Dogs love human foods, but not all human foods are good for dogs. Bacon is a two-legged favorite, and also a trendy addition to many snacks and meals. From bacon donuts to bacon-wrapped appetizers, people eat a lot of bacon. In fact, it turns out that the average American eats nearly 18 pounds of bacon each year! Dogs might love bacon, too, but is bacon actually safe for dogs to eat? Can dogs eat bacon?
The basics: Is bacon bad for dogs?
So, we know that dogs want to eat bacon but can dogs eat bacon? “Bacon is high in fat and salt, which is why it tastes so good,” explains Jenna Mahan, Director of Claims with Embrace Pet Insurance. “While it’s okay to give in small amounts, I wouldn’t give them too much at once.”
As much as you might like bacon, you’ll want to really limit how much of it you let your dog get access to — if you even decide to allow your dog to eat any of it at all. Too much salt isn’t good for dogs, and bacon is so rich that it can really upset the digestive systems of some dogs.
How much bacon can dogs eat?
The most important thing to remember when thinking, “Can I give my dog bacon?” is that bacon should only be given to dogs as an occasional treat. If you choose to feed your dog bacon you’ll want to limit how much your dog has, and how frequently he gets it.
Jenna says that if you are going to feed bacon to your dog, a reasonable serving size for a treat would be as follows. “For a small dog a ¼ strip is fine and a ½ strip is reasonable for a larger dog,” she advises. There are also a number of commercially available “bacon-flavored” dog treats and while these should still only be given to your dog as a training reward or occasional treat, they’re much healthier options.
The health risks associated with dogs and bacon
Emmy award-winning veterinarian Dr. Jeff Werber further advises avoiding or limit giving bacon to dogs because it’s so fatty.
Pancreatitis is the primary health concern regarding dogs eating bacon. It’s a disease caused by an inflammation of the pancreas due to digestive enzymes attacking the pancreas. This condition may occur when dogs eat too many fatty treats. Pancreatitis is very uncomfortable for dogs and the condition can be very serious and requires veterinary treatment.
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About the author
Sassafras Lowrey is an award-winning author. Her novels have been honored by organizations ranging from the Lambda Literary Foundation to the American Library Association. Sassafras is a Certified Trick Dog Instructor who trains in Dog Agility and Rally Obedience. Sassafras shares her home with a senior Chihuahua mix, a rescued Cattle Dog mix and a young Newfoundland, along with two bossy cats and a formerly feral kitten. Learn more at sassafraslowrey.com.
6 thoughts on “Can Dogs Eat Bacon? Get the Facts About Dogs and Bacon”
There are some interesting cut-off dates on this article but I don’t know if I see all of them middle to heart. There is some validity but I will take maintain opinion till I look into it further. Good article , thanks and we want more! Added to FeedBurner as properly
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Are canned clams Ok for dogs
for dogs to eat?
Hi there Becky,
We suggest contacting your vet with this specific question. In the meantime, here is an article with more information on human foods and what dogs can eat:
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Bacon is a great “high reward” treat for dogs in training. Once they get a taste for it, a little will go a long way towards learning a new behavior. I do agree, however. Don’t over do it.