Can Dogs Eat Ham?

My Dog Ate Ham, Now What?

If your dog had some ham, you do not need to be too worried. Most dogs can tolerate ham in small amounts, and if it is not eaten on a regular basis it is not known to cause long term harm. You may expect your dog to have a stomach ache, which can cause both vomiting and diarrhea. Make sure to keep your dogs water bowl full, and if your dog becomes sick you may want to bring him or her to the vet for a check up. In most cases, your dog will have an upset stomach that passes fairly quickly.

Ham is fatty

Store bought ham is very fatty, and is incredibly rich. Most dogs will not be able to easily break down the proteins in ham, and thus eating ham will cause a stomach ache. It is reported among many dog owners that feeding their dog ham causes their dog to become bloated, have gas, and in severe cases have diarrhea or induce vomiting.

Since ham is fatty, if it is given to a dog over a long period of time it can cause your dog to become overweight. This has health implications as this can cause diabetes, arthritis, and heart problems.

Ham is high in salt

Salt is very unhealthy for dogs, and dogs should not have high sodium diets. Since ham is usually salted when purchased at a store, it is very high in sodium. Although dogs need some sodium in their diets, you should not give your dog any foods that are high in sodium.

Can dogs have ham bones?

It is not a good idea to give your dog ham bones, especially if the ham was cooked. Cooked bones can splinter, and get stuck in your dogs mouth. These splinters can cause a serious infection. The splinters can also lodge inside your dogs throat, causing serious harm. Although the saying goes “Give a dog a bone”, it is actually not a good idea to give bones to your dog. Bones have been known to cause gastrointestinal obstruction (blockage in the digestive tract), choking, cuts and wounds in the mouth or on the tonsils, vomiting, diarrhea, and bleeding from the rectum. In the wild dogs eat meet off the bone, but leave the bone behind, if you choose to give your dog a bone, make sure to give it only under full supervision, and be ready to take the bone away when it begins to break apart.

Ham And Seasoning For Dogs

Potentially the most harmful aspect of ham for your dog could be its seasoning. If a ham is cooked with spices and herbs such as garlic and onions, it could be poisonous for your dog.

In Conclusion

If your dog happened to eat a small amount of ham, it is not the end of the world. It is not a good idea to give your dog ham, but if they have a small amount it will not harm them. Ham has a lot of fat and is high in sodium; this mixture can cause serious health implications for dogs if eaten in excess, or over a long period of time.