Can Dogs Eat Lunch Meat?
If you’re thinking of serving your four-legged friend lunch meat, you’re undoubtedly wondering if it’s unhealthy for dogs. What about hamburgers? Is it OK to give my dog lunch meat or hot dogs every now and again, or should I avoid it at all costs?
Because of the number of additives, it is not recommended that our pets consume the same food that we do.
Some believe that processed meats like these are harmful and poisonous for your dog to ingest, while others maintain that there is nothing wrong with giving your dog these treats on occasion.
A dog should not eat lunch meat. Lunch meat contains additives, fillers, salt, nitrates, and spices that are harmful to dogs. Even people should not eat lunch meat; thus, feeding it to a dog is inappropriate. Providing your best friend with high-quality food designed exclusively for dogs is preferable.
What Exactly Are Lunch Meats?
Meat from different animals is finely chopped or ground to make luncheon meat. Beef, hog, lamb, fish, and chicken are viable options for making lunch meats. Blood and bone may also be present in luncheon meat.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) reports that most “lunch meat” items contain pork and other types of meat.
Water (or ice), sugar (or dextrose), salt, sodium nitrite (for coloring and conservation), and spices are further possible additions to a product of this sort.
After being cut into smaller pieces, the beef is crushed, mixed with additional ingredients, cured, shaped into a loaf or block, smoked, cooked, and finally packed.
Which Elements In Lunch Meat Are Toxic To Dogs?
Many deli meat’s components are toxic to humans and dogs, and certain ones have been linked to cancer, heart disease, and diabetes in dogs. Even though dogs are carnivores, the chemicals in lunch meats can harm them. For example, consuming 50 grams or more of lunch meat each day raises the risk of cancer by 18%.
If their owners are unaware of the risks of lunch meat, some dogs will devour far more than 50 grams in one sitting. Dogs do not always know when to stop eating and will overeat if given the opportunity. We recommend these top-notch weight-loss dog foods if your dog is currently overweight.
Dogs tend to overeat because genetics mandate that they eat while the food is plentiful so they can live during times of famine.
What’s Hazardous In Dog Meal Meat?
- Seasonings – Lunch meat is seasoned with spices to enhance its flavor. If you feed your dog lunch meat, they’ll crave the spicy meat. Dogs don’t need or desire to flavor their meat, but if they try spices, they’ll like them. Herbs are fine for most of us because we’ve been exposed to them for centuries, but they can harm a dog’s digestive tract.
- Excessive salt – Lunch meats are salty. Salt is delicious; thus, it’s used to make us eat more of a product. Moderate salt consumption harms dogs, making them thirsty and bloating them from drinking too much. Salt causes diarrhea, anxiety, tremors, and in severe cases – death.
- Corn syrup – Another deli ingredient that adds flavor. Dogs don’t require sugar or glucose, as they can get diabetes and heart disease from these components.
- Mayonnaise – Shiny deli meats may include mayonnaise. Mayonnaise’s oil and fat will add weight to your dog, affecting blood circulation.
- Listeria – Some lunchmeat includes listeria, which might cause your dog listeriosis, causing diarrhea, vomiting, and fever. Dogs can also suffer neurological issues in rare cases.
So, What’s The Deal With Giving Lunch Meats To Canines?
Because processed meats like luncheon meat and hot dogs are sometimes less expensive, some people prefer to feed them to their pets.
You may find it more challenging to keep your dog away from them because of the high levels of salt and sugar they often contain.
Dogs shouldn’t be regularly fed fatty foods like luncheon meat, just as humans shouldn’t eat these foods daily.
Is There Lunch Meats That Are OK For Dogs?
Lunch meats, in general, should be fed to dogs in moderate amounts and never regularly. Whatever the source of the meat, the salt concentration is always higher in sliced meats.
Nonetheless, if you give your dog a tiny reward of a few slices every week, he should be alright. We suggest avoiding feeding ham to your dog due to its relatively high salt content and the additional sugar to the slices to improve the flavor.
Turkey is sliced meat that has fewer calories than ham. It also has ten times the amount of salt as ham. It also requires less processing to transform it into sliceable meat. Here are a few more reasons why turkey slices are beneficial for your dog:
- Turkey is rich in iron, zinc, phosphorus, niacin, and even selenium.
- B12 and B6 are found in turkey slices.
- Dogs require protein to maintain their muscles healthy. Each 100g of turkey flesh has around 25g of protein.
- Turkey deli slices are also low in fat. Per ounce of turkey, approximately 0.35 grams of fat are present. Compared to ham, turkey is considered relatively skinny and reasonably healthful.
- When compared to salami, turkey has a lower salt level. Each ounce of turkey has about 213 mg of salt. One ounce of sliced salami can contain up to 519 milligrams of sodium.
Do Other Options Exist?
Some pet owners occasionally give their animals processed meats like luncheon meat and hot dogs, while others choose to provide their pets with a diet that is less likely to cause health problems.
Treats based on organic meats and veggies are better for your dog’s health.
Compared to processed meat products, the price of these healthier treats is about the same, if not less. They can also positively affect your pet’s health and happiness.
You may offer your dog rawhide chews instead of bones to clean his teeth while also providing him with something pleasant to do.
For a healthy alternative, look for natural chews such as pig ears and cow hooves, which give a taste without the extra salt and sugar found in goods such as pigs’ ears and jerky snacks.
My Dog Overate Lunch Meat. Should I be Concerned?
Most varieties of lunch meat and deli meats are safe for dogs to consume. However, certain products may cause illness or include ingredients such as sodium nitrite, which can cause cancer.
Because your dog’s system cannot handle bones and gristles, you should always seek goods that state “mechanically separated poultry.”
Is It OK To Give My Dog Table Food?
You may offer your dog most of your leftover meals as long as they don’t contain garlic, onions, green tomatoes, grapes, or raisins.
The issue with feeding your pet table scraps is that, while they may taste wonderful, they may not supply all of the nutrients he requires for a balanced diet.
In most situations, table scraps aren’t as healthy as other dog diets specifically created to fulfill your pet’s nutritional needs.
Food Poisoning Symptoms
While your dog probably can’t tell you if they’re sick from eating anything bad, there are some telltale signs that something is wrong.
Examples of this category of items are:
Conclusion: Dogs Shouldn’t Eat Lunch Meat
Typically, dogs are omnivores, which means they may consume both plants and meat. They do, however, have certain dietary requirements that must be satisfied to promote their general health and well-being.
Finally, lunch meat should not be given to dogs that have health issues, such as obesity or diabetes.
Further Reading: