Has it ever happened that you were eating some tasty dishes and then found out your four-legged buddy was staring at your food with their big round eyes and mouth open?
Well, as a pet parent, this often happens in our lives. And in my case, it mostly happens when I’m, having breakfast with my favorite bacon and cheese.
Many a time, I wondered, if not bacon, can I at least give bacon grease to my furry buddy? Can dogs have bacon grease? Is it safe for them to eat bacon grease?
And that leads us to this post, where I discuss bacon grease and whether your dogs can have it without any health issues.
When you fry bacon in a pan, the fat from bacon that remains in the pan is known as bacon grease. And when your pup looks at you needily while you fry bacon, you feel the urge to let them lick some bacon grease.
But wait, can you feed that to your pup?
Come, let’s find out!
Can Dogs Have Bacon Grease?
Do you know what the main concern is when feeding your dog bacon?
Generally, people use sodium nitrate to preserve bacon. It’s one of the salts that keeps them fresh for long. When seasoning, more salt is added to the existing salt, resulting in a high amount of sodium.
Bacon grease has the same properties. When you cook bacon, it makes the fat melt into liquid, which is grease. It means the salt level in bacon grease is too much for your dog to handle.
However, if you still want to feed bacon grease to your pup, go for the ones that are low in sodium. And remember to keep a bowl full of water for them.
Does Bacon Grease have any Health Benefits for Dogs?
The fat and sodium content in bacon grease is super high. That being said, here are some benefits your dog can have from it. Read on.
Fats
Do you know how important fat is for your dog?
Yes, they need fat for a lot of reasons. Fat keeps their coat healthy and shiny. Dietary fats help absorb fat-soluble vitamins in your dog’s body. These vitamins contribute to the building of muscles, nerves, and cells.
Fat keeps your pup’s skin moisturized by creating a barrier of water. And well-moisturized skin leads to shiny fur.
Are you a parent to an active dog?
In that case, your dog needs a lot of energy. And fats are a great source of that, as they can provide your dog with approximately 2.5 times more energy than carbohydrates and proteins.
So, adding some bacon grease to their regular snack before they go on for a hike or training will benefit them with some extra energy.
Are you a parent to a nursing or pregnant dog?
Nursing and pregnant dogs need a lot of energy to care for their babies properly. And as bacon grease is full of fat, many dog parents and breeders give it to their dogs.
But remember to keep the bacon grease away from the little pups so they can’t eat it, as it will be too much for their delicate stomach.
Adverse Effects of Feeding Bacon Grease to Dogs
As you can see from the above section, bacon grease has nothing more to offer than fats. And fats are not always good.
So, in this section, I’ll talk about the side effects of giving bacon grease to your dog.
Scroll down.
1. Pancreatitis
Did you know what the main task of a dog’s pancreas is?
It releases enzymes in the pancreatic juice and breaks down excess starch, sugar, and fat. What happens when you let your dog eat bacon grease is that it takes longer to break down.
It makes their pancreas work more, and they find it hard to eliminate that extra fat from your pup’s system. It leads to the pancreas not working properly. It starts swelling and causes severe discomfort to your furry buddy.
2. Gastrointestinal Issues and Indigestion
Do you want to see how bacon grease affects your pup’s system?
Once you are done frying bacon, leave the leftover grease on the pan. Once it’s cool, you can see a thick paste-like consistency of the grease. And this is how it stuffs your pup’s system.
When this thick grease pairs with your pup’s weak digestive system, it is hard for your four-legged buddy to absorb this fat-filled food. It leads to slowing down their digestion process. And it causes severe gastronomical discomfort.
Your pup becomes restless.
3. Salt-Poisoning and Dehydration
Bacon grease has a high sodium content that causes your dog’s cells to shrink by getting into its bloodstream.
It’s when your pup drinks more water than its body can handle. It can cause bloating in the stomach and even vomiting.
What is more serious is salt toxicity. And if that happens, your dog can suffer from muscle spasms, seizures, and even death.
4. Weight Gain
Did you know what is the most common fear among dog parents?
They worry too much about their dogs being obese. And feeding bacon grease to your pup contributes to that – all thanks to the high saturated fat content!
With obesity, the risks of other diseases increase. It includes diabetes mellitus, hypertension, heat exhaustion, urinary bladder stones, osteoarthritis, different types of cancer, joint injury, anesthetic complications, and more.
5. Heart Diseases
The fat in bacon grease has quite some amount of cholesterol in it. When this cholesterol accumulates in your dog’s system, it blocks the arteries.
As a result, your dog’s heart doesn’t receive the same amount of blood supply from its brain as it used to and starts working weakly.
When this continues to happen for a long time, it can lead to cardiac arrest in your dog.
What to do if Your Dog Eats Bacon Grease?
Have you noticed that your dog has accidentally eaten bacon grease?
Well, the first thing that you need to do is not panic. The next thing you need to do is keep it away from Your dog so that it doesn’t have any access to it anymore.
Your pup might be thirsty because bacon grease is high in sodium. Of course, it depends on the amount they have eaten.
So, keep a bowl of water ready for them to drink. But remember, your pup should not drink too much water at a go, as this may lead to other problems such as bloating.
Look for symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or behaviors your dog generally doesn’t do. If you spot anything, take your dog to the vet right away.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have any other questions that still need to be answered above?
In this section, I have compiled a list of some of the most frequently asked questions about feeding bacon grease to your dog.
Read on.
Are There Any Healthy Food Alternatives to Bacon Grease?
Yes, there are many healthy alternatives to this fatty food. Some of them are olive oil, chicken broth, and fish oil.
Can Feeding Bacon Grease to My Lean Dog Fatten Them Up?
The short answer is yes. Your dog can become fat. But be ready to face the health complications.
What Are the Symptoms of Pancreatitis?
The symptoms of pancreatitis include abdominal pain, diarrhea, fever, lethargy, nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite.
What Amount of Bacon Grease Is Too Much for My Dog?
Bacon is high in fat and salt, which are not good for dogs when consumed in high amounts. It is not toxic. Of course, if you find your pup licking a bit of this tasty food, you don’t need to panic.
Final Thoughts
Please note that bacon grease is not toxic to your furry buddy. It means you don’t need to panic if you find out they have eaten some of it.
But of course, it is not a healthy food option for your dog, so you must avoid feeding this. Excessive consumption may lead to complications.
And don’t hesitate to take them to your vet if they develop any health issues.
Ankita is a passionate pet lover and head of content at Pet Food Brands. With her extensive knowledge and research, she provides pet owners with top-quality information on dog food and nutrition. Her dedication to improving the lives of dogs makes her a leading voice in the industry.
