In a nutshell, as a pet owner, you should avoid feeding your dog Pepperoni. It has harmful elements like sodium and fat in abundance. These things in excess can make your dog fall severely sick. But the world is a prominent place, and there is something for everyone, so it is right for your dog’s desire to eat pepperoni too. Some flavors of pepperoni are comparatively safe for your dog to munch on.
Let’s discuss in detail what makes the regular pepperoni so dangerous for dogs and which pepperoni can you occasionally feed your dog?
Pepperoni and dogs
Who doesn’t love pepperoni pizzas, and whenever you order or make one your dog will indeed be attracted to the smell, and you might fall for their desire and let them eat some. But, not everything we human eat are safe for our furry friend and pepperoni sadly is one of those things.
Though pepperoni is not toxic for them, it not healthy either. It is very heavily processed meat, and since it is prepared especially for a human, it might not be the safest thing for your dog to eat.
Per 100grams of pepperoni contains:
- Sodium: 1,761mg
- Potassium: 276mg
- Cholestrol: 105mg
- Total Fat: 44g
- Protein: 23g
Else than these, it also consists of Vitamin D, C, B-6, Calcium, magnesium, etc., but in minimal quantities. The above breakdown of Pepperoni’s nutrition values is firm ground to supports the statement of how unsafe it is for dogs to eat. Just look at the sodium content!
The fat content in pepperoni is also not safe for your pet; most of the pepperoni is made primarily with exceptionally fatty meat to give it the extra taste. This excess fat is very harmful to your dog, mainly if your dog is already overweight.
Other than this, most of the processed pepperoni consist of:
- Fennel seeds
- Mustard seeds
- Black pepper
- Garlic powder
- Paprika
The following ingredients are always avoided while preparing ideal dog food because most of them will cause gastric issues in your dog.
Health Risks
Feeding more than needed pepperoni can cause your dog to get a stomach upset; in severe cases, it can cause vomiting and diarrhea.
Inflammation of the pancreas can also be caused by overfeeding snacks like pepperonis for a long time. This can create a condition of bloody diarrhea. Though your small puppies are not very much prone to it, the older dog is found more susceptible to these sorts of infections.
Which pepperoni is more dangerous for dogs?
Pepperoni Sticks
Almost every vet will advise you not to give a full pepperoni stick to your dog; it has enormous sodium and fat amounts. Occasionally you can let them much on some small pieces of pepperoni sticks.
Pepperoni Pizza
Never let your furry pet eat pepperoni pizza. Firstly pizza’s crust and sauce contain garlic and onion in abundance, which is a big no for your dog. Secondly, pizzas are also high in sugar and can cause long-term health problems if fed more often.
Turkey Pepperoni
Turkey pepperoni is comparatively safer than the usual one. But for the most part, the meat type is less of concern; what matters is salt, fat, and spices. If it is unflavored turkey pepperoni with less fat, then it could be a perfect treat for your dog.
Word To The Wise
Your dog might love pepperoni, but do not feed it to them more often; they should only eat a thin slice once in a while. And always take your pet to the vet if they exhibit any outrageous behaviors, post having pepperoni or anything unhealthy for that matter.
