Should You Share Spam With Your Dog?

Spam is a widely known meat product that humans have consumed for decades. It can serve as a quick meal when we are in a hurry. The main ingredient of the Spam is pork, so it is natural to the thing that you can share some Spam with your dog.

However, it would help if you carefully share Spam with your dog. Although pork is not poisonous for dogs, Spam contains a few ingredients that can do much harm to your dog. Let's look at and answer the most obvious question: "Can dogs eat spam?”

Can dogs eat Spam?

After speaking with our veterinarians, don't be surprised when you learn that dogs shouldn't eat Spam, not even a small amount. Spam's main ingredient is pork, which won't poison your dog.

However, other ingredients in Spam can harm your dog, so you shouldn't be tempted to share some with your dog.

Spam is high in sodium and fat, and we all know that if our dog consumes too much of either, they could end up with serious health problems.

bulldog looking

What to do if my dog has ingested Spam?

No matter how good an owner you are, your dog could ingest something he shouldn't. The first thing to do if you notice that your dog puts his paws on Spam is to stay calm.

The main thing you need to find out is the amount of Spam your dog has ingested. If he only had a small piece, you could relax, and your dog will be alright. Bigger problems can arise if your dog managed to eat a whole package.

In this case, the best thing you can do is to call your vet and ask for his advice. Most vets will suggest that you bring your dog to the clinic for testing.

When to worry?

If your dog starts to show symptoms of health problems, you can be sure he is experiencing problems connected to eating Spam.

Your dog could show these symptoms

Vomiting
Diarrhea
Upset stomach
Nausea
Excessive thirst
Low energy
Fainting
Loss of appetite
Excessive urination
Confusion

Of course, symptoms can vary, and not all dogs will experience all of them if they manage to eat Spam. If you notice any of these symptoms, you can best call your vet and ask for advice.

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RELATED: Is Beef Jerky Safe For Dogs?

Dangers connected with dogs and Spam

Because of these various ingredients found in Spam, your dog could experience a lot of health problems if he consumes Spam.

These are the most common problems connected to dogs and Spam

1. Obesity

Spam is a high-calorie meal, and if you allow your dog to eat it, he can quickly become obese. Obesity is a serious health issue that many dogs are battling. To ensure your dog doesn't become obese, you must find proper and well-balanced dog food according to your dog's breed, age, and activity level.

Besides food, you must provide enough activities for your dog to be happy and lower the risk of becoming obese.

2. Dehydration

Many dog owners think dehydration is only connected to dogs that don't drink enough water daily. This is only partially true. The greater risk for our dogs lies in food that is high in sodium content.

This food can very quickly cause dehydration in our dogs; before you know it, your dog could start experiencing different health problems.

Symptoms to watch if your dog is dehydrated include

Lower energy levels
Thick and sticky saliva
Diarrhea
Vomiting
Lethargy

dog on snow

3. Pancreatitis

Food that is high in fat is the most common reason for developing pancreatitis in dogs, and as we already said, Spam is very high in fat content. If you are not sure what exactly pancreatitis is and how dangerous it is for our dogs, we suggest reading this article - Pancreatitis In Dogs: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

4. Salt poisoning

Salt poisoning is a serious and dangerous health problem that can affect our dogs. Believe us when we say you don't want to see your dog suffer this type of poisoning.

This health issue can cause many additional and different problems for your dog, and some of them include