What Should You Do if Your Dog Ate Raw Bacon? Is It Harmful?

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It is no secret that dogs love meat and nibble whatever they can get their paws on. Even the best-trained pup is not above sneaking food that you didn’t feed it. So what should you do if your dog ate raw bacon?

Dogs definitely don’t exclude bacon from their diet whenever they can get it. Some owners give their dogs pieces of cooked bacon to treat or reward them. However, this meat is not healthy for dogs in large amounts.

So, you may have some concerns about raw bacon and other pork products. Common questions on this topic include “Can dogs eat raw bacon?” and ” What happens if a dog eats raw bacon? Raw bacon is something dogs should be careful with, so let’s look more into the issue.

Can Dogs Eat Raw Bacon?

The simple answer to the question “can dog eat raw bacon” – is it’s ok in tiny amounts. The best thing you can feed your pup is cooked meat, so avoid making the mistake of giving your dog any kind of old or uncooked meat that may have harmful bacteria on it. Food-borne bacteria can be just as harmful to canines as to humans.

Some people may suggest that there are benefits to giving a dog a raw food diet. If you give your pet raw food, you may want to hold off on raw pork for many reasons – parasites, excessive fat, sodium, and gastrointestinal issues.

Eating Too Much Fat

Some meat is healthier than others, and bacon is not healthy for humans or dogs.

Bacon cooked or raw has tons of fat and grease that may make dogs sick. There is also lots of sodium. Even if the dog does not get sick, the fat and calories may cause obesity and other health issues.

Dog arteries can become blocked if they eat too much fat, and this is especially true with the fat found in bacon.

So don’t purposely feed your dog raw bacon and treat it to cooked bacon sparingly.

What Happens If Your Dog Eats Raw Bacon?

What happens after eating raw bacon depends on the amount eaten, the freshness of the meat, and the digestive system of your dog. A tiny amount is not something to panic over. Some dogs will be able to digest a small piece with no problems.

If you suspect that your dog ate too much raw pork and consumed some harmful bacteria along with it, there are certain symptoms you should look out for. Watch them closely for several days afterward. You may notice vomiting and diarrhea around twelve hours after the dog ate the raw bacon.

If your dog shows any signs of illness during this time, take them to an animal hospital immediately. Raw pork consumption can cause specific health issues which we will look into below.

Pancreatitis

Bacon is a very fatty-rich food that could be too much for your pup’s digestive system. As it result, it may trigger an inflammatory condition called pancreatitis. Pancreatitis can be fatal in dogs since it can cause organ failure. The symptoms of this would include:

• vomiting
• diarrhea
• stomach pain
• abdominal tenderness
• depression

Get to the pet hospital immediately if your dog exhibits these symptoms after eating raw bacon or pork products. The vet may want to induce vomiting depending on your pup’s specific case.

Can Dogs Get Worms From Eating Raw Bacon?

Just like dogs eating uncooked salmon, dogs can also get worms from eating raw bacon. These symptoms will become worse over time if your dog is not treated for the infestation.

Toxoplasmosis

Pork can sometimes cause food poisoning in dogs because it can cause toxoplasmosis. Meat exposed to cat feces containing Toxoplasma gondii parasites is the most common cause of this disease.

This disease can be deadly to your pup, especially if they are young or have a weak immune system. A healthy dog may not immediately show signs of this parasitic infestation.

Symptoms include:

• Difficulty breathing or coughing
• Jaundice
• Paralysis
• Fever
• Diarrhea
• Loss of appetite
• Eye inflammation
• Muscle weakness
• Seizures
• Tremors

The best way to avoid this problem is by cooking meat before giving it to your dog. Keep your dog away from any meat that may have come into contact with feces.

Trichinosis

Pork can cause problems if you don’t cook it thoroughly enough. Any pork that is raw or undercooked may contain the parasitic disease trichinosis, which comes from eating meat containing Trichinella spiralis parasites. Cook pork at least until it’s not pink anymore to avoid this.

The symptoms of this are:

• vomiting
• diarrhea
• high fever
• muscle weakness/pain
• swollen lymph nodes
• weight loss 

If you notice these symptoms, take your dog to an animal hospital as soon as possible. The vet may need to do a blood test and give your pup fluids intravenously – depending on how serious the case is.

Tapeworms

Pork can also be an issue if it contains tapeworms. Cooked meats are less likely to have this parasite, but it is still possible to find them in pork products.

Tapeworms spread easily, and cause diarrhea, weight loss, vomiting, and other digestive problems. Tapeworm infestations require veterinary attention.

Your vet may ask you to bring your dog’s stool samples for testing before they begin treatment because the only way to diagnose a tapeworm problem is with an inspection from a veterinarian or lab technician.

Conclusion – What Should You Do If Your Dog Ate Raw Bacon?

The best prevention is to cook meat before feeding it to your dog. Steer clear of meat that may have come into contact with animal feces. Also, keep all dogs away from gardens or composted areas that may contain cat feces.

In conclusion, there is nothing safe about feeding raw pork products to dogs. It can lead to several health issues like pancreatitis. Parasitic infections such as trichinosis, toxoplasmosis, and tapeworms are possible for your dog to get. The symptoms of these potential problems may be subtle at first but will become more severe if not treated.