Can Dogs Have Greasy Food?

You love to chow down on a big, greasy burger, some delicious french fries, and maybe even some seductively-greasy french cuisine like duck confit, and we'd be willing to bet that when you partake in these tasty treats, you're guaranteed to have a set of big, ol' puppy-dog eyes staring right at you while you do it. 

We understand the want to feed your pup a bunch of delicious, greasy foods. You love to share your treats with your dog, so why would this be any different? Unfortunately, doggos' digestive systems aren't designed the way ours are. 

In layman's terms - dogs shouldn't be fed delicious, tasty, greasy snack foods that you might like to enjoy. While a touch of grease certainly won't harm your dog, it's easy for your pup to overindulge, and excess amounts of grease in their systems will cause them serious digestive issues, pancreatitis, and other uncomfortable pains that your poor pup shouldn't have to deal with.

Want to know how to tell if your dog has had too much of the greasy stuff? Want to train your pup to avoid the greasiest of foods? We've got you covered. Read on for the ultimate guide to greasy food and your pooch. 

Most of the time, fried and greasy foods aren't good for people, so it's probably no small wonder that they're no good for your dog, either. Unfortunately, people tend to over-share with their pups, and when they do, the greasy foods they ingest could make them super sick. 

If you think your dog has had too much greasy food and is having a reaction, monitor them closely. If you see your dog vomiting or having a serious bout of diarrhea, you can bet those french fries you shared with him or her were a bad decision. 

Your dog will also experience things like stomach aches, lethargy, weakness, and even irregular heartbeat, fever, and struggling to breath. Most of these things can be remedied, and if your dog gets into the greasy food once or twice by accident, you won't have to worry too much. Unfortunately, doggos who have access to greasy food regularly will likely end up with a more serious condition called pancreatitis.

Historically, grease is a bad choice for your dog's diet. According to Pet Health Pharmacy, Dr. Greg Brown, a veterinarian at the Riverside Animal Hospital in Flushing, Michigan stated that he'd so many cases of pancreatitis this year and he contributes the cause to pet owners feeding their pets bacon and bacon grease regularly. 

According to Whole Dog Journal, pancreatitis can occur in any dog who consistently eats fatty or greasy foods, but historically, Cavalier and King Charles Spaniels, Cocker Spaniels, Boxers, and Collies have a higher risk of getting pancreatitis, especially when their diet consists of greasy, fatty foods.

You might be reading this article and thinking back on the times you've thrown your dog a greasy piece of bacon or a table scrap. This doesn't make you a bad pet owner, just a potentially misinformed one. A piece of bacon here and there or a little grease won't permanently harm your dog, but it's definitely not what should be considered a normal part of your dog's diet. 

Grease causes intestinal distress, vomiting, and other issues for your dog. When your dog is constantly eating greasy, fatty foods, it's causing his or her pancreas gland to enlarge. The pancreas, which is responsible for releasing digestive enzymes in your dog's stomach, will stop functioning effectively if it's being harmed by the greasy, fatty foods you're feeding your pup. When this happens, your dog's body will not be able properly absorb and digest food they ingest.

When it comes to keeping your dog away from the greasy food, you'll definitely have to train your pup - but you'll also need to train yourself. Dogs are adorable, especially your dog, and it can be hard to say no to a cute face, but you'll need to train yourself to stay consistent and persistent through your dog's begging phases. 

That being said, try to train your dog not to beg. It's a natural instinct for your pup to want food (especially that delicious-smelling burger you're eating), but begging for food from you, family, and friends will often result in the dog getting something slipped under the table, a practice that's not only bad for your dog's behavior, but could be incredibly dangerous. 

We suggest crate training your dog if they're unable to grasp the no-begging concept. Teach your dog that the crate is a safe, comfy space that they can spend time in while the family is eating dinner. That way, you won't accidentally slip food to your dog when your resolve is low. 

We suggest training your dog to stay out of the kitchen as well. Just as people train their dogs that climbing on the furniture is a no-go, you can train your pooch to avoid the kitchen at all costs, saving them from the greasy food.