Can Dogs Eat Spam? What You Need To Know!
Can Dogs Eat Spam?
Did you ever look at canned Spam and wondered if it was safe to feed it to your dog?
NO. Spam is not healthy for dogs, so they should avoid it. Spam is high in salt.
This guide will help you understand Spam and how to limit the amount your dog eats.
Spam should never be given to your dog, even though pork and ham are great sources of protein.
Spam contains salt, which is very important for dogs. Yet, too much salt in a short time can lead to sodium poisoning. Symptoms include depression, diarrhea, vomiting, high temperature, and seizures.
Spam is salty, but it also contains lots of sugar. Limiting the amount of sugar your dog consumes is important as it can spike blood sugar, and your dog could gain weight from the empty calories.
You can also find potato starch in Spam, used to bulk it up. This is another source of empty calories, leading to your dog gaining weight and increasing the risk of developing heart disease or diabetes.
Did you know that spam cans contain more than 1000 calories? This is a lot of empty calories.
Related: Best Weight Loss Dog Food 2022
Why Shouldn’t You Feed Your Dog Spam?
Spam ingredients are not technically harmful to your dog, but they aren’t healthy as well. The real problem is the amount of each ingredient in Spam.
You can be safe with low doses of some ingredients, but they can become dangerous when the dose increases, and this is the case with Spam.
Excessive Sodium Content
Spam is high in sodium. It’s not surprising since Spam is canned meat that can be safely stored for up to five years if kept in good conditions.
How much sodium does Spam contain? Spam comes in two ounces can, which contains 790 mg sodium. Sodium is a vital nutrient your dog must eat to stay healthy. However, too much of it can cause sodium poisoning and dehydrate your dog.
High Levels Of Fat
A single can contains 96 grams of fat and 36 grams of saturated fat.
Although dogs need to eat fats, and it is not necessarily bad for them, too much fat can lead to some negative effects. A high-fat diet can lead to excessive weight gain, eventually leading to obesity. High-fat diets can even cause pancreatitis in dogs.
Preservatives And Nitrates
As a rule of thumb, you should avoid giving your dog food containing nitrates or preservatives. These chemicals are not healthy for dogs or humans. Our systems have become accustomed to them over the years. The dogs’ systems are not as habituated to these chemicals, so they can have an even greater impact on our pups.
Dogs that are given too many nitrates or preservatives could become sick because their digestive system cannot handle the extras. This can lead to vomiting, diarrhea, and a weakening of the immune system.
Flavorings
Spam is now available in 15 different flavors. Even regular Spam is enough to cause serious health problems for dogs.
Flavors are often chemical terms, and some flavorings can harm our dogs. Spam with garlic flavor is one example, as garlic is toxic to dogs.
All Spam flavorings can cause serious adverse reactions in dogs.
Can Dogs Eat Spam Lite?
Spam Lite contains 70 fewer calories in each serving. The calories were cut using a mixture of chicken and ham instead of pork. Spam lite also contains more chemical additives than regular Spam.
Spam lite is still a bad choice, even though it has fewer calories.
Can Dogs Eat Low Sodium Spam?
Spam Lite with 25% less sodium has exactly the same ingredients as Spam Lite but has lower salt. This one also contains chicken and ham. Although it may have less sodium than the original, it’s still too salty for your dog.
Can Dogs Eat Turkey Spam?
The Turkey spam is the least harmful Spam for pets out of all the types, yet it still contains 520mg sodium in 2 ounces.
A healthy 33-pound dog should only consume 200mg of salt per day. Two ounces of Turkey Spam contains 2.5 times the amount of salt recommended for a healthy dog.
Can Dogs Eat Cooked Spam?
Spam is not healthy for dogs. It doesn’t matter if you bake the Spam or fry it in the oven; your dog shouldn’t eat it. It’s best to keep it out of their reach and not put it in their dog food.
Can Dogs Eat Spam?
Uncooked Spam? What about uncooked Spam?
Spam is safe to eat by humans, but it shouldn’t be given to dogs.
Spam Can Be Dangerous For Your Dog
Spam can have a number of undesirable health effects on our dogs, as we’ve already discussed. But, what can these harmful additives do to dogs?
Pancreatitis
Pancreatitis refers to a condition that affects the pancreas. As the digestive enzymes damage the pancreatic tissue, the pancreas will swell, causing pancreatic damage or blockage, which results in enzymes being unable to escape.
How can Spam cause pancreatitis in dogs? Diets high in fat are a major cause of pancreatitis, and Spam is extremely high in fat. Its high-fat content and high calories make it an ideal food for obesity, increasing the threat to your dog’s pancreas.
Obesity
As we have already mentioned, Spam’s high fat and calories can lead to obesity. This is especially true for smaller breed dogs and dogs who aren’t naturally active.
Dehydration
Your dog can become dehydrated quickly if it consumes too much sodium. Spam is a great candidate for dehydration due to its high sodium content. This can lead to decreased energy, thickened saliva, vomiting, diarrhea, as well as other health problems such as diabetes.
Salt Poisoning
Salt poisoning is the most severe destructive health effect that Spam can lead to in canines. Salt poisoning can cause damage to the kidneys, seizures, or tremors, and can even lead to death. If salt poisoning begins, you may experience diarrhea, loss of appetite, lethargy, and absence of control.
Final Thoughts
Spam of any kind shouldn’t be fed to dogs, whether cooked or uncooked. All of it contains an unhealthy level of salt and fat.
However, if your dog eats some Spam, monitor it closely. If it shows signs of extreme thirst, ensure they drink lots of fluids. Call your veterinarian if they begin to exhibit problematic behavior, such as lethargy and diarrhea.
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