Can Dogs Eat Ham? Is Ham Safe For Dogs
The salty, tasty flavor of ham most likely has you wondering… Can dogs have ham?
The short answer is yes, dogs can eat ham. Although cooked ham by itself isn’t the healthiest treat for your dog, when consumed occasionally, it shouldn’t cause any issues.
But should you actually give your dog ham, and if so is it worth it?
Well, don’t worry because were going to be breaking down ill those questions and more.
Where Does Ham Come From?
Ham is a widely consumed food that can be enjoyed in a variety of ways. This meat, which comes from the pig’s hind leg, can be prepared with or without the bone. For special occasions or dinners, it can be prepared as a glazed meal, or it can be cut into deli-style slices for sandwiches.
Sometimes, ham is prepared or cured before cooking. This indicates that chemicals like sodium nitrate or other additives may be used to treat the meat before it is cooked. The wide variety of possible preparation and cooking methods for ham has an impact on whether it is suitable for dogs.
Can Dogs Have Ham?
Ham isn’t harmful to dogs, but it also doesn’t provide them with the best nutrition. Although ham contains a lot of fat and sodium, which can be harmful to dogs in large doses, giving your dog a few bites as an occasional treat shouldn’t be harmful and can be done.
Compared to many other meats, ham has a higher fat content. A diet high in fat is is not good for the overall health of your dog. Dogs do require fat in their diets, but most dog foods contain enough fat to satisfy your dog’s requirements.
About 15 to 20 percent of the animal fat in dog food is considered healthy. Ham is rich in fat, which is what gives it its flavor, but your dog will have trouble digesting it. Pancreatitis and other digestive disturbances can result from eating too much fat.
Additionally, if your dog is overweight, sharing ham with them is not ideal.
Can Dogs Eat Ham Bones?
No, dogs can not have ham bones. (You should never give your dog ham bones!)
If you’re cooking a piece of ham, after you cook it, these bones are soft. If you give them to your dog, your dog will easily be able to crack and splinter these bones. Your dog may choke, tear their mouth, throat, or intestines, or develop blockages in their intestines as a result of these splinters.
Salmonella and other bacteria harmful to dogs can be found in raw ham bones. Call your veterinarian right away if your dog ate a ham bone and is showing symptoms of constipation or seems unwell.
Why Is Ham Bad For Dogs?
Ham is not the healthiest human food that you could give to your dog companion, despite the fact that it does offer a source of protein. Some of the big reasons why Ham is not the best is:
- High In Sodium:
Ham is frequently salted or given other treatments that contain sodium to cure it. Dogs shouldn’t consume too much salt. If large amounts of ham are consumed, salt toxicity could occur. Initial signs of this include increased urination and thirst.
- High Fat Content:
Ham is a very high in fat. It isn’t bad occasional and if given a small amount. But too much fat can result in the issues mentioned above (pancreatitis, upset stomach.)
3. Sugar Content
Ham that maybe prepared or being cooked as a family dinner most of the time has glaze or honey added. This is added sugar that is not ideal for your dog. Dogs shouldn’t typically eat sugar. Although fruits and vegetables, which naturally contain sugar, are safe for dogs to eat, dog owners should steer clear of giving their animals foods that have added sugar. Regular sugar consumption can affect various organs and metabolic processes, increase body weight, cause weight gain and cause diabetes.
What Happens if a Dog Eats Ham?
If a small amount or serving size, nothing. It is perfectly okay to do so.
Dogs who have eaten a lot of ham are most likely to experience digestive upsets, such as excessive drooling, vomiting, or diarrhea. Vomiting and diarrhea is usually mild but it can be more severe. Monitor your dog if you believe they may have eaten a lot of ham. They may be more thirsty but if more serious issues occur, contact your vet.
My Dog Won’t Eat, Can I Give Them Ham?
Yes, you can give your dog a few pieces of ham if they’re not eating. When my Jack would be sick (due to hemangiosarcoma) and did not want to eat for a day, I would let him be. But if a couple of days went by, and he was not eating anything (like cooked chicken, fish, meat) I would try cold cuts. I knew after a couple of days, he would have to start eating.
He loved pastrami, ham, turkey and cheese so I would give him these and almost every time, eventually he would start to eat. Now he wouldn’t be eating a pound of cold cuts, but a 2-4 pieces was a good start (Jack weighed 75LBs.) Then what I would do is, once he started eating the ham or pastrami, I would then bring in some cooked meat, or chicken or eggs, to hopefully move him from the cold cuts to much better options.
How To Feed Ham To Your Dog
Look for ham with the fewest additives possible. Ham that has been baked with glaze or honey are not recommended for your pet because they have added sugar.
Ham with less sodium is a better option. Low-sodium ham is less flavorful than other types of ham, but your dog won’t notice when it’s in their bowl. Ham has a lot of flavor so lower sodium ham not only taste’s good but is a much healthier option.
If you’re giving your dog ham, it should be cut into small enough pieces for them, so choking or other issues wont occur. A large piece of ham (just like any food) can get stuck in your dog’s throat if they eat it too quickly, so cut it small!
We would consider ham in the same branch as a treat and with treats the rule of thumb is not feed your dog more than 10% of there total calories. Ham shouldn’t be given to your dog every day due to its high fat and sodium content.
Based on your dog’s weight, age, and any potential medical conditions, your veterinarian can determine the ideal daily calorie intake for them. If your pet is overweight or you need to get them to focus more on their nutrition, a more complete and balanced dog food would be recommended. If this is the case high fat treats would not be recommended at this time.
Example Of Ham Intake:
- Your dog eats’ 2000 kcal/day.
- There max calorie amount from treats and ham should be less than 200 kcal/day.
- One serving, roughly 3 ounces of cured ham, has about 100 calories
- There are 102 calories in 3 slices of Deli Sliced Ham (cold cuts.)
Best Ham Dog Treats
Nylabone Healthy Edibles Broth Bone All Natural Dog Treats Made with Real Bone Broth Small/Regular
These were one of Jack’s favorite treats. Jack was a super active dog, so every night he would get one of these bad boys! He loved them! He would get the ones pictured here, or the larger ones. The large ones I gave to him, occasionally around 1-2 times a week, while the smaller ones he would get on pretty much every other night (where he didn’t get the big one.)
Frequently Asked Questions
Can dogs eat ham hocks?
Because of the bones, ham hocks are not a good treat for your dog. Cooking softens the bone, making it more likely to splinter, which could hurt your pet’s mouth or internal organs.
Can dogs get diarrhea from ham?
The meat’s high fat content has the potential to result in pancreatitis, which can bring on diarrhea. You should consult your veterinarian for advice if you fed your dog ham and he is now having diarrhea.
Can dogs eat ham fat or rind?
When you remove your offcuts, it may be tempting to feed your dog the ham fat or rind, but this is not a good idea. This is fattiest parts of the ham, they offer no nutritional value.
Can dogs have a ham treat?
Yes, although there may be better options out there that taste just as good, there is nothing wrong with giving your dog a ham flavored treat/stick.
Should Your Dog Eat Ham?
Ultimately, unless your dog has a medical condition that would make it bad or critical to there health, a few pieces of ham every now and then is fine.
Before giving your dog any human food, we recommend you do the research to make sure it is safe for them to eat.
We dedicated a whole section on Jacktra, for this exactly.
Conclusion
Dogs enjoy people food. It smells good, taste good (for the most part) and can be a nice mix up for them. The best part, with moderation, your dog can safely enjoy some ham.
Now this doesn’t mean feed your dog pounds of ham every night, but here and there is okay, especially if you have a very active dog.
So to answer your question of can dogs eat ham, yes.
Learn more about providing your dog with a varied diet and the restrictions imposed by a dog’s delicate digestive system. We provide a selection of articles on what foods are healthy, harmful, or even toxic for
PS: You can let your dog splurge a little, it’s okay. Just make sure the food you give them is not toxic to them and it is of course safe for them to eat!
Heck, my Jack loved some chicken nuggets from Wendy’s, cold cuts, cheese to name a few!
Check out our guides frequently to learn what foods are safe and which ones should never be given to dogs.
