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Dogs love eating people’s food, but sometimes what smells like a tasty snack to your pet can negatively impact their health. Is your dog eating hot dogs a good idea? While dogs may tolerate a few bites of this processed food, it’s best to avoid feeding your pet hot dogs—even in small amounts. Hot dogs for dogs can quickly become too much of a good thing. While your pet may be motivated by a savory nibble of people food, veterinarians agree that treats should make up 10% or less of their total diet.
Read on to learn more about hot dogs in your pet’s diet. And for more information, check out our guide on What Can Dogs Eat? to learn how to spot a wholesome treat.
The lack of nutrition and potentially harmful ingredients outweigh any small health benefit of eating hot dogs—especially for canines. While most brands may not contain ingredients toxic to canines, additives and preservatives aren’t the best things to feed your pup. Despite being a source of protein, even using hot dogs as dog treats isn’t the best choice considering there are more nutritious alternatives out there. Remember that processed meat products are never as good for your dog’s health as human-grade dog food and nutritionally balanced treats and chews.
When it comes to your dog, eating hot dogs is likely to lead to more problems than health benefits. In fact, some processed meats are associated with cancer risks in people—and the same may be true for pets.
Processed beef and pork products are high in fat and could lead to pancreatitis in canines if consumed in large quantities over time. Moreover, some hot dogs contain ingredients like garlic and onions that are toxic to pups. Some brands of hot dogs and mini sausages may also contain MSG and artificial flavors that are not ideal for pets.
One of the biggest issues with feeding hot dogs to your dog is the high salt content. Even providing your pet half of one hot dog could put them over their daily recommended salt intake. While a small amount may not cause any immediate problems in a healthy dog, your pet may develop health issues in the long term. Salt is not only toxic to dogs but can be especially bad for dogs who already have heart problems.
Gastrointestinal distress is common when a dog eats hot dogs in large amounts, which could lead to vomiting, diarrhea and a belly ache. Fortunately, these symptoms are likely to pass quickly but should be monitored. Because this human food is so salty, it could also cause dehydration. If your dog shows signs of gastrointestinal distress, dehydration or any abnormal symptoms or behaviors after consuming a new food, consult your veterinarian or call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435 (consultation fee may apply).
While your dog sneaking a small bite of a cooked, plain hot dog may not cause any immediate concerning health issues, purposely giving hot dogs to your pup should be avoided. Due to the unhealthy ingredients in hot dogs, they should not be fed to your dog—even as a treat. The high fat and salt content of this processed food has no health benefit and can be harmful to your pup.
Yes. While most hot dogs don’t contain ingredients toxic to your pup, they are not a healthy choice for dogs and other pets. However, your dog may tolerate this processed meat in small amounts if they happen to get a bite of hot dog accidentally. If you notice any serious gastrointestinal distress after feeding hot dogs to your pet, monitor their behavior, keep them hydrated and consult your veterinarian immediately. If your pup eats a hot dog including ingredients that are toxic to dogs—such as garlic or onion—call your veterinarian or the Pet Poison Hotline immediately.
No. Raw hot dogs are just as bad, if not worse, than cooked because uncooked processed meat can harbor harmful bacteria. Although most commercially available hot dogs come fully cooked, make sure to check the packaging for preparation instructions.
Whether you call them cocktail weenies, mini weenies or cocktail franks, these bite-sized snacks are just as unhealthy for your pet as hot dogs—sometimes even more so. Since cocktail weenies often contain more salt and spices than a regular hot dog, dogs shouldn’t be fed this type of human food.
