Can Dogs Eat Cured Sausages (Chorizo, Salami)?
No. Chorizo, salami, pepperoni, fuet, sobrasada or mortadella combine lots of salt and fat with garlic, paprika and spices that can upset your dog and, in the case of garlic, damage their red blood cells.
Why it's dangerous
Cured sausages contain between 2.5 and 5 g of salt per 100 g and many of them are 30-40 % fat; sobrasada (a spreadable Spanish sausage) is over 60 %. That fat is a classic trigger of gastroenteritis and pancreatitis, and too much salt causes thirst, vomiting and diarrhea. On top of that come ingredients that cured ham does not have: chorizo, pepperoni and sobrasada contain paprika (sweet or hot) and often garlic; salami, black pepper; and mortadella may contain garlic and pistachios.
Garlic contains sulfur compounds (thiosulfates and disulfides) that oxidize hemoglobin and can cause hemolytic anemia. The amount in a piece of chorizo is small and the damage depends on the dose and on repetition, but there is no point in taking the risk. Fresh sausages and packaged deli meats (sliced turkey breast, hot dogs) also contain salt, spices and preservatives.
Is any amount safe?
None. It is not a suitable treat even in small amounts, because besides salt and fat it usually contains garlic and spices. If you want something strongly flavored for training, try cubes of cooked chicken, turkey or liver.
Risks
- Fat: gastroenteritis and pancreatitis
- Salt: thirst, vomiting and diarrhea; poisoning if they eat a lot, especially small dogs
- Garlic: damage to red blood cells (hemolytic anemia) with high or repeated doses
- Hot paprika, chili and pepper: digestive irritation
- Artificial casings, string and twine: intestinal blockage
Frequently asked questions
Can dogs eat chorizo?
No. Chorizo is one of the worst cured sausages for a dog: besides lots of salt and fat, it contains paprika, sometimes hot, and usually garlic. A small piece usually causes no more than some stomach upset, but a whole stolen string can cause serious gastroenteritis or pancreatitis, and the twine it is tied with can cause a blockage. If your dog ate a lot, call the vet.
Can dogs eat hot dogs or sausages?
They are not a good treat either. Hot dogs contain salt, fat, starches and preservatives, and fresh or butcher sausages often contain garlic, pepper and other spices. An occasional sausage is not usually an emergency, but do not use them for training or to hide pills: there are alternatives with no added salt, such as cubes of cooked chicken or liver.
Can dogs eat pepperoni or beef jerky?
Better not. Pepperoni is a cured sausage much like chorizo: lots of salt and fat, paprika and often garlic. Jerky made for people is meat cured with plenty of salt, and many brands add garlic or onion powder. Neither is toxic in a single slice, but it is not worth it: vomiting, diarrhea or excessive thirst appear quickly in small dogs. If you want a dried meat treat, dehydrate liver or chicken at home with no salt.
General information reviewed against veterinary sources. If your dog has eaten something that worries you, call your vet or a 24-hour emergency vet right away, without waiting for symptoms.