Can Dogs Eat Cooked or Raw Bacon? When it is or isn’t an Emergency

No, dogs shouldn’t eat bacon whether it’s cooked or raw. Processed meat like bacon is really bad for dogs because it contains a lot of sodium and artificial preservatives.

Why dogs can’t eat bacon

Dogs that eat too many pieces of bacon at a risk of developing serious health conditions like pancreatitis. In the much shorter-term, it’s possible for dogs to also experience stomach upsets unless they only ate a tiny piece of bacon. Aside from stomach issues, eating bacon may indirectly lead to other concerning issues for dogs. The high salt content will make the dog thirsty and it wouldn’t come as surprise if your dog starts to drink a lot of water. Dogs that drink too much water at once are at risk of experiencing issues like bloat so it’s important to keep those sizzling bacon pieces away from your dog’s reach.

The dangers of raw bacon aren’t any different to cooked bacon. A tiny piece is unlikely to make your dog sick but anything more might end up with a trip to the vet. To know what other human foods are and aren’t safe for dogs to eat, check out our human foods database.

What to do if your dog ate cooked bacon

Try and find out how much bacon your dog ate. A small slice of cooked bacon is unlikely to have serious consequences. A few slices, however, can lead to trouble. You should keep a close eye on your dog for the next few days and call the vet if the dog starts to show any worrying symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea.

Can dogs eat bacon grease or fat?

Bacon grease, whether that’s from pork bacon or turkey bacon, is not something you should let your dog eat. Just like for our general health, bacon grease and fat do no favors to a dog’s health.

What happens if your dog eats bacon grease?

A small lick of bacon grease is unlikely to cause any harm but anything more may make your dog sick. Bacon grease is bad for dogs because it’s high in fat and sodium. Dogs that eat a high-fat diet are at risk of developing health conditions like pancreatitis.

Eating too much grease or fat may also cause clinical signs like vomiting and diarrhea. There’s also the calorie issue. Dogs that eat too much fat may also gain excessive weight and eventually suffer from obesity.

Can you put bacon grease on dog food?

It could be tempting to add a bit of bacon grease or bacon pieces to your dog’s food when their appetite isn’t that great but we would advise against it. Aside from the health risk, adding bacon grease to your dog’s food may condition your pet to not eat food without it! There are more effective ways to increase your dog’s appetite.