Humans have been sharing table scraps with dogs for as long as they’ve been domesticated. It’s natural to wonder if your favorite snack is safe for your fur baby. However, many human foods are toxic or otherwise toxic to dogs. It’s important to be careful and only feed foods you know are safe.
In this article, we’ll discuss whether dogs can eat beef jerky and more. Let’s dive in!
Dangers of Beef Jerky for Dogs
If your dog eats beef jerky, please call a pet poison hotline immediately. They may ask questions like how much your dog ate, when, and the ingredient list. They can provide personalized, professional advice based on your situation.
Often, you’ll be advised to seek immediate veterinary care, either with your primary veterinarian or at an emergency vet clinic.
Please do not wait until you see symptoms of poisoning before calling a professional. Catching and treating poisoning early can be life-saving!
Onion and Garlic Powders
Most beef jerky contains onion and garlic powders, which are concentrated and can harm dogs even in small amounts. The cause of garlic and onion toxicity is a substance called thiosulfate, which breaks down a dog’s red blood cells.
Onion powder is the most toxic of the two with just 5 grams of onion powder per kilogram of body weight causing symptoms of poisoning. Even if your dog doesn’t ingest this much onion powder, the added thiosulfate in the garlic powder can aid in the poisoning.
Thiosulfate poisoning can also occur over a number of days, meaning that if you give your dog a little bit of beef jerky each day, this could add up and make them sick, even if they don’t show symptoms at first.
The first symptoms of poisoning are typically an upset stomach and pain. Your dog might also experience a reduced appetite, vomiting, and diarrhea. Your dog may also become lethargic or depressed. More severe symptoms include weakness, increased heart rate, increased respiratory rate (breathing quickly and with increased effort), pale gums, and red urine.
Salt Toxicity
Dogs need salt in their diet, just like we do. However, their dog food should contain all the salt they need, and it isn’t advised to feed them salty treats.
Most beef jerky contains very high levels of salt that is safe for most humans, but not for our furry companions. Fortunately, unlike with garlic and onions, salt toxicity doesn’t build up over time. Rather, your dog would have to eat a lot of beef jerky or other salty foods in one sitting.
According to the American College of Veterinary Pharmacists, just two tablespoons of salt can poison a large 41-70-pound dog. Of course, smaller dogs are more easily poisoned than larger ones. Not having access to fresh water can also contribute to salt poisoning.
Symptoms of salt toxicity include:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Depression
- Lethargy
- Tremors or seizures
- Difficulty breathing
- Disorientation
You’ll typically see symptoms within three hours of your dog eating beef jerky, but please don’t wait until your dog presents with symptoms of poisoning to call either a pet poison hotline or veterinary clinic. The sooner your dog is treated, the better their prognosis.
Xylitol
Some flavored beef jerky contains the sweetener xylitol, also known as birch sugar, wood sugar, and birch bark extract. This sugar replacement is toxic to dogs.
Symptoms of xylitol poisoning in dogs include:
- Vomiting
- Lowered blood sugar
- Tiredness
- Weakness
- Lack of coordination
- Seizures
- Collapse
You may see these symptoms in around 30 minutes, but they can take up to 18 hours to present. If your dog eats beef jerky containing xylitol, please call a pet poison hotline or emergency vet clinic for help right away.
Benefits of Beef Jerky for Dogs
When beef jerky is made specifically for dogs, whether from a dog treat company or at home, it can be quite healthy. Here are some of its benefits:
- Good source of protein
- Low in fat (made from lean cuts of beef)
- Contains nutrients such as B12, zinc, and iron.
Of course, your dog doesn’t need beef jerky or other treats in their diet. A balanced dog food provides everything dogs need to thrive, and healthy treats are just an added bonus! Remember that treats like beef jerky should never make up more than 10% of your dog’s daily calorie intake.
See also
Is All Beef Jerky Bad for Dogs?
Not all beef jerky is bad for dogs. When made without toxic ingredients and excessive amounts of salt, it can be a great treat.
While store bought beef jerky made for humans is usually toxic, this isn’t true of beef jerky made for dogs. Most store bought dog treats are going to be safe for your pup to consume, though some are healthier than others. Check the ingredients to be safe!
Another option is to make your own beef jerky with unseasoned meat. This way, you can be completely sure it’s safe and only contains one ingredient.
How to Make Homemade Beef Jerky Dog Treats
Luckily, beef jerky is easy to make at home for your pampered pup. Here’s how:
- Start with a lean cut of beef. This reduces the fat content, which is bad for dogs, and also ensures that your beef jerky will dry out and cook correctly.
- Preheat the oven to 175 degrees Fahrenheit and prepare your baking trays. Line the trays with aluminum foil for easy clean-up, then place a baking rack on top. Lay the jerky strips onto the rack.
- Trim the beef into thin slices. If needed, stick it in the freezer for up to an hour to make it easier to cut.
- Cook for 3-4 hours or until the jerky is as dry as you’d like it. It’s best if it’s still a bit tender so that it’s easy to bite into and doesn’t pose a choking hazard for your dog.
If you have a dehydrator, you can use it to dry out the beef jerky strips instead of the oven. However, you’ll want to cook the strips to at least 160 degrees Fahrenheit at the end of the process. This is the USDA-recommended temperature to kill off any bad bacteria.
While raw and undercooked treats are becoming a popular choice for dogs, it’s discouraged by the Federal Department of Agriculture (FDA) and American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Both humans and pets can get sick from these unsafe cooking practices.
Remember not to salt or season the beef. Your dog will enjoy their treats even without these unhealthy additives!
Final Thoughts
While beef jerky can be toxic to dogs, not all of it is the same. While you may not be able to share your favorite flavored jerky, you can buy your dog their own beef jerky or cook it at home so that they can share in the experience.
If your dog does get into human beef jerky that’s high in salt or contains toxic ingredients like garlic powder, onion powder, or xylitol, please call a pet poison hotline for help and seek veterinary care as needed.
