Owners love their dogs so much, they want to give them the best of everything, specially food they consider as so delicious, they just have to share it with their pets.
But hold it, owners! There are food that are actually bad for your dogs and can make them very sick.
Some these “bad” food are bacon, ham and fatty meat.
“High fat foods like bacon, ham, or meat trimmings can cause pancreatitis in dogs. And since these meats are often high in salt content, too, they can cause upset stomachs and, in extreme cases, can cause dogs to drink too much water, leading to bloat, which can be fatal. Save the fatty meats for yourself and stick to leaner choices for your dog,” said Mike Clark in “10 Foods That Are Bad For Dogs” in dogtime.com.
Bacon is a very salty food, aside from being full of bad fat for dogs. Salt is definitely bad for dogs as it is for humans.
“Salt can cause a condition called sodium ion poisoning, not to mention excessive thirst or urination. Symptoms of eating too much salt might include vomiting, diarrhea, high body temperature, and seizures, in addition to bloat, as is the case with bacon. Salt can be fatal, so keep it to a minimum in the foods you share with your pup,” Clark said.
Camille Arneberg in “Can Dogs Eat Bacon? It’s More Dangerous Than You Think” in pethonesty.com shared the health risks of bacon to enlighten owners.
The Health Risks of Bacon
1. Fat and grease in bacon, specially if given in large amounts, can lead to upset stomach.
2. Grease from bacon can also clog your dog’s arteries.
3. Regularly giving bacon to dogs can lead to serious health issues such as inflammation of the pancreas, also known as pancreatitis.
4. Bacon has too much salt, and giving it to your dog can lead to salt poisoning.
5. Too much salt can also lead to a condition called bloat which can kill your dog.
Pancreatitis
The pancreas releases digestive enzymes in the stomach so that your dog can absorb and digest food on a daily basis, explained Arneberg.
“Pancreatitis is a condition that disrupts your dog’s ability to digest food and absorb nutrients. If the pancreas isn’t able to do its job, then uncomfortable (and dangerous) symptoms will arise,” Arneberg said.
Arneberg added that veterinary pharmacists at Pet Health Pharmacy have noted smaller dog breeds are more prone to pancreatitis. These breeds are miniature schnauzers, miniature poodles, and cocker spaniels. But larger breeds and older dogs can also be affected, they said.
Poor nutrition is the most common cause of pancreatitis, said Arneberg.
“Dog owners who give their dog high-fat food (like bacon or bacon grease) in large quantities open the door to a plethora of health issues associated with the disease,” Arneberg said.
Citing PetMD, Arneberg said obesity, lipemia (high levels of fat in the blood), and trauma to the pancreas are the other factors linked to pancreatitis.
Here are the symptoms of this illness:
· Loss of appetite
· Vomiting
· Abdominal pain
· Bloat
· Fever
· Lethargy
· Depression
· Increased heart rate
· Diarrhea
· Lowered potassium levels
“Fortunately, pancreatitis is treatable with treatments such as potassium supplements and fluid therapy. Even better, pancreatitis is preventable. Play it safe and keep dogs away from fatty food like bacon. It’s not worth the potential health problems,” said Arneberg.
“If you suspect your dog might have an inflamed pancreas, talk to your vet as soon as possible,” added Arneberg.
Salt poisoning
Here are the symptoms of salt or sodium ion poisoning from the Pet Poison Hotline:
· Vomiting
· Diarrhea
· Decreased appetite
· Lethargy
· Incoordination
· Tremors
· Coma
· Seizures
· Excessive thirst or urination
Aside from bacon, here are the human food you should not give to your dog because of its high salt content: pretzels, chips, seasoned nuts, luncheon meat, other food with salt.
Bloat
Salty food can lead to a much more dangerous and life-threatening condition called bloat, Arneberg said.
“Due to the high salt content in foods like bacon and ham, dogs may become dehydrated, prompting them to drink an excessive amount of water in an effort to satiate their incredible thirst. Their stomachs are filled with too much fluid and gas, which puts pressure on organs, causing the stomach to twist. Bloat can be fatal and typically calls for an emergency trip to the vet for surgery,” Arneberg said.
“Physical and behavioral indicators of bloat include restlessness, swollen stomach, pale gums, anxiousness, drool, excessive pacing, and dry vomiting,” she added.
To prevent bloat, feed your dog’s meals in a slow feeder or puzzle toy to avoid causing bloat. Give small servings of water if your dog is a gulper. This should be done specially by owners whose dog gobbles down his meals, thus swallowing a great deal of air in the process, Arneberg stressed.
If your dog exhibits symptoms of salt poisoning, contact your vet or the Animal Poison Control Center. Bring your dog immediately to the vet.
