If you own a dog, you must have wondered can dogs eat bacon bits? The fact is that your dog will love to chew on almost anything that it can find. However, the problem is that certain food items can be more of a potential health risk than being healthy or nutritious.
Even though eating bacon does not cause serious health risks to dogs, it is not recommended to give bacon bits to your dog because bacon bits are usually salty, fatty, and processed. Therefore, let’s take a deeper look into why you should consider replacing bacon bits with something healthy.
Is bacon bad for dogs? – What is it actually made of?
When it comes to deciding whether dogs can eat bacon bits, most of it primarily depends on the ingredients used. With that said, before we delve deeper into how bacon can affect your dog’s health, we must understand what the food actually is.
Essentially, bacon is pork belly that is cured with salt. This means that it contains a high concentration of fat. However, considering the fat concentration, not all bacon is derived from pork belly nowadays.
As a result, bacon producers worldwide shifted to producing bacon from other parts of pork. In fact, some producers even introduced bacon made from beef, turkey, or chicken.
Regardless of where the bacon is derived from, the production and preparation process remains more or less the same. Next, a concentrated salt solution is used to preserve the bacon, which prevents harmful bacteria from growing.
Finally, to be able to consume bacon, it needs to be boiled or pan-fried. Then, depending on your taste and preferences, you can add toppings to it.
Why your dog might love bacon?
Dogs are carnivores meaning that they mostly depend on animal protein. At the same time, bacon is animal protein as well, and in some cases, your dog can derive some benefits from it.
Considering that it contains iron, zinc, selenium, phosphorous and magnesium, etc., it should be amongst the top dog feeds out there.
Unfortunately, it isn’t, but there are some health concerns associated with it.
Potential health risks associated with bacon for dogs
As mentioned earlier, bacon will not cause instant death to your dog. But it is important that you consider the factors that make bacon consumption slightly risky.
Preparation method
Even before we discuss the ingredients used to prepare bacon, we need to think of the preparation method, which is in itself not healthy. The reason is that bacon is either served or consumed smoked or over a convection oven.
Therefore, the temperature conditions under which bacon is cooked raises health concerns even though some experts suggest cooking at high temperatures to kill the pathogens but not without destroying the healthy nutrients as well.
This is why offering your dog bacon bits will just add to the fat and potential risk of obesity and diabetes instead of improving its health.
Potentially toxic preservatives
If bacon is intended to be consumed after several days, it needs to be preserved. For that, nitrites are used to prolong bacon’s shelf-life, but that can promote the production of cancerous cells in the long run.
Furthermore, you might have observed that dog foods have a relatively lower salt concentration than human foods. If you put that up against the salt concentration in bacon bits, you will be offering your dog at least 10 times the sodium intake.
Initially, your dog might frequently urinate and drink, which is not so serious. However, the sodium intake can turn poisonous for the dog later down the road.
High fat content
Bacon is amongst the fattiest food items out there. According to several studies, one piece of bacon consists of a high amount of cholesterol, 40% unsaturated fat, and 10% polyunsaturated fat. If your dog is fed bacon regularly, do not be surprised if it suffers from diabetes or obesity.
Moreover, fatty food items can also cause blockage of the blood vessels, which might lead to serious health concerns.
Related FAQs to dogs and bacon!
Can dogs eat bacon grease?
No, bacon grease contains a comparatively higher amount of fat content than regular bacon. Therefore, considering the health risks associated with fatty food items, it would not be wise to offer your dog bacon grease.
Can dogs eat eggs and bacon?
Dogs can eat eggs and bacon, but both are prepared using oil at high temperatures. Although eggs are beneficial for health, when loaded with oil they can add a lot of fats to your pup!
How much bacon can dogs eat?
There is no single answer to this. Providing your dog with bacon bits depends on several factors such as size, age, and weight. In addition to that, it is also about whether you are offering it for the first time or the dog has already developed the taste.
According to most vets, you can make it work with a ¼ bacon strip for a small dog and ½ strip for a larger dog. However, you need to keep in mind the frequency here. Bacon bits should only be offered as occasional treats.
Can puppies eat bacon?
Puppies should not be offered bacon on a regular basis. You should avoid giving anything that is too salty or fatty to your puppy. Giving too much bacon can cause puppies’ arteries to clog in the worst-case scenario.
If you observe that your dog has vomited after eating bacon, you need to avoid giving it bacon in the future. However, occasionally, such as once a month, won’t hurt.
Why does my dog throw up after eating bacon?
Bacon consists of loads of grease and fat, which can lead to your dog throwing up. Refrain from giving your dog so much bacon in the future if this happens.
Concluding our thoughts on whether dogs can eat bacon bits or not!
Dogs can eat bacon bits but only occasionally. If you own a juvenile dog, it is better to offer healthy dog food and keep it away from bacon unless you want it to be rewarded for good behavior. At the same time, keep in mind that bacon should not be a part of your dog’s regular diet, irrespective of your dog being juvenile or mature.
