Why is it even a question to feed jerky to dogs when we know they adore meat and it is essentially just dried meat? The truth is that modern beef jerky isn’t just dried meat, and your dog has specific dietary requirements.
As a result, you may feel compelled to give in to your dog’s pleading or those beautiful, longing eyes while you munch on beef jerky treats together. First, consider the following set of facts.
Can Dogs Eat Beef Jerky?
Is beef jerky safe for dogs to eat? The answer is complicated by the wide variety of ingredients used to make beef jerky.
Beef jerky is generally safe for dogs to eat so long as it is made from a single source of dried meat and does not contain any additives or preservatives.
Keep in mind, though, that beef jerky made for humans may contain seasonings that are fine for humans but can be harmful for dogs.
Always consult your vet if you have any doubts about whether or not a particular brand or type of beef jerky is safe for your dog. You can also occasionally reward your dog with a low-sodium beef stick.
Is Beef Jerky Good for Your Dog?
No, to put it briefly. It’s not the safest treat, but it probably won’t poison your dog right away. The issue is that modern beef jerky is highly processed and may contain ingredients that are harmful to your dog.
Listed below are some of the ingredients that could be harmful:
- Too much salt
- Garlic
- Onion
- Peppers
- Spices and peppers
- Xylitol
While these additions enhance the flavor of beef jerky for humans, they are toxic to dogs. Some dogs are especially sensitive to the gluten that is included in these, so you should avoid giving them to your pet.
What Are the Benefits of Beef Jerky for Dogs?
Is it true that dogs can eat beef jerky? In a word, yes; however, it’s not quite as cut-and-dry as you might imagine.
While chewing, dogs can benefit from the beef jerky’s protein and it can also aid in tooth care. In addition, it serves as a delicious incentive for training.
However, modern beef jerky often contains ingredients that are harmful to dogs. Be sure to research which brands of jerky are pet-friendly before feeding it to your dog.
You can have a lot of fun while training your dog with jerky. Just make sure you get a reputable brand so you don’t end up with any unwanted side effects.
What Are the Risks of Feeding Beef Jerky to Dogs?
If you have a dog, you may be wondering if beef jerky is a healthy treat. A resounding “it depends” is the correct response. ”
The key to making perfect beef jerky is in the ingredients. It is not advisable to feed your dog anything that contains preservatives or other additives. But if it’s just meat and seasonings, it’s probably fine to pass around.
However, there are dangers connected with giving dogs beef jerky as a treat. They may have a hard time digesting it, which can lead to issues like diarrhea and vomiting. And second, it can be unhealthy for dogs because of the high levels of salt and fat it contains.
You should check the beef jerky’s ingredient list before giving it to your dog. Also, if you’re not sure, your vet is the best person to ask.
How Can I Make Beef Jerky Safe for My Dog?
Whether or not beef jerky is safe for your dog to eat is a valid concern. As for an answer, it really depends on the circumstances.
While some canines can safely eat beef jerky, others may have an allergic reaction. Your dog may be able to eat beef jerky, but you should double-check with your vet before giving it to him.
There are steps you can take to ensure your dog is safe when eating beef jerky. The first is to only purchase dog-friendly jerky. You should also check that the jerky has no artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives.
Finally, make sure you’re supervising your dog while he’s eating beef jerky, and stop feeding it to him if he develops any health problems.
Your Dog’s Dietary Concerns
You probably already know this, but dogs have a poor response to dietary changes. Even switching brands of food for them must be done gradually.
You should give some thought to the beef jerky’s quality, salt content, and seasonings if you plan on feeding it to your dog.
Consuming processed foods is bad for everyone’s health. Though we humans might be able to stomach it, your dog might get sick. Your dog won’t benefit from the beef jerky’s preservatives, but the real problem is the high salt content.
Hypernatremia
Sodium poisoning, also known as hypernatremia, occurs when your dog has an abnormally high concentration of salt in their blood. In a normal situation, your dog will drink enough water to dilute the excess salt in their system if they accidentally consume too much salt.
However, their cells will release water desperately to combat the ill effects if there is no water available or if they consume too much salt too quickly.
Hypernatremia poses serious risks to your dog and must be treated immediately. Due to the lack of water, their brain cells will die.
They will experience nausea, vomiting, and possibly even seizures. In addition, as they lose water and shrivel, their muscles can become rigid and unsteady.
However, the neurological consequences of hypernatremia are the most severe. Neurons in your dog’s brain will dry out because their bodies will release water to dilute the salt in their blood. There is a risk that your dog will go into a coma, have convulsions, and ultimately die.
You should take your dog to the vet if it eats a lot of salt, regardless of whether or not it exhibits any symptoms.
Excessive thirst, urination, vomiting, muscle spasms, diarrhea, fluid buildup, and an elevated heart rate are some of the milder symptoms of dehydration.
Other Harmful Beef Jerky Ingredients
The beef jerky flavorings of onions and garlic have already been mentioned. However, these are also prohibited foods for canines.
Your dog should avoid eating these. Providing your dog with excessive amounts of either of these vegetables can lead to anemia due to the destruction of red blood cells.
If your dog has eaten too many onions or garlic, look out for these symptoms:
- Their breath smells like onions and garlic.
- Lips and tongue look pale
- Lethargy
- Abbreviated deep breaths
- Increased pulse rate
- decreased hunger
- Vomiting
Treatment in Case of Onion or Garlic Consumption
The Pet Poison Hotline recommends giving activated charcoal and inducing vomiting if your dog ingests an amount of onion or garlic that causes you concern.
In addition, anemia should be checked for on a daily basis by drawing blood samples. Serious anemia often requires blood transfusions.
Can I Feed Beef Jerky to My Dog?
Depending on where you live, you may be able to find plain jerky, which is simply dried meat for your dog without any seasonings.
Your dog will absolutely adore it, and it may even be good for them. Dried meat is a tasty and protein-rich snack for them. Nevertheless, they should limit themselves to a small amount.
Alternatives to Jerky for Your Dog
Unless you can track down some beef jerky that isn’t flavored in any way, you’re out of luck. You don’t have to feed your dog flavored jerky; there are other options. Recipe for homemade beef jerky treats for your dog.
Homemade Jerky Treats for Dogs
Ingredients
- Lean beef
- Fruit Drink with Pineapple Flavor
- Amino Acids in Solution
- Vinegar from Apples
- Sauce made from fish
- Spikes of Ginger Into Powder
- Optional: Smoking Liquid
Equipment
- Using either a dehydrator or a very low temperature oven
- marinating in a glass bowl (or a Ziploc) is fine.
- Use cookie sheets or baking sheets lined with parchment paper in the oven.
Instructions
Marinating the meat will make the jerky more flavorful for both you and your pet. There is no sugar added and the sodium content is reduced. To make the marinade, you’ll need:
- 1 cup of pure pineapple juice, no sugar added
- Half a cup of liquid aminos (substitute for low-sodium, gluten-free soy sauce).
- 1/2 cup of apple cider vinegar
- Some fish sauce, please.
- Just a touch of ground ginger
- 1–2 (non-mandatory) drops of liquid smoke
So, to get ready, please,
- Whisk together the marinade (one batch per pound of meat).
- The meat should be sliced thinly and uniformly.
- Marinate the beef for four to twenty-four hours.
- Preheating a dehydrator to 160 degrees Fahrenheit is required.
- Before turning on the oven, set the temperature to 160 degrees, or as low as it goes.
- Remove excess marinade from meat by patting it dry with a paper towel.
- Arrange the meat on trays, with some breathing room between each piece.
- It’s important to give each dehydrator tray some breathing room.
- To dehydrate something, put it in a dehydrator and set the timer for four hours.
- Pre-heat the oven to 300 degrees and set the timer for three hours.
When the jerky is ready, it will be shrunken (by at least half), dark in color, pliable, and completely dry. Keep it in a sealed container until it cools.
Conclusion
In case you were wondering, yes, canines can eat beef jerky. Only give them beef jerky that has been formulated for canines and is free of preservatives, chemicals, and other potentially harmful ingredients.
As a good source of protein, beef jerky makes a great treat for your dog. It’s also a fantastic method of providing them with entertainment and distraction. Beef jerky can be a great treat for your dog, but only if you buy from trusted brands and make sure to keep them away from anything that could make them sick.