It can be hard to resist those puppy dog eyes, especially once your dog has caught a whiff of your plate. Yet, feeding your dog human foods such as sausage can be really harmful for them.
Can dogs eat sausage?
It’s not so much a question of ‘can they’, but more a question of ‘should they’?
Can dogs eat pork sausages?
Pork sausages are high in fat and salt - both bad for your dog’s heart, liver, and kidneys.
Plus, most sausages only contain 50% pork, or less. Not only does this make sausages a bad source of protein, it also means that they contain mainly processed meat - known carcinogens.
Many brands of sausage also contain spices such as garlic or nutmeg, which can be downright toxic to dogs.
While a small amount of sausage probably won’t be dangerous to your dog, it can still upset their stomach. Feeding them large amounts of sausage, or small amounts on a regular basis, can really deteriorate their health long-term.
Can dogs eat sausages raw?
Raw pork can contain pathogens such as E. Coli and Salmonella, which can cause your dog to be seriously ill.
You should never feed your dog raw sausage. If you’re determined to feed your dog sausage, make sure you cook it first. Heating it up in the oven is best, as this will limit the amount of fat used.
Can dogs eat sausage rolls?
Feeding your dog sausage rolls may be even worse than feeding them plain sausages! Indeed, sausage rolls contain the same salty and fatty sausages, but the bread also adds on calories and has no nutritional value for your dog.
A small piece of sausage roll is unlikely to do your dog any harm, but it won’t do them any good either. Might as well opt for a healthier treat!
Can dogs eat chicken sausages?
A lean meat, chicken is a good source of protein for dogs. However, chicken sausages, much like pork sausages, contain mainly processed meat with a lot of added fat, salt, spices and seasonings.
It’s much better to cook some plain chicken breast and use this as a high-value treat rather than sharing a chicken sausage with your dog.
What if I feed my dog sausage?
The effect of eating a sausage will depend mainly on how much sausage was eaten and how big your dog is. If your small dog has eaten a whole sausage, for example, you might want to take them to the vet in anticipation of some bad digestive issues.
Eating a sausage isn’t likely to harm your dog, but watch out for these symptoms anyway:
- Nausea
- Loss of appetite
- Diarrhoea
- Vomiting
- Lethargy
If your dog is showing any of these symptoms, please take them to the vet. Your vet can prescribe medicine that will line your dog’s stomach and halt their sickness.
In conclusion, sausage isn’t toxic and won’t kill your dog. But it’s certainly not a healthy treat and it’s not even a good source of protein. If you want to share some tasty human food with your dog, go for a healthier option, such as unseasoned chicken breast, carrots, or even cheese.
