Is It True Dogs Can't Eat Pork?

Pork Meat

Raw pork can be a harbinger of Trichinella spiralis, a parasitic nematode that can cause adverse reactions in dogs. The common belief that "dogs get diarrhea from eating pork" is attributed to the presence of Trichinella spiralis and a specific type of fat found in pork. These are the real culprits behind digestive issues and intestinal inflammation when dogs consume raw pork.

Trichinella larvae can travel through the dog's bloodstream to various tissues, where they absorb nutrients and grow. They reach maturity in just 16 days! Once mature, they reside in the dog's small intestine. From the first day of exposure to Trichinella, your dog may experience:

Vomiting

Diarrhea

Agitation

Fever

Coma

Inflammation

Stiffness in movement

General body pain

It's important to note that not all dogs infected with Trichinella will exhibit all these symptoms. Dogs with weaker immune systems may suffer more severe symptoms.

Pork Bones

Pork bones are not suitable for dogs to chew on. Compared to bones from other animals, pork bones are more prone to cracking, posing numerous safety hazards.

Pork Products

In 2015, the World Health Organization identified processed meats like bacon and sausages as significant contributors to cancer. Bacon, for instance, is laden with excessive fat and salt, making it a difficult food for dogs to digest. Overindulgence can lead to pancreatitis, as this highfat, highsodium treat beckons to your dog's pancreas.

Ham is similarly high in salt, which can lead to dehydration and thirst in dogs. When they drink excessive amounts of water, it can only bring harm to their internal organs. The straw that breaks the camel's back is not the last one, but the cumulative effect of salt overload.

Pork Skin

Some people believe that pork skin has less fat and is therefore not a significant health concern for dogs. This is a misconception! Nutritional data reveals that pork skin contains 44.6% fat, which is actually more than the fat content in pork belly. So, pork skin is not low in fat, and its fat content should not be overlooked.

In addition to the fat, pork skin contains 11.8% protein, which is significantly less than the protein found in pork. Moreover, the vitamin content in pork skin is very low, with only iron being relatively abundant, and other minerals scarce.

Pork skin is not a highly nutritious animal food, and using it for dental chews is a joke. Apart from being cheap and durable, pork skin has no real advantages.

My Dog Eats Pork and Doesn't Get Diarrhea

It's true that some dogs may not experience diarrhea when eating pork from a young age and seem quite healthy. However, just because your dog doesn't get diarrhea from eating pork doesn't mean it can continue to do so without repercussions. The high fat content in pork is detrimental to dogs.