Can Dogs Eat Pepperoni? The Truth!

In this research you will know the answer to the query “Can Dogs Eat Pepperoni?“.

Pepperoni should not be eaten by dogs. Despite the fact that its not entirely harmful and can be eaten every 3 months you should avoid giving pepperoni to your pups. Pepperoni can have many harmful effects when consumed by dogs.

Similar to the popular and tasty Italian food Lasagna Pepperoni also contains a high level of sodium and ingredients that are toxic to dogs such as garlic and onions. There is also a high-fat content in Pepperoni. Because of this you should keep your pooch away from unhealthy food and instead give him other nutritious alternatives.

Take a closer look at the research to learn whether your dogs can eat Pepperoni.

Is Pepperoni bad for dogs?

Pepperoni can be harmful to dogs. In addition to being highly processed it also contains fatty acids sodium onion garlic and some seasonings all of which are toxic to dogs.

Pepperoni is bad for our canine companions for a number of reasons and we need to understand what Pepperoni is and what it contains. Lets take a look.

What is Pepperoni?

There are several types of pepperoni including raw and cooked varieties. The thinly sliced meat is commonly used as a pizza topping.

What is in Pepperoni?

By grinding chopping and mixing beef and pork trimmings with paprika salt cayenne pepper white pepper allspice and anise seed pepperoni is highly processed. Salami of this type is red and soft. Several human foods are dog-friendly but Pepperoni is simply not one of them.

Pepperoni actually originated in the United States not Italy as many people believe. Air-dried smokey sausages similar to southern Italian salamis were created by Italian-Americans in the US. Today Pepperoni is popular and sold in many major grocery stores.

Pepperoni is terrible for our furry friends not just because of the spices but because of the following reasons:

Fats are dangerous to dogs

Approximately 0.9 grams of fat are contained in one slice of Pepperoni. This is quite a bit of fat for dogs. If your pets consume too much fat they will become obese and suffer from obesity-related diseases such as hypertension diabetes heart problems and osteoarthritis.

It can negatively affect your dogs health and shorten its lifespan if they consume too much fat they do not need.

Too much sodium can cause salt poisoning in dogs

When dogs eat too much salt they become extremely thirsty and they can also suffer from salt poisoning.

Highly processed food is bad for dog’s health

Cheese balls and Pepperoni are awesome pizza toppings but these foods are highly processed. This means that the meat has been fermented or cured. Then unhealthy additives are added during this process. Processed meat like Pepperoni contains a lot of saturated fat because of this.

Seasonings are harmful to dogs

Pepperoni seasonings also contain garlic a food that is very toxic for dogs.

Spices are dangerous for dogs

Spices are not compatible with the digestive system of dogs.

When shouldn’t you feed Pepperoni to your dog?

Pepperoni should not be fed to your dog since most of the ingredients in Pepperoni are incompatible with the digestive system of your dog. Ingredients such as highly processed meat preservatives and additives can cause health issues such as upset stomach pancreatitis diabetes acid reflux and heart disease.

Moreover the garlic and onions in Pepperoni are toxic to dogs and can lead to hemolytic anemia (decreased RBC counts). The rest of the job is done by the spices which cause vomiting diarrhea and damage to your pets esophagus.

Does Pepperoni give any nutritional benefit to your dog? 

Although Pepperoni can have many disadvantages for your pup it can also provide some benefits such as:

• Protein: Your pups nails hair tendons cartilage and muscles are healthy with it.
• Calcium: Even though there is a very small amount of calcium present calcium is beneficial for bones.
• Vitamin B-12: Blood formation and a healthy nervous system depend on it.
• Magnesium: Maintaining the metabolism of your dog depends on magnesium.
• Vitamin D: Vitamin D is important for a dogs health because it helps develop bones and decreases the risk of heart disease and kidney failure.
• Vitamin B-6: Vitamin B6 contributes to glucose production hormone regulation and functions of red blood cells and the nervous system.
• Vitamin C: It is a powerful antioxidant that detoxifies free radicals and reduces inflammation and cognitive aging.

Your dog will benefit greatly if you avoid giving him Pepperoni since these effects are minimal.

Can dogs eat hot Pepperoni?

It is not a good idea to give your dog any hot Pepperoni. Spicy food is not good for dogs. In addition spicy food can cause upset stomachs and digestive problems in dogs.

You should give him a lot of water if he eats too many hot pepperoni slices in a day. Be on the lookout for signs of dehydration and lethargy. Pepperoni consumption can also result in your dogs food pipe breaking which is a painful condition.

Can dogs eat Pepperoni jerky?

Pepperoni jerky is safe to give to your dog but only once every two or three months. Onion and garlic powder is toxic to dogs so do not add them to the Pepperoni jerky. Donot feed your dog any type of spicy jerky either.

Can dogs eat Pepperoni slices?

It is not dangerous to give Pepperoni slices but remember to give one slice of Pepperoni every few months and not more than that. Excessive amounts could harm your dog. 

When your furry companion consumes more than one Pepperoni slice he is at risk for salt poisoning and will also gain weight which will place stress on his joints and bones. Both of these are unhealthy.

Can dogs eat Pepperoni sticks?

Give your dog a piece of the Pepperoni stick at a time rather than the whole stick. The dog would consume way too much sodium and fat if he ate the whole stick.

This will negatively impact your dogs health of course. It is important to be aware of this potential health hazard. Give him just a small piece of that Pepperoni stick if you want.

Can dogs eat turkey Pepperoni?

As with traditional Pepperoni dogs are fine eating a slice or two of turkey Pepperoni. Its important to remember that dogs are capable of eating aIn other words the issue isnot the meat but whether or not but whether the turkey or Pepperoni contains fat salt and spices. Dogs are very sensitive to these ingredients.

In the case of Turkey Pepperoni which is high in salt and fat it is best to give your pet one slice. You should not give your dog any turkey Pepperoni if it contains onion or garlic powder. These ingredients are extremely dangerous for dogs.

You’re taking these steps for the safety of your canine companion.

Can dogs eat Pepperoni pizza?

It is not a good idea to give Pepperoni pizza to your dog. Onion and garlic powder are poisonous to dogs and they are usually found both in the crust and the sauce of pizza. 

Furthermore the pizza contains a high amount of sodium sugars and fats. If they eat this often it can give your dogs an upset stomach and affect their health in the long run. 

Is Pepperoni good for dogs?

It is certain that Pepperoni is bad for your furry companion even though it will not kill him. Neither does a dog care about Pepperoni nor do they know if Pepperoni is good for them. Thus he would not hesitate to eat a lot of slices at once and as many times as he wants.

Dogs can suffer life-threatening situations when they consume pepperoni so you should not feed your pup this food.

How often can dogs eat Pepperoni?

Every three months dog owners should give their pets just one slice of Pepperoni.

It is not recommended that dogs eat this food every day. You must make sure of this limit. There is an appetizing aroma of Pepperoni that might attract them but you know what you should do: keep them away!

What if my dog accidentally eats a lot of Pepperoni?

You can put your dog at risk of salt poisoning and weight gain if he eats a lot of Pepperoni. Both fat and sodium are bad for the health of your dog as we have already discussed. 

Make an appointment with your dogs veterinarian right away for a full checkup and tell him or her that your dog ate a lot of Pepperoni. If you do this the problem would not get worse. For food poisoning and stomach problems your veterinarian may recommend an antidote gel or natural antidote.

Symptoms to watch for

In case your pooch ate a lot of Pepperoni you should observe him carefully and look for any of the following symptoms.

• Throwing up.
• Feeling thirstier and dehydrated.
• Have abdominal pain.
• Diarrhea.
• Urinating more frequently.

Treatments if your dog has Pepperoni poisoning

If your dog shows any of these symptoms you should take him to the vet immediately.

Treatment options will be discussed with you by a veterinary professional. Here are some examples:

Salt poisoning in dogs:

If your doggie has sodium poisoning he or she will almost certainly be hospitalized and given oxygen intravenous fluids and electrolytes. It is recommended that you stop feeding your dog Pepperoni and any other food or snack as soon as possible.

You can see that dogs with salt poisoning need immediate medical attention. Symptoms and signs of salt poisoning include:

• Diarrhea.
• Vomiting.
• Loss of appetite.
• An abnormal buildup of fluid in your dogs body.
• Walking around wobbly and drunk.
• Lethargy.

You need to notify your vet immediately or bring your dog to the vet as soon as possible because ingesting too much salt can potentially harm your dogs kidneys and can result in coma seizures tremors or even death in severe cases.

Dogs with pancreatitis:

Pain relief and sickness medicine will be given to dogs suffering from mild symptoms. A hospital stay may be necessary if the pancreatitis is severe.

Dogs with kidney damage:

If your dog is suffering from acute or chronic kidney failure the treatment will be different. Dogs with kidney damage are usually treated with fluid therapy and antibiotics. Dogs can also undergo dialysis to remove toxins from their bodies.

Canine-friendly alternatives to feeding your dog Pepperoni

Canine-friendly alternatives to Pepperoni include many dog treats and dog foods. Pepperoni makes my Labrador run when I eat it. But she would not eat my Pepperoni.

You can give your dog different kinds of meat such as chicken beef turkey and lamb. These foods are packed with protein vitamin B6 vitamin D zinc phosphorus and potassium which are excellent for a dogs health.

So can dogs eat Pepperoni?

It is fine to give your dog a taste of Pepperoni but it should not be done regularly. One slice of Pepperoni per month is acceptable. Despite the fact that your dog might not be aware of the negative effects of eating Pepperoni as a responsible pet owner you should be cautious to ensure that he remains healthy happy and active!

Can dogs eat salami and Pepperoni?

Pepperoni and salami should be avoided by dogs. The highly processed nature of these meat options makes them unhealthy for our four-legged friends. Salami and pepperoni are both high in fats salt and seasonings.

Pepperoni and salami contain more than 30mg of salt for a single slice or 2 grams of meat. Not only will your pup be at risk of sodium poisoning but he may also experience negative health effects including frequent urination bloating and extreme thirst.

Pepperoni and salami are low in protein and high in fat unlike regular meat such as chicken or beef which are high in protein. You should avoid giving your pups these two snack types if you want them to eat low-fat and high-protein foods.

Adding fat to your dogs diet can cause weight gain and put your dog at risk for health problems such as pancreatitis heart disease joint pain diabetes and other issues.

Additionally processed meat contains nitrates which have been linked to colorectal cancer in humans.

Spices and herbs like onion and garlic are also used to make pepperoni and salami. Both onion and garlic are toxic to pets.

Can Pepperoni kill a dog?

Pepperoni would not kill your dog if he eats a few slices of Pepperoni. Pepperonis are healthy for your pooch but eating too many of them can be harmful. 

According to the research Pepperonis are high in sodium and fat. For these two reasons dog owners should prevent their pets from eating Pepperoni and only allow them to eat a slice occasionally every three months. If your pup eats Pepperoni regularly he may develop diabetes heart problems and obesity. 

Can I give my dog a slice of pizza?

It is not recommended that dog owners give their dogs pizza. Dogs should avoid eating pizza in general. If your dog eats Pepperoni with garlic or onion powder please do not feed him. Pepperoni pizza is sometimes topped with garlic powder or onion powder.  

In addition pizza contains cheese which is a dairy product. Lactose intolerance may cause your dog to experience an upset stomach or gastrointestinal upset. You should also consider the type of oil used in making the pizza. Dogs can eat olive oil if its olive oil.

In general pizza is high in salt and fat. Regularly eating fatty food can lead to dogs becoming overweight. Because of these reasons its best to keep pizza away from your dogs.

If you want to read more about dog food tips read here: Dog Food Tips and Tricks.

Can Dogs Eat Pepperoni? The Truth! (Watch Video)