Can Dogs Eat Ham?

The filling in delicious sandwiches, a compliment to thick veggie stews, or the main of a holiday dinner table- ham is a versatile meat that humans can't get enough of. But what about for your dog? Our furry pals love eating whatever we eat, but is this salty food safe for your fur baby? The answer is yes, but with some limitations.

Pork in its unprocessed, uncured state is safe for doggos, as long as it's cooked well without ingredients that may be toxic to pooches, such as onions or garlic. When pork is cured into ham, it’s transformed into a product containing several potentially harmful substances, including salt, preservatives, fat, and sometimes sugar.

Too much fat and sodium can contribute to serious, life-threatening conditions such as heart and kidney disease, or sodium toxicity. Too much fat can also cause acute pancreatitis and added sugars in baked hams may increase a dog’s risk for diabetes. 

While a bite or two of ham won't harm your pooch, keeping an eye on how much they consume overall is a good idea for their health and safety. Let's explore why ham can be such a complicated treat and how to keep your dog safe.

Most dogs will love the smell and taste of ham and will willingly gobble down however much they can get their paws on! Unless ham is prepared with seasonings they don't like, your dog will likely enjoy a bite of this scrumptious meat. But just because it tastes great doesn't mean it can be consumed without any thought. Your dog doesn't know that eating too much ham can make them feel bad later, so it's up to you to know how much is too much. 

Dogs need protein to remain active and healthy. Pork is a good source of protein and other nutrients that may be beneficial for your fur baby's well-being. Benefits of ham can include:

Essential amino acids for muscle and cellular health

Ham provides all ten essential amino acids, making ham a complete protein. Protein helps build muscle, improving strength and endurance, and assists on a cellular level, helping to maintain cells and protect genetic components. Pork also contains impressive amounts of selenium which aids healthy reproduction, immunity to infection, and DNA formation.

Heart health

The potassium, zinc, and phosphorous in pork help in maintaining a healthy heart. These minerals also affect energy production and help to fight infections.

Weight loss and maintenance

While some ham contains a lot of fat, ham made of lean cuts of pork contains fewer calories than other cuts because they contain less fat. In addition, small amounts of this protein rich food help to keep the metabolism in good working order so it can efficiently process the calories eaten. 

Antioxidant production

Antioxidants fight the effects of chronic inflammation, which can cause a variety of health conditions in animals. Consuming antioxidants from food like ham may be beneficial for any chronic inflammatory condition such as allergies and skin disorders.

Antioxidants also lower the levels of free oxygen radicals that are formed in fighting inflammation. This beneficial activity has been shown to prevent the transformation of healthy cells into cancerous ones. 

However, there is data available in humans that processed meat may be carcinogenic, so we need to be cautious here.

There’s no set amount that’s known to cause toxicity or other illness, and there’s no set “safe” amount of ham for canines, so it’s wise to keep a careful eye on how much your fur baby is actually getting from you and others around the table. It's also a good idea to make sure any ham your dog gets is free of additives that can be dangerous, such as onions, garlic, or cloves. 

Dog nutrition authorities have established that a pup should eat only 5.5% fat and 0.3% sodium in their regular food and treats daily. Ham contains, on average, 11% of its calories as fats, about twice the percentage of dietary fat recommended by dog nutrition experts. Too much fat can make ham difficult to digest, pawssibly leading to pancreatitis, which could be fatal. Fat also contributes to obesity and weight-related conditions like arthritis.

Most ham slices contain as much as 1,500 milligrams of sodium, while the limit for a dog’s sodium intake is 3.75 grams (3,750 mg) total. A single slice of ham provides about a third of a pup’s daily sodium intake. It’s easy to see that large amounts of ham are not a healthy regular food for your fur baby. 

Overall, if you are going to give your dog ham, be sure to use it as an occasional treat. Keep portions to a few small pieces per day, and only give it once in a while, which makes it pawfect for hiding medication for picky pups who'll happily gobble it down. Keeping ham reserved as a special treat ensures it will be greatly appreciated by your dog!

There are times when your fur baby may snatch a small amount of ham or ham fat from a plate left in the kitchen, from the trash, or from pieces dropped on the floor during carving. While this amount isn't likely to cause lasting problems, some dogs are more sensitive to the chemicals and other ingredients found in prepared ham, such as toxic cloves. If you know they’ve eaten more than a few bites, it’s best to keep an eye on them for an hour or two to watch for mild symptoms like vomiting or diarrhea, increased thirst or urination, or even an unusual lethargy; all symptoms of sodium toxicity. 

If they’ve managed to eat a lot of the meat, such as when a pup is big enough to reach the counter where the remainder of the carved ham has been left, a vet call or emergency vet visit may be the best action to take. Your veterinarian will be in the best position to assess potential harm and treat symptoms. It’s critical to report the amount eaten, if possible, to help your vet decide what action to take for your pup.

Dogs should not eat raw or cooked ham bones. All bones have the potential to split into slivers when they’re chewed, possibly causing lacerations or obstructions in the upper and lower gastrointestinal tract. Raw bones also may carry harmful bacteria that can make your dog sick. Furthermore, the fat content of bone marrow is quite high and can cause long term problems for your pup. 

If your dog loves ham, they may also love other pork products. Pork chops (without the bone), pork loin and ground pork are all great for your dog, so long as they are cooked without any added salt or seasonings. Portion out these foods as treats or according to your vet's recommendations for a healthy meat alternative to sodium drenched ham products.

While turkey may be considered healthier overall than pork, when the turkey is cured into ham or bacon, it becomes a less healthy option for dogs in large amounts. Turkey ham and bacon are made from cured turkey thigh meat, which contains more fat than a turkey breast, but less than pork's 1.2 grams, making turkey ham healthier in the fat department. 

However, turkey ham is cured in much the same way as cured pork is, which means it still contains high levels of sodium from salt and nitrites and can be just as dangerous as regular ham. Treat turkey ham or bacon the same way, and use it only as a small, occasional treat.

Small, infrequent amounts of ham can be tasty, safe treats for dogs, and sharing bits of a dog-friendly Thanksgiving or Christmas ham with them can make the holidays special for them, too! Just be sure to watch how much they eat to keep your precious pup living a healthy life.