Eating meat is undoubtedly part of a dog's nature. Hence the reason why he is continuously giving you those puppy dog eyes every time you eat pork. But we get it – how could one resist?
In this post, we'll go over the details of whether your puppy should or should not eat pork since there has been controversy on this topic.
Here’s the structure of the post:
It’s not a yes or no question. It depends!
Overall, if your puppy doesn’t eat a lot of pork, there won’t be any problem. However, there could be some problems if you regularly feed pork to your dog or if you don’t cook it. Keep reading to know more.
Pork is not the best meat for dogs due to the reasons we’ll mention further in this post.
However, it can bring some benefits if given in moderation. These benefits include:
The truth is that there exist more cons than pros to offering pork to your dog. Nonetheless, if he has ingested small quantities, your dog will be fine. On the other hand, if you feed your dog pork in big quantities, here are some effects that may happen:
Thus, we suggest that you occasionally give pork meat to your dog and only purchase it from a reliable source. Not only for your dog’s health, but for yours as well.
Like any other food, if it's the first time offering it to your dog, you need to provide a relatively small quantity in order to observe his reaction.
Do not assume that your dog will react well, as many dogs experience allergies to certain types of meat, such as chicken.
Moreover, try to cut out the maximum fat you can since the chances of it causing bad digestion, and pancreas inflammation are high.
In short, there is no right answer to this question; only your pet's vet can determine the perfect diet for your dog.
Note that dogs do not need any seasoning. In fact, some kinds can be harmful to them, such as:
Yes, pork can give dogs diarrhea along with other symptoms.
This tends to happen if it’s the first time giving it to your dog, especially in big quantities. On the other hand, your dog might have caught parasites, which we get into more detail in the next question.
If you see that this symptom persists, do not hesitate to go to a vet.
To avoid this, we suggest cooking the meat well since being under cooked or raw can cause diarrhea, along with vomiting and an upset stomach.
Risk of Feeding Pork to Puppies
Feeding pork to puppies can bring many risks. We listed the three main ones here.
As we’ve mentioned a few times throughout this post, pork can be a carrier of dangerous parasites for a dog’s body.
For instance, if the pigs are raised on a farm, they are not being inspected, and the farmers don’t possess the same cultivation technology nor veterinary control. Unfortunately, they can’t know if a pig is infected or not since they become immune to the disease and appear healthy, even if infected.
Another harmful pathology for dogs is trichinosis, an infection derived by the trichinella spiralis parasite, which might cause:
Moreover, these risks can fade away if the meat is boiled for at least an hour.
Fat isn’t recommended to dogs in such big quantities since it might cause intestinal disorders. This happens due to the fact that they do not produce enough enzymes which can remove this fat.
Besides, it disrupts the body's metabolic processes. Once in the body and not separating, it enters the bloodstream, increasing cholesterol levels, leading to plaque formation in the lumen of the vessels and obesity of the internal organs. Consequently, your dog becomes less active.
If your dog regularly eats pork, the following diseases can be expected:
Overall, the professionals allow the presence of pork on the dog's diet. However, it should be given as a treat instead of a meal. This means that the amount you provide must be low.
Note that you should not offer your dog raw or under cooked pork as it can be hazardous, not only for him but for you as well. Moreover, put aside any seasonings, including salt, as they can be harmful to your dog.
Keep in mind that only a vet familiar with your dog can give the ideal personalized diet for your dog.
