Dogs · Guide
Can Dogs Eat Pork?
Yes, dogs can eat plain, fully cooked pork with no bones or seasoning. Raw pork, pork bones, and BBQ or spiced pork are risky. Here is what to know.
Yes, dogs can eat pork if it is fully cooked, plain, and has no bones. Leave off the salt, sauce, onion, and garlic. Raw pork can carry parasites and germs. Fatty pork can upset the stomach and the pancreas. Give only a small piece once in a while.
Is cooked pork safe for dogs?
Plain cooked pork is fine for dogs, says the American Kennel Club (AKC). Keep it simple. Boil, bake, or roast it with nothing added. Cut it into small bites and take off the bones and extra fat.
Start with a small piece. The AKC notes that some dogs can be allergic to pork, so watch your dog after the first taste.
Pork is not a meal. Treats should be no more than about 10% of your dog’s daily calories.
Why can pork be a problem for dogs?
There are three main risks:
- Fat. Pork can be hard to digest. The AKC says rich, fatty pork can cause an upset stomach and pancreatitis. That is a painful swelling of the pancreas, an organ that helps with digestion. It can be serious.
- Seasoning. Onion powder, garlic powder, and nutmeg are toxic to dogs, according to the AKC. The ASPCA says onions and garlic can irritate the gut and damage red blood cells, which can lead to anemia.
- Salt. The ASPCA says too much salt can cause thirst and peeing a lot. In bad cases it can cause vomiting, seizures, or death.
Can dogs eat raw pork?
No. Raw or undercooked pork can carry a roundworm called Trichinella. The AKC lists upset stomach, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, tiredness, and sore muscles as signs of the illness it causes, trichinosis.
The Merck Veterinary Manual adds that most infected animals show no clear signs. So a dog can be infected and you may not know. It says that in North America, pork should be treated as possibly infected unless the label says “ready to eat.”
Raw meat can also carry germs. The ASPCA names Salmonella and E. coli. The FDA found Salmonella in 15 of 196 raw pet food samples and Listeria in 32. These germs can also spread to people through hands and kitchen surfaces.
The Merck manual says to cook pork roasts to at least 145°F (63°C) and ground pork to at least 160°F (71°C).
Other kinds of pork
Can dogs eat pork bones?
No. The AKC says pork bones, raw or cooked, are likely to splinter. Splinters and swallowed pieces can cause choking, a blockage, or damage in the gut. The ASPCA also warns that bones can need surgery.
This covers cooked pork shoulder bones and other pig bones. Take the bone away at once. Call your vet if your dog swallowed some, or if you see vomiting, a lot of drooling, odd stools, or loss of appetite. The AKC says a vet may watch your dog, use a camera to look inside, or do surgery.
Can dogs eat BBQ pork?
No, not the sauced kind. The AKC says barbecue sauce is high in salt and sugar and often has garlic and onion. Spice rubs can have the same problems. If you want to share, set aside a plain piece before you add rub or sauce.
Can dogs eat pulled pork?
Only if it is plain. Pulled pork is often fatty and is usually mixed with sauce or rub. Fat, salt, onion, and garlic are the problems named above. A small bit of unseasoned, fully cooked pork with the fat removed is the only kind to share.
Can dogs eat pork and beans?
It is better to skip it. Canned pork and beans comes in a sauce. The vet sources we read do not cover this dish. But the sauce can be salty, and some have onion or garlic, which are risks listed above. Read the label first. If it lists onion or garlic, don’t share it.
Can dogs eat bacon and ham?
Not as a treat. The AKC calls bacon very rich, fatty, and salty. It says ham has so much sodium that it can cause strong thirst. See the questions below for more.
What about pork liver, guinea pig food, or guinea pig poop?
The vet sources we read do not cover pork liver, so we will not guess. Ask your vet before you feed it. Guinea pig food and poop are not pork, and we have no vet source on them. If your dog ate a lot of either and seems unwell, call your vet.
What should I do if my dog ate pork?
First, think about what kind it was.
- Plain cooked pork: Watch your dog. A small upset stomach is possible.
- Fatty, salty, or sauced pork: Watch for vomiting, diarrhea, a sore belly, or a lot of drinking. Call your vet if it is a big amount or if signs show up.
- Raw pork: Call your vet and tell them what and how much your dog ate.
- Bones: Call your vet, even if your dog seems fine.
What can I give my dog instead?
If you want a meaty treat, small pieces of plain cooked meat are a better choice than anything fried or sauced. Ask your vet which kind fits your dog best. For more, see our guide to foods that are toxic to dogs and our article on whether dogs can eat cheese.
Common questions
Can dogs eat bacon or ham?
The American Kennel Club advises against both. Bacon is very rich and salty, and ham has a lot of salt, which can make a dog very thirsty.
Can pork give dogs pancreatitis?
It can. The AKC says rich, fatty pork can upset the stomach and inflame the pancreas, a painful and sometimes serious problem. Fatty cuts and bacon are the biggest worry.
Can dogs eat pork bones?
No. The AKC says raw and cooked pork bones can both splinter. Pieces can cause choking or blockages in the gut.
Can my dog get worms from pork?
Raw or undercooked pork can carry a roundworm called Trichinella. Cooking pork all the way through is the best way to prevent it, according to the Merck Veterinary Manual.