That's bad news for dogs who are prone to gastrointestinal upset, who are on a weight loss plan, or who have a chronic illness affected by salt intake like heart disease. Excess fat in ham or other human food can also cause a painful health condition called pancreatitis. And if you do feed a little ham, avoid raw or seasoned ham, as raw meat can carry disease and various seasonings like onion and garlic can cause upset canine stomachs or cause poisoning.
A little bit of cooked ham as an occasional treat for a healthy dog is fine, she says. But a pet with a sensitive stomach or other existing health conditions might react badly to even a thumbnail-sized piece. If your dog sneaks some ham off the table or you're experimenting to see whether it agrees with your dog, watch for signs of a bad reaction, including:.
Ham hocks are made from the joint that connects a pig's foot to its leg. However, some dogs will be very sensitive to this fatty meat. It is not uncommon for dogs to have digestive upsets after eating ham. Your pup may experience vomiting or diarrhea, which can prove to be very problematic in some cases.
Vomiting and diarrhea may cause your pet to feel sick and subdued. Significant gastric upset can cause dehydration in dogs. Besides, some dogs are prone to pancreatitis, a painful condition where the pancreas reacts to excessive fats and becomes inflamed. This can also cause vomiting, and many dogs will need to be hospitalized for pain relief and fluids. Lastly, the fat content means that ham is high in calories. Avoiding human foods such as ham, especially in overweight dogs, is one way to keep dogs at a healthy weight.
Ham is often cooked on the bone. When cooked, ham bones soften, making them a high-risk bone to feed your dog. This is because when chewed, the cooked bone is much more likely to splinter , which can cause damage to the mouth and the gut.
As a side note, raw ham bones are not recommended by vets either, as they can carry bacteria and damage the teeth! If a dog eats a small amount of ham it is very unlikely to experience any untoward effects.
Of course, what causes a problem for one dog may be different for another, and some dogs will not tolerate eating ham at all. The most common problem that might be seen in a dog that has eaten ham is digestive upsets such as excessive drooling , vomiting, or diarrhea. Vomiting or diarrhea may be mild and short-lived or could be protracted and make your pup very sick.
If you see signs of gut upset after eating ham it is best to seek advice from your vet regarding the best course of action. If vomiting has been significant, there is a risk for dehydration. This may trigger a need to be admitted for an IV drip to replace lost fluids. In some cases, eating fatty ham can lead to a painful condition known as pancreatitis. This is inflammation of the pancreas which causes severe pain and vomiting.
If your dog has pancreatitis, you might notice him lying or stretching awkwardly because of the pain he is experiencing. Appetite is likely to reduce, and you may see that your pup has lost weight. For a dog, a single high-fat meal can trigger pancreatitis—or inflammation of the pancreas. If not caught quickly and treated, pancreatitis can be fatal, says Dr. Even trimmed of fat, though, some veterinarians have hesitations about pork products, says Dr. There are other problems with ham, too.
However, too much salt can be dangerous for a dog with cardiac problems, says Katie Smithson, a Chattanooga-based veterinarian. Even the preservatives used in ham are loaded with nitrates and nitrites, which are sodium-based. In fact, salt can be toxic to dogs: it can lead to vomiting , diarrhea , excessive thirst and urination, lethargy, and abnormal fluid accumulation. Sodium can also cause more serious consequences, such as kidney damage , seizures , coma, and even death.
Ham has a higher fat content than many other types of meat. Although dogs do need fat in their diet, most dog foods have the necessary amount of fat to meet your dog's needs.
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