
However, an unhealthy dog must consume less than 640-800 calories daily. Sausages are from pork; when closely examined, 111-176 calories are in a typical pork sausage. This analysis, without a doubt, shows that a single bite of sausage takes a lot of calories from your dogs daily.
Feeding your dogs Meat is nutritious for their health, but avoid pork or beef sausage. They contain a lot of salt and fat and are not a source of protein healthy for dogs.
The possibility of at least 55% of fat content in sausages is high, and sadly, it results in harmful health conditions such as disease, pancreatitis, obesity, etc. Also, remember that foods with high salt content are a no-no for dogs.
Pet food manufacturers are under the Association of American Feed Control Officials and must add 0.3 percent of sodium to their dog foods. Pupils need minerals to be active and free of all health complications.
However, the fact that sausages have a lot of sodium should be on top of your mind. For instance, if you cook one sausage patty, it has about 349 milligrams of sodium.
Can you now realize how bad feeding your dog sausages can be? The health implication can be scary. Consistently providing dogs with Sausages is deadly and adversely affects the dog’s kidneys, heart, etc.
It doesn’t end there. Be reminded that other ingredients in sausages, such as artificial flavorings, spices, garlic, onions, and sulfites, can be toxic to the health of your furry friends.
Clearly stated, sausages are not a healthy proteinous food for your dogs. The pork found in sausage brands is less than 50%, and sadly, they are produced from meat but have no nutritional value when fed to dogs.
Also Read: Can You Freeze Pulled Pork? (Everything to Know)
Can Dogs Eat Sausage? – What Happens if Your Dog Eats Sausage
To answer this, your dog will not die. It should be okay when given a little portion of sausage. However, slight ill-health symptoms like diarrhea and vomiting may occur.
Hence, when you feed your dog a small portion of Sausage, monitor the dog closely rather than keeping your distance. Keeping enough clean water close is also necessary to help your dogs rehydrate when lots of fluid is released.
You have to monitor the hydration level of your dogs regularly. It is deadly when dogs get dehydrated, which can be caused by Vomiting, diarrhea, and high salt content in sausages.
However, if you notice continuous defecation and vomiting in your dog, let the stomach settle for some time rather than give him food.
Aside from diarrhea and vomiting, other symptoms can occur when your dog consumes undercooked sausage. These symptoms include the following:
- Lethargy
- Loss of appetite
- Dehydration
- Nausea
Aside from Salmonella and E.coli, your dog is prone to side effects like Trichinosis, a parasite infection, if they consume raw sausages.
To reiterate, mixing sausages with other ingredients in addition to their salt and fat content can be harmful and problematic to the health of your furry friends.
The red blood cells of the dogs are not left out. When you constantly feed your dogs a small portion of sausage containing garlic and onions, their red blood cells are at risk. It causes a disease called Anemia.
You should have the contact of your local veterinarian handy to avoid worst-case scenarios when the health issue symptoms of your dog persist.
Can You Use Sausage Grease to Cook for Dogs?
The simple answer to this question is No. The high sodium and fat content in sausage harms dogs; therefore, cooking dogs with sausage grease is dangerous and a no-no.
Your dogs have obesity and digestive complications when they consume excess fat and other health issues, especially dehydration when they consume sodium in excess.
Also, the ingredients and spices in sausage grease harm dogs, leading to digestive health issues and unhealthy reactions.
It is safe to work with experts in canine nutrition and veterinarian to plan and implement the perfect dietary needs for your dogs.
Healthy Sausage Substitutes for Dogs
You may be wondering if there are safe sausage substitutes for dogs. Yes, since sausages are harmful to dogs, you can feed your dogs with the following sausage substitutes to maintain their health and well-being:
- Lean ground beef or ground turkey
- Low-fat cheese, such as mozzarella or cottage cheese
- Cooked and shredded chicken or turkey breast
- Plain Greek yogurt, used as a healthy and protein-rich topping or dip for their food.
- Hard-boiled eggs, chopped or sliced
- Chopped or grated vegetables, such as carrots or sweet potatoes
vii. Small pieces of cooked fish, such as salmon or tilapia
Additionally, you should avoid sausage substitutes containing ingredients such as garlic, grapes, and onions, which are toxic to dogs’ health. So, to maintain good health and a balanced diet for your dogs, ensure you give them a small portion of sausage substitute free of toxic ingredients.
Also check out: Can You Marinate Frozen Chicken? (How It Is Done)
Frequently Asked Questions-Can Dogs Eat Sausage?
Can Dogs Eat Cooked Sausages?
The answer to this question is Yes; dogs can eat cooked sausages. However, ensure the sausages are cut into pieces, properly cooked, and served in small portions to reduce the high salt and fat content, negatively affecting the dog’s health.
Can Dogs Eat Sausage Rolls?
No. As sausage harms dogs’ health, so it is with the rolls. The meat in sausage rolls is processed, and the excess calories in the pasty are toxic to dogs. However, a small bite is enough if you insist on giving your dog sausage rolls.
What Meat Should Dogs Not Eat?
Dogs are to eat only some meats as some are processed and can cause serious health issues. Dogs should not eat meats like bologna, hot dogs, sausage, etc. Also, dog owners should not give meats like rib bones to dogs to prevent their throats and stomach from damaging.
Is Breakfast Sausage Ok for Dogs?
The answer to this question is NO; breakfast sausages contain high salt and fat and various unhealthy seasonings and thus are not a good protein source for your dogs. But you can feed your dogs a small amount of sausage cooked without any seasoning, which won’t affect your dog’s health.
Can Dogs Eat Cooked Eggs With Sausage?
No, don’t feed dogs eggs prepared with additional ingredients. Butter, salt, garlic, onions, etc., are additional ingredients in cooked eggs which has serious health complications for dogs. The best thing to do is to feed your dogs’ boiled eggs.
Conclusion-Can Dogs Eat Sausage?
In conclusion, better food options exist than cooked or raw sausage for your dogs. There is nothing wrong with plain sausage, but for the protection of your dog’s health, it’s a no-no for them.
Aside from fat-filled sausage, local vets and the Association of American Feed Control Officials has other quality dog foods that meet their standard to give your dogs a nice treat and protect their health.