Writer, Editor and member of the Council, I am a dog person and I thrive to get the answers that will help you provide the best care a dog can have. Yes, the high levels of saturated fats in bacon grease can cause inflammation of the pancreas in dogs. Your veterinarian will want to know how much your pet has eaten, the approximate size or weight of your pet, and whether there is anything else they may have eaten such as the container the bacon grease was in. Touch. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research. for professional safety or care advice. My Dog Ate My Airpods What Should I Do Now? The solution really doesn't get any more simple than that. A small amount of grease is unlikely to do much harm. One of those wrong accumulation places are the arteries. Likewise, you dont need to fret if a little bit of bacon grease spills and your dog licks it off the floor before you have a chance to pick it up. While shes nursing however, be she to keep the bacon grease away from the babies so they dont eat it. Giving bacon grease to your dog is okay every once in a while as a treat, especially if your dog is very active, but it should not be a staple part of his diet. Any high fatty food can lead to your dog vomiting and having diarrhea and can even lead to pancreatitis in severe cases. My Dog Just Ate Styrofoam! An example of this would be french fries or cans of soup. Set off your smoke alarm. If you are in any of these situations, you can consider it as an option. Modest Fish, Shark Habitat Shark Facts and Information, Why Does My Dog Roll Around After Eating? If you are heading out for a long hike or a big adventure where your dog is going to need an extra zip of energy, bacon grease can be great for giving them that extra little reserve! So, why is your dog throwing up undigested food? 2023 Cover Story Media, Inc. All rights reserved. 8 Reasons! This can happen with any food items high in sodium, including cooked bacon, or bacon grease. Some people are not careful enough when they add the bacon grease to their dogs food. If you pour some bacon grease on your dogs dry food, and he still wont eat, then thats a very good sign you should take her to the clinic. Did your dog lick clean a pan of bacon grease that was cooling on the countertop? Dogs are carnivores meaning that they mostly depend on animal protein. They may pour it onto the food straight from the searing hot pan, and then quickly put it in front of their pet. Your bacon is spoiled if it smells sour, fishy, rotting, or just really unpleasant. Dogs love leftovers and what could be tastier than bacon? Pancreatitis is a serious condition that's fairly common in dogs. Bacon grease is loaded with saturated fat. Since bacon grease is so high in fat, the average dog does not need to eat it all the time. A special diet might be prescribed which will be low in fat and easy to digest. Bacon grease has the exact flavor that dogs go crazy for and will continue to eat until it is all gone. Is Cottage Cheese Bad For Dogs. Feeding bacon grease to cats can have a few different risks. While dogs get a lot of Omega-6s from their food sources, they are often lacking in Omega-3s. Adding bacon grease to your dogs food may be something he really really loves, and should receive after doing something really amazing. Its one of the worst ones, actually, as its so low grade that, in combination with the sodium, its sort of like a natural poison. Smell. In the following article we will discuss the basics of a dogs nutritional needs, why you may or may not want to give your dog bacon grease, and how much is too much. Should You Put Salt in Homemade Dog Food? If it is eaten in large quantities and has higher salt content, it can make your dog more thirsty and drink more water than usual. The prognosis tends to be better for dogs that have only eaten a little amount. This is rich in omega fatty acids that help keep his coat shiny, and his joints healthy. Read more about us. Once your vet is happy that their symptoms are under control and they are eating and drinking again, they will usually be allowed home for you to keep an eye on them there. On the contrary, your dog will likely be fine and love every second of its snack. Putting something extremely delicious on top of their food can convince them to take the first bite. This may be unpleasant but it is not a life threatening illness. Fats in a dogs diet can help to make and keep your dogs coat shiny. Fat Trimmings and Bones Dog Advisory Council is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. Most dogs are scavengers. And if your dog has eaten a lot of saturated fats like those found in bacon grease, then they may develop pancreatitis or get sick from other types of fatty liver disease over time. According to the National Wildlife Federation, wolves are carnivoresthey prefer to eat large hoofed mammals such as deer, elk, bison, and moose. If your dog is very active, you can give him a bit more. Can I give my dog bacon grease? 4. . This will help keep their risk factors for developing pancreatitis, obesity, and other diseases as low as possible! Most of the time gastroenteritis simply needs to run its course. is bacon grease safe for dogs, and what should you do if your furry friendhas eaten some? The high salt content may make your pup thirsty and drink more than usual. Many people think that pancreatitis is caused by eating too much fat and/or sugar. Veterinarian Dr. Ivana Crnec provides insights on the topic of dogs eating grease and what complications may arise from its consumption. Dogs may also eat too much grease if licking pans or stealing food. My Dog Ate Highlighter What Should I Do Now? Bacon, bacon grease, ham, and fat trimmed off meat or bones contains a lot of salt and/or fat and at the least can cause indigestion, vomiting, and diarrhea in both dogs and cats. Diet is vital when caring for a dog that has had a bout of pancreatitis. You should also avoid feeding them fatty foods like bacon grease almost entirely, as this can be a very serious problem for dogs with the disease! Other than the potential energy gain, there is no real nutritional value added to your dogs meal by drizzling it with bacon grease. Once solidified, scoop the grease into the trash, then wash the container. How to fix it: Line your pan with paper towels, suggests Weening. So no you should not do this. Instructions. Either way, you should follow their instructions. The best way to ensure Fido doesnt eat grease is to prevent him from getting to it in the first place. Since hes so malnourished, the greases danger would be minimum. Before you rush your dog to the vet, you should make sure that he truly has lost his appetite, and isnt simply unimpressed with what youve put out for him. The high fat and salt content can be quite irritating to your pets gastrointestinal tract. More than likely, your vet will recommend watching your dog and offer some tips to manage the symptoms in the meantime. Is This Normal: Why Do Cats Drown Their Toys? I would recommend continuing to monitor Dexter for any progression or worsening of the vomiting. It can lead to obesity and pancreatitis. The dog shouldn't be fed bacon grease or bacon. posted by Medieval Maven at 7:17 AM on March 12, 2012. Make note of any potential symptoms. It has high fat and salt content, resulting in stomach upset and illness. Heres Three Reasons! Yes and no. Accurate diagnosis requires blood work and possibly x-rays. Sometimes, you may think that your dog is not feeling well. However, bacon grease is too rich, fatty, and salty to feed your dog, and should be avoided. In most cases, your dog will pass the foil without issue, but it can cause serious problems in some cases. The dog shouldn't be fed bacon grease or bacon. Breeds that are seen very commonly for pancreatitis episodes include cocker spaniels, miniature schnauzers, and miniature poodles. It's OK to share a piece of bacon now and then with your dog. Pet Insurance Waiting Periods All You Need To Know. What Is a Good Annual Limit for Pet Insurance? Our content is for educational purposes only. Unless your cat has somehow gotten opposable thumbs, they will not be able to open the fridge to get the bacon grease. Some dog owners worry that their dogs have eaten too much fat if they vomit blood after eating a meal. 2. I currently live with two yorkies and a chihuahua mix. Dogs can become underweight when they go through an illness or suffer an injury. A simple blood analysis is enough to detect elevated cholesterol levels. Can you give dogs hamburger fat? Although not toxic, bacon grease is not healthy for dogs. Make sure you remove the container as soon as possible to stop them from continuing to eat any more. How Much Is Safe? So it makes sense that can also make dogs sick if they eat bacon grease! More severe cases will need further investigation. My Dog Ate Earthworm What Should I Do Now? But if it is suddenly challenged by an inappropriately high amount of fat (or sometimes also by high cortisol/stress levels), it can become overworked. If your dog ate a little bit of bacon grease, theres no need to panic. 2 Blah, Blah, and More Blah! Because bacon grease is almost all fat, it is extremely high in energy for dogs. Especially when the high fat diet is paired with a low protein figure. For dogs who ate grease such as bacon fat, he suggests feeding four small meals of a bland diet for dogs and immediately seeing the vet at the first sign of vomiting or diarrhea. Transition slowly to the regular diet. Bacon is high in fat and can often cause gastrointestinal issues. Does Pet Insurance Cover Prescription Food? It is extremely flavourful, and has important health benefits. Below we address some of the risks of giving your dog bacon grease. If youre trying to get them in a kennel or into a leash pole to get them to safety, a touch of bacon grease on your fingers can distract them enough that theyll get close enough to you for you to grab them, and/or slip the collar on over their heads. This can include drawing blood samples, taking X-rays, or doing an endoscopy (a procedure where they examine the inside of your pets digestive system) so that they can provide treatment thats specific to your dog! Allowing your dog to lick up a little extra bacon grease whenever you are finished cooking up your Saturday meal is perfectly fine. So it's best for dogs to avoid it. As such it is not inherently poisonous to her, however this sudden influx of a very fatty substance could cause her some digestive upset. Affected dogs may also show loss of appetite, vomiting, dehydration, weakness and diarrhea. We also participate in other affiliate programs which compensate us for referring traffic. Make sure you remove the container as soon as possible to stop them from continuing to eat any more. If your pup is dehydrated this may show elevations in kidney parameters as well as increased concentration of red blood cells. Especially when the high fat diet is paired with a low protein figure. You can also put the frozen bacon kibble in a kong, and give that to your dog when you leave the house. It may seem strange to limit your dog from eating too much bacon grease, but its not just smelly food! If you like the sounds of the positive aspects of giving your dog bacon grease, but you dont want to put her at risk of any health issues, there are other things you can substitute that she may find just as delicious. Bacon grease is also bad for dogs for the same reason. In this case, too, a few licks of grease wont cause enough harm when compared to getting him to safety. But if it is suddenly challenged by an inappropriately high amount of fat (or sometimes also by high cortisol/stress levels), it can become overworked. A better option would be to use a little bit of warm water and let the kibble soak for a few minutes. Fresh bacon will always have its natural meaty smell. Your veterinarian will want to know how much your pet has eaten, the approximate size or weight of your pet, and whether there is anything else they may have eaten such as the container the bacon grease was in. These foods can also cause pancreatitis, a serious, potentially deadly inflammation of the pancreas. I had a cat lick up a pan of grease left over from cooking Italian sausage. Make sure it's nitrite-free bacon. This is especially true if the dog eats too much in one sitting. The diagnosis is set based on the findings of the physical examination, ultrasound, x-rays, electrocardiography and blood results. It can also contribute to other symptoms such as lethargy, vomiting, and diarrhea. No. Once vomiting has been controlled, a low-fat maintenance diet is given, usually in small, frequent meals. However, if your dog ate a lot of grease and has any of the symptoms mentioned above, then it's time to call the vet. What is the danger in bacon grease for dogs? These symptoms normally only arise whenever your dog consumes an insane amount of bacon grease. The smaller size of your dog in combination with your dogs ill-equipped digestive system makes it impossible for them to digest and leads to health problems. Very few dogs are going to be able to eat large amounts of bacon grease without getting sick. What Should I Do Now? The good news is that not all dogs necessarily get sick after eating grease, however, it can turn being potentially problematic when large or frequent amounts are consumed. I highly recommend that you call your regular veterinarian to see what they want you to do. One of the main concerns about giving your dog bacon, is the excessive amounts of salt that bacon contains. He is now constantly stretching and just looks miserable. Try drizzling a small amount over some food and youll often find the irresistible scent of it can encourage them to gobble down the food. Simple nutrition breaks down into three main components; protein, fat, and carbohydrates. In cases of pancreatitis, these cells become damaged or inflamed so they dont work properly. The cabinet is the perfect location for preserving bacon grease, and it makes it difficult for dogs to get ahold of. There are also some negative aspects of adding food to your dogs diet. Pancreatitis is a very painful condition creating marked abdominal discomfort. Another factor is the high salt. Big burgers, tasty French fries, crispy baconyou name it and your dog will eat it, but is it OK to give greasy food to our canine babies? Wipe out the pan and wash it once it's cooled. Into a bowl add eggs, heavy cream, salt, pepper, 3/4 tbsp parsley, & parmesan. Milder pancreatitis causes lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea and a fever. These are all symptoms mans best friend hasconsumed too much andis in pain as a result. In addition, damage to the pancreatic duct may cause enzyme seepage and painful inflammation in surrounding tissues. This should be true at all times, but especially when you give him anything salty, like bacon. My Dog Ate Watermelon Rind What Should I Do Now? They will be kept in the hospital during this time for monitoring. It can also contribute to other symptoms such as lethargy, vomiting, and diarrhea. Be sure not to keep this going for too long, but in a pinch, its okay to do this every once in a while. It has extremely high levels of fat and salt and has the potential to make Fido feel quite unwell if eaten in large quantities. The same thing goes for bacon grease. The sooner your catch any issues, the better the outcome! Some benefits of adding fish oil to your dogs diet are: Olive oil is another natural oil that you can substitute for bacon grease. IF a large amount is eaten it can also lead to pancreatitis. Products and services reviewed are provided by third parties; we are not responsible in any way for them, nor do This is a serious condition whereby the pancreas (a small organ in the gastrointestinal tract) becomes very inflamed. A larger dog can handle greater quantities than a smaller dog. 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