Can Dogs Eat Beef Jerky? A Vet’s Opinion
Jerky is any meat which is cut into long clean pieces and dehydrated. This dehydration is done with salt. Beef jerky is used in many food items and is a standard food product for dogs. Beef jerky is the most common type of jerky with high concentrations of protein, zinc and other minerals, but can you feed Beef Jerky to your dog?
Beef Jerky is completely safe for consumption for your dogs and, in fact, offers a lot of nutrition and energy for your dogs to grow and be healthy. Beef jerky, however, should be processed only a little and must be free of additives and preservatives. Beef jerky must also come from a single source of meat for it to be suitable for dogs.
Let’s dive in:
Benefits Of Beef Jerky For Dogs
Beef jerky can be quite a tricky treat for your dog. Due to the amount of processed beef jerky in the market, you should avoid giving your dog beef jerky. However, if you make beef jerky at home or can provide plain beef jerky to your dog, the rewards will far outweigh the risks of feeding beef jerky to your dog. The main benefits of feeding beef jerky to your dog are mental stimulation and dental benefits to your dog.
Beef jerkies are excellent for your dogs to chew on and eat while training sessions are going on. They make for an excellent treat, and small pieces of beef jerky can make for an amazing treat time. Larger pieces of beef jerky can be used during training sessions which will help stimulate your dog and get the essential nutrients and minerals to them. Beef jerky is also a bit hard and chewy, and hence it is excellent for the dental health of your pet. This hard treat will gently rub against the inner cavity of your dog’s mouth, teeth, tongue and other parts to ensure that the stuck food particles and dirt are scrapped away from them. Hence, beef jerky takes on the role of a toothbrush! It can thus help reduce tartar and plaque buildup, further improving their dental health. Beef jerky is also very vital for joint health due to the presence of two vital compounds. Glucosamine and chondroitin, are very important in the upkeep and creation of cartilage. Hence, in the longer term, and if fed with proper dosages, these compounds can help your dog fight against osteoarthritis. Beef jerky also contains a lot of protein and is low in fat, which allows them to be very healthy and beneficial if you are controlling the calories your dog eats. Moreover, beef jerky is a rich source of minerals like iron and zinc!
How To Safely Give Beef Jerky To Dogs
There are numerous methods for you to follow and guidelines to look out for when giving your dog beef jerky. Beef jerky should be given in moderation. The best way to ensure a healthy supply of beef jerky for your dog is to give them homemade beef jerky. The best way to do that is to dry age the meat at home yourself and cut it into thin pieces to make beef jerky treats for your dog; it can enjoy for long periods. It is vital to note that you should definitely not use any additional seasonings or flavours since they might be dangerous for your dog. However, if you are going to make something other than beef jerky at home, then make sure to get the jerky which has the lowest sodium content. Beef jerky flavours like teriyaki, peppered and soy-glazed beef jerky will have too much sodium in them, which would be highly unsuitable for your dog. High sodium levels can lead to sodium poisoning, which can be problematic.
Since beef jerky is a very common dog treat and can be found in almost every pet store, you should make an effort to give your dog the beef jerky which is suitable for their consumption. You should avoid giving your pets beef jerky, which is made for human consumption, as it can result in your developing an upset stomach due to the added preservatives and flavours in human foods. Some of the jerky brands contain a lot of garlic and onion, which are, again, not suitable for dogs and are toxic. Similarly, it would be best if you also avoided beef jerky, which has xylitol in it. This is a rare ingredient in jerkies but is occasionally added. This artificial sweetener is also highly poisonous to dogs. Beef jerky, also harmless and full of nutrition, should be eaten in moderation. The servings of beef jerky you give to your dog must amount to nearly thirty per cent of the total calories it eats in a day.
Will Beef Jerky Make A Dog Sick?
Yes, beef jerky, which is available in the market commercially, has a very high chance of making your dog sick. Beef jerky bought from pet stores or homemade beef jerky might not have this problem, but the beef jerky you will see otherwise can make your dog severely sick. Beef jerky pieces can be a choking hazard for dogs, which are smaller in size, for example, some toy breeds. You should monitor your dogs when they are eating things like beef jerky.
Apart from that, your dog might suffer from thyrotoxicosis, which means an abnormal thyroid level. This is a severe condition in which your dog’s hormone production is affected. There are reports that this can be caused by eating beef jerky products. There are some symptoms of thyrotoxicosis, like, weight loss, increased thirst, increased urination, increased appetite, vomiting, diarrhoea, panting and other behaviour changes. Like all hydrated treats, beef jerky can be susceptible to bacterial contamination. Harmful bacteria like Salmonella, Listeria, and E. Coli can reside in beef jerky and compromise your dog’s well-being in various ways. Some other harmful ingredients of beef jerky include MSG and Beriberi. MSG can reportedly give your dog headaches and migraines and must be avoided. On the other hand, beriberi is much more toxic for your dog, and if eaten, it can result in severe consequences for your dog. Some of the symptoms of beriberi ingestion are weakness, confusion and difficulty walking.
Vet’s Summary
Beef jerky is safe for your dogs to eat. However, there are a lot of strict methods to follow when preparing it for your dog. Beef jerky, which you should be given to your dog, should be free of additives, preservatives and seasonings. Beef jerky is excellent for the dental health of your dog and helps immensely with plaque removal. Apart from this, it also helps get the gums and teeth rid of plaque buildup. Beef jerky helps with training sessions as it is an excellent rewarding treat and helps with brain stimulation. The best way to prepare beef jerky for your dog is to prepare it at home without any seasonings. Ensure to cut the beef into small pieces and dry age it. It is very important to stay away from seasoned beef jerky flavours with high sodium content. Beef jerky can make your dog sick as well if precaution is not taken in choosing the right type of beef jerky for your dog. In rare cases, dogs have gotten thyrotoxicosis from beef jerky. Moreover, it can be a choking hazard. However, if given with prepared care and under direct supervision, beef jerky is beneficial for your pet’s health, just like probiotics! Probiotics are essentially healthy bacteria which are responsible for a healthy gut! You should add some probiotics to your dog’s diet to help them stay clear of any gut problems or digestive issues they might face with age! Probiotics can also help fight digestive issues, such as diarrhoea and constipation, and reduce the risk of infections. However, you should always consult your local veterinarian in deciding which supplements and probiotics will be beneficial for your pet friend!
Videos To Watch
If you are wondering that beef jerky is good to give your dog or not, watch this:
And if you want to know what a dog can NOT eat, watch this:
