Who doesn’t enjoy pancakes with bacon for breakfast? What about pork chop for lunch? And, for dinner or special occasions, who can resist that slightly charred and juicy grilled pork spare ribs paired with a special barbecue sauce?
A lot of humans enjoy a nice meal of pork. Apart from tasting good, pork is also a good source of proteins and nutrients. That said, can pork be eaten by our furry pets, too?
Yes, our dogs can eat pork, provided that you do away with pork rubs like onion and garlic powder. Pork is a rich source of proteins needed for muscle repair and maintenance. Plus, pork is one of the recommended sources of protein for those dogs that have sensitive skin.
Today, we’d richly talk about the reasons why your dog loves the delicious taste of pork. Can you feed your Fido raw pork? What are the precautions in feeding this red meat to your Fido? Let’s find out now.
Can Dogs Eat Cooked Pork?
Yes, cooked pork is safe and a good meat choice for your dog for as long it is plainly served to them.
Do not slather the pork meat with barbecue sauce, salt, pepper, and other flavorings, lest it will only cause health problems in the future.
Here are the three reasons why dogs love pork so much:
Pork Is A Rich Source Of Protein
Despite the evolutionary changes in their diet, from the wild to being domesticated animals, dogs still need a lot of protein in their diet.
As dedicated fur parents, we do our best to keep our dogs healthy, and one way to do that is to provide our dogs with food that mainly comes from animals. It’s because the protein content of meat is undeniably one of the most important aspects of our dogs’ diet, pork being one of those.
Proteins consist of amino acids, and these are compounds that have a huge role in the building blocks of our dogs’ body cells, tissues, and body organs.
Just so you know, our dogs require a total of 22 amino acids, and 12 of these are the so-called nonessential amino acids that are naturally manufactured by their bodies.
But, the remaining ten essential amino acids can only be sourced through their diet, and this is one reason why our Fidos love to eat pork so much.
All of these amino acids have a huge role in maintaining good health, strong bones, healthy skin, and hair.
Pork Is A Rich Source Of Essential Vitamins And Minerals
This red meat has a high nutritional value. The essential minerals that pork can give to our dogs are:
- Magnesium
- Phosphorus
- Iron
- Potassium
- Selenium
- Zinc
Aside from the aforementioned minerals, pork meat is also high in vitamins that contribute to the overall wellness of our dogs. These vitamins are:
- Thiamin (vitamin B1)
- Riboflavin (vitamin B2)
- Niacin (vitamin B3)
- Vitamins B6 and B12
- Vitamin D
Another reason why pork is safe for dogs to consume is that this red meat can provide our Fidos with their much-needed omega-3 fatty acid.
We cannot emphasize enough how this fatty acid provides our dogs with numerous benefits like healthy skin and coat and reduction of inflammation and arthritic pain.
Pork Is Anti-Allergy
Are you one of those fur parents who continuously search for animal meat that won’t cause allergic reactions? If yes, then you may want to shift to pork meat as your dog’s source of animal protein.
This is because pork is classified as a novel protein, meaning that your dog’s system may not be familiar with it.
At present, there are still few dog food companies that include pork in the lineup of dog food. And, because your Fido has not been exposed to pork meat yet, it is unlikely that its body will show an adverse reaction.
Plus, pork is highly digestible, making it an ideal choice for dogs that have stomach sensitivities.
It is also worth mentioning that because of the alluring and strong smell of pork, our dogs find pork meat very exciting and palatable.
Can Dogs Eat Pork Every Day?
It depends on which part of the pork. If you’d give the leaner cuts such as tenderloin, then, yes, your dog can eat pork but only in moderation.
By moderation, it means that you do not get overboard by giving your dog a huge chunk of this unseasoned red meat every single day. Just a few slices mixed with its regular food is sufficient.
How To Prepare Pork For Dogs?
As we’ve said earlier, always choose the leanest cut of pork meat, with no bones and no fat strips. Though it might seem unsavory for fur parents, some parts of the pig are healthy for them. These are the liver, tongue, trachea, and heart.
Simply boil the unseasoned pork meat with water until tender. Avoid adding seasonings and garlic, and onion.
Another way of cooking the pork is by sauteing lean ground pork in a little oil. You can add veggies like carrots and sweet potatoes for flavor.
Can Dogs Eat Pork Bones?
No, it’s because pork bones are very brittle and can easily break down into tiny pieces during the cooking process.
As a safety measure, avoid feeding your dog pork bones (both cooked and uncooked) to prevent choking and damage to its esophagus and intestines.
Aside from pork bones, it’s also important to learn the other precautions when it comes to feeding pork to dogs.
Is It Bad If Dogs Eat Pork?
Yes, but only if the pork is raw, undercooked, and seasoned. Also, pork-laden with additives and processed pork are bad for our dogs.
Add to that, stay away from pork cuts that have a bigger percentage of fat, like pork loin. A high-fat diet is correlated with the inflammation of the pancreas, known as pancreatitis.
This is a condition that can result in organ damage, in the worst-case scenario, death.
Raw Or Undercooked Pork
Both raw and undercooked pork can threaten your dog to go through uncomfortable bouts of upset stomach, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea brought about by trichinella parasites.
While it is true that dogs can get roundworms from pork but, that is if the pork is not properly cooked or raw. Trichinosis is a parasitic disease that is caused by dogs eating any type of uncooked or partially cooked meats, including pork.
If you suspect that your dog may have eaten raw or partially cooked pork, watch out for the signs we’ve mentioned. It’s best to consult a vet to prevent further complications.
Seasoned Pork
At all costs, do not share your seasoned pork with your Fido. Examples of these are pork barbecue and pork chop.
These human foods are heavily seasoned with salt, pepper, and spice rubs that are toxic for them if eaten in large amounts.
Processed Pork
Pork products like ham, sausages, bacon, and bacon grease are a big no-no to our Fidos. These are loaded not only with spices like sugar but with preservatives, too.
