Can Dogs Eat Hot Dogs? When it is or isn’t an Emergency

No, dogs shouldn’t eat hot dogs, whether that is beef, turkey, pork, or chicken-based. Processed meats in general are bad for a dog’s health.

Why hot dogs are bad for dogs

Plain hot dogs contain a lot of sodium and artificial preservatives. A single hot dog sausage may contain up to 700 milligrams of sodium! That’s way too much for a dog to handle. A 33 pounds dog, for example, should not have more than 300 milligram of sodium per day.

Sodium nitrite and sodium nitrates are commonly-used salts in the production of hot dogs. Both of these salts can be toxic to dogs in high doses.

What happens if a dog eats hot dogs?

A small slice of plain hot dog is unlikely to make a dog sick. A large amount, however, such as a full pack of hot dog sausage can make dogs sick. Some dogs may show signs of gastrointestinal upset after eating a few pieces of hot dog (cooked or raw). Common symptoms include vomiting and diarrhea.

The situation can become a lot more dangerous if a dog ate a hot dog that does contain ‘toxic’ ingredients. Some hot dogs, for example, come with ingredients like onion and garlic. Both of them are highly toxic to dogs. You should call the vet straight away if your dog eats these kinds of hot dogs.

What to do if your dog ate a hot dog

It will give you peace of mind to call the vet, especially if your dog ate more than a few pieces. A call to the vet, however, might not be necessary if your dog only ate a tiny piece of plain sausage. You may just want to watch over your dog carefully for the next few days and call if the dog does show any worrying signs and symptoms. You can visit our food safety list to find out what other human foods should be kept out of a dog’s reach.