Straight to the point: Feeding your dog sausage isn’t a healthy choice.
There are many reasons we cannot recommend such a treat…
Sausage is insanely fatty and this juicy type of pork also contains spices, lots of salt and other questionable ingredients.
Does your dog beg you for a taste at breakfast?
Honestly, it’s best to avoid sharing!
It is true that processed meat is a common reward for canines, but that doesn’t make it a good idea.
This food tends to be extremely rich and is, therefore, all wrong for pets.
Sausage is Not a Good Treat For Your Dog
It would not be surprising if your furry friend got a upset stomach after eating sausage.
More worrisome is that overly greasy foods, fed often, eventually affect the heart and kidneys. Excessive amounts of sausage links could also inflame the pancreas (which is quite serious).
To be clear:
Sharing a small amount isn’t a total disaster. But, it is important to avoid doing so frequently.
Consider that of all the meats to choose from like pure beef, chicken or lamb, pork is the least suitable for dogs. Add in the highly processed factor, with other unhealthy ingredients, and sausage should be off limits.
What’s In Your Sausage?
Did you drop a piece of pork sausage on the floor and your dog managed to grab it?
Such a scenario isn’t cause for alarm. They may get minor diarrhea or even vomit, but harm is unlikely.
That being said, high salt content is all wrong for dogs.
The spices in sausage don’t help either. Many are unaware of potentially harmful spices since we can’t even taste them ourselves.
But that’s not all…
Garlic and onions are both no-nos for dogs. Can you be sure your sausage doesn’t have any garlic or onion powder in it?
Diarrhea And Dehydration
Sausage, as stated above, can cause dogs to throw-up or have the runs.
You should take away food (for around 24 hours) if your dog gets sick from eating sausage. That will give the stomach time to settle.
Also, be sure to provide plenty of water while you feed bland food for awhile.
Water intake is key for a severe diarrhea recovery and this applies to a sausage mishap.
Monitor your dog for dehydration.
The richness and spiciness of sausage, along with the high salt content, is a dangerous mix. This can easily lead to a severely dehydrated dog.
Beware of Sausage Grease
Never, ever pour sausage grease over your dog’s kibble. Don’t do it!
The grease has even higher salt content and fat levels than the sausage itself! Expect a very sick dog if they’ve consumed those juices.
Warning: Nasty grease may shorten your precious pet’s life.
The Bottom Line
Sausage is bad for your dog.
This food is generally unhealthy. Avoid feeding it if you want your buddy to be around for a long time.
Not only is it a poor dietary choice, but sausage links can also turn into a terrible feeding habit. Too much pork is inappropriate on its own, but all processed meats can easily throw off your dog’s digestion.
That means more sausage for you!
This article was about processed sausage links. What about ground pork sausage?
My 2 month old puppy had 5 pieces of sliced sausage and I don’t know how bad it will affect him.
I’m no expert, but don’t dogs tolerate fat far better than humans?
Many times I have added a tablespoon of grease to food for my dog. Can they get pancreatitis after just a few times it’s given?
I feed my dog BBQ Vienna sausages. Will she get sick? She seems fine when I feed them to her. I do not give her a lot of them.
Will beef sausages be okay for my dog?
I just gave my dog a sausage and he is moving all over the house. He is happy and so energetic.
My dog got a hold of Italian sausage in spaghetti. It was a cup full of spaghetti. She now only wants to be outside. I plan on taking her to a vet this week. Is it a pancreas-related problem?
All of these ingredients are safe for dogs. Any variety of pasta is safe, although it’s best to hold the acidic and sugary commercial pasta sauce. Also, keep in mind that some dogs are allergic to wheat.
My sister fed my dog half a sausage. She had diarrhea and a bad stomach already. Will it make it worse?
I gave my 14 month old dog sausages. It’s the first time I have never done this. Do I need to take him to the vet?
I had no idea about the pork fat issues. I was guilty of causing my doggies have diarrhea. I’d heat up some saved bacon grease and slightly coat the kibble with it. They tore it up, so I thought it’d be okay. A trainer friend of mine, and this article, has convinced me otherwise.
A much better alternative to pork sausages or bacon is chicken. Boneless breast meat is the best for this purpose. I buy mine in packets, deboned and frozen, from my local supermarket. I’ll then defrost as much as I need and let him have some as training treats. I only give him one piece at a time, about the size of my thumbnail. It’s inexpensive, healthy and he loves it. Perfect!
I did not know about the sausage grease issue. I did pour some over my dog’s food, about 1 tablespoon. That night he got so sick and the diarrhea was bad and bloody. He was also vomiting. We are on day 3 and feeding him Pedialyte by dropper and chicken broth. He is extremely weak, weighs only 4 pounds, and looks like he lost more weight. What else can I do for him? I don’t want to lose him.
Dear Terrie. The symptoms your dog is experiencing may be from pancreatitis. This is often brought on by the feeding of grease. He is probably also in a lot of pain. You should get him to a vet as soon as possible! I hope your dear little doggie recovers well.
Pork can make dogs vomit, whether cooked or raw. Around 50% of dogs will have some form of allergy to pork. This allergy is usually developed over time. Vets will tell you anything that comes from a pig should not be given because they can’t digest it properly.