Can Dogs Eat Ham Bones?

Can dogs eat ham bones? Picture this; you are having a big holiday meal and sharing feelings of joy and gratitude with your friends and family. Can your pooch get a piece too?

Maybe you have a delicious ham for lunch, and you may be wondering, can dogs eat ham bones? This article takes you through whether or not you should give your four-legged family member ham bones!

Can You Feed Your Dog Ham Safely?

So, is ham bad or good for your dog? Ham contains protein, an essential part of your dog’s health. But, probably ham isn’t part of your dog’s regular diet. So you shouldn’t consider it healthy food; instead, you should count it as a treat that makes up less than ten percent of your pup’s daily caloric intake.

A small piece of ham wouldn’t harm your four-legged friend. However, giving more pieces may adversely affect your dog’s health. Depending on your recipe, it can be high in calories, fat, salt, and sugar.

Ham is bad news for puppies with chronic illnesses such as heart disease and those vulnerable to gastrointestinal upset. Frequent consumption of ham is best avoided, more so in older dogs. Excess fat in ham can lead to diseases like pancreatitis.

If you give your dog a little ham, don’t give them seasoned or raw ham because seasonings such as garlic or onion can cause stomach upset or poisoning, and raw meat can result in diseases.

How Much is Too Much for Your Dog?

This is a difficult question. The answer relies on your dog’s health status and size. A small piece or two of cooked ham as a special treat for your healthy pup is fine. But if your dog has existing health conditions or a sensitive stomach, they might react badly to even a single piece of ham.

If your four-legged family sneaks some ham off your table at a festive party or you’re experimenting to determine whether your dog can safely eat ham, watch for symptoms of negative reaction, including;

• Lethargy or sluggishness
• Lack of appetite
• Excessive drooling
• Abdominal pain
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea

If these symptoms persist, call your vet.

Can Your Dog Safely Eat Ham Bones or Ham Hocks?

Ham hocks come from the joint connecting a pig’s leg and foot. This part of a pig is too large and may choke your dog. They can lead to digestion difficulties; thus, don’t give them to your dog.

It’s best if you avoid ham bones too. Giving your dog ham bones, whether raw or cooked, is like planning an advance visit to the veterinarian.

These bones are brittle and are likely to break quicker than other bones. If your pup accidentally breaks or swallows a piece, it may cause internal injury or obstruction that may prove fatal.

The following are some health issues resulting from giving your dog ham bones.

• Your pup may break his or her teeth by chewing a hard ham bone. You’ll need a lot of money to get it fixed.
• The ham bone can get stuck in your dog’s food pipe. This may freak out your dog or lead to induced vomiting and gaging. It may also lead to breathing difficulties.
• Sharp splinters on the ham bones may cause tongue or mouth injuries on your dog. This may lead to heavy blood loss or pain.
• Ham bone contains excess calcium, which may harden the stool, leading to constipation.
• The bone pieces may poke holes in your pup’s intestines or stomach, leading to a bacterial infection called Peritonitis. This infection can be fatal.

If your dog eats ham bone, he or she may need to drink water since the bones may be too salty. This can result in a twisted stomach, gas, or bloat.

Summary – Can Dogs Eat Ham Bones?

So, can dogs eat ham bones? They can but only as a treat occasionally. Although ham contains protein, an essential nutrient for your dog’s health, its risks outweigh this benefit. Giving your dog ham bone is like preparing for an advance visit to a veterinarian. 

This is because it puts your dog at risk of health conditions such as constipation, peritonitis, pancreatitis, vomiting, blood loss, pain, twisted stomach, gas, and bloat. If your dog eats ham bone accidentally, you should consider calling your vet immediately!