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Can dogs eat bacon? Yes, many dogs love bacon and depending on the size of your dog you can give them a small slice of bacon as a treat.
Have you ever wondered if dogs eat bacon or is this something that your dog might enjoy as a treat every once in a while? The answer to this question is yes and below we explain why this is, what concerns you might have about giving your dog bacon and how much of it would be safe to give your dog.
Can Dogs Eat Bacon?
If you choose to give your dog a small piece of bacon, this should only be done every once in a while, and only because you know that they will really love it.
As with anything you give your dog, there are some concerns about what too much bacon can mean for a dog, and we have outlined the main concerns below.
Why is Bacon Good for Dogs?
Bacon is great for dogs because the high protein content in bacon will provide your dog with energy and it’s also very nutritious.
Bacon is high in fat, and this is great for your dog because fats are known to be the most concentrated source of energy for a dog.
Another reason why bacon is good for your dog is that it’s delicious. This means that dogs will love you more when they get a small piece of bacon every once in a while.
What are the Concerns?
Bacon contains a lot of fat, and it also contains a chemical called sodium nitrite which is used to preserve meat and gives it longer shelf life.
Most dogs don’t have a problem with the fat in bacon but there are some concerns about giving your dog too much sodium nitrite.
Sodium nitrite has been known to cause a condition called methemoglobinemia in dogs, which is when there is too much sodium nitrite in the blood and the dog’s red blood cells start to break down.
This can cause your dog to feel very tired and lethargic and it might have a difficult time breathing.
In very serious cases, too much sodium nitrite can even cause your dog to collapse or fall into a coma.
How Much Is Too Much?
The good news is that although your dog can eat some bacon, too much bacon is likely to be bad for them and this is not something you should feed your dog every day.
This means that giving your dog a slice of bacon every once in a while is perfectly fine but it’s not something you should make a habit of feeding your dog.
Another reason why too much bacon is not good for your dog is that pigs are often given a food additive called ractopamine, which is used to get them ready for slaughter in about 30 days.
This is not something you want to feed your dog on a regular basis because ractopamine has been known to cause heart disease in dogs.
Can Dogs Eat Bacon?
Bacon is great for your dog but only in small doses.
If you do give your dog bacon, make sure that it’s real bacon without any ractopamine or sodium nitrite in it.
If you want to make sure that the bacon is safe to feed your dog, look for bacon that is high in protein and low in fat. This will ensure that the bacon doesn’t have too much salt or fat, which can be bad for your dog.
