Being a dog owner shows how dogs love to chew on anything they can get their paws on, like for instance, your clothes, the food you drop on the floor accidentally, and even your homework in some cases!
You’re probably wondering that your pooch eats a lot of things, but is it really safe for them to munch away? Or are there any harmful effects attached to their reckless eating?
Well, let’s find out today, in connection with Chorizos, whether they are safe or not, and answer some frequently asked questions, like “Can dogs eat chorizos?”
What Exactly Is Chorizo?
Chorizo is a highly flavorful and seasoned sausage, usually made out of park, and seasoned with garlic, paprika, and a few other spices. It is prominent in the Spanish and Portuguese regions and dishes and is usually served with eggs, potatoes, and rice.
They also come in preserved form, and can be bought fresh as well!
Can Dogs eat Chorizo?
Now that we’ve found out what chorizo is, and how delicious and mouth-watering it really is, it does, however, leave a question unanswered, “Can dogs eat chorizos?”.
Well, to put it in a way, chorizos are not exactly the ideal food type for dogs, you can go on ahead and put a couple of bite-sized treats of cooked chorizos here and there, but even that makes your dog prone to belly upsets.
Having said that, if cooked chorizo isn’t safe, then larger quantities are more risky and hazardous, especially the seasoned and spiced chorizos. They contain high amounts of salt and spices. The same goes for raw, or uncooked chorizo, that’ll leave your dog with a parasite infection!
So, the bottom line is, no. Do not feed your dog chorizos, no matter how tempting it may seem.
Can puppies eat chorizos?
Puppies are the cutest, and most adorable things to ever exist! They are so small and just fuzzy, but they also require a lot of care and attention as well! Just because they can let out a small bark, does not mean they are strong or ferocious.
Puppies are very fragile and delicate, like little human babies. You cannot feed a newborn baby a steak, and the same goes for puppies.
You can’t feed them these spicy and salt-rich sausages, they won’t be able to digest it. Moreover, they will start throwing up because of a very weak digestive system, and frequent puking can require medical attention.
So, no, puppies cannot eat chorizos either.
The Nutritional Value of Chorizos
Now that reading about this delicacy has got you thinking about it, and whether a cheat meal is worth it or not, so without further ado, let’s find out!
So, to sum up, the nutritional value, the following is contained in 100 grams of chorizos:
Health benefits of feeding chorizos to dogs
Who doesn’t love pork, it just adds extra value to everything, like bacon in breakfasts, and in burgers. It is also very healthy for dogs, can since chorizos are made out of pork, it is a great source of protein. Protein is very important to dogs, as it is their primary source of energy.
Moreover, like in humans, protein aids and betters the growth of hair and skin, and also helps in the development and repair of worn-out tissues.
Just remember, to not feed them flavored or spiced chorizos, or even in large quantities. As it would be doing more bad than good, and would only give you and your dog problems for the future.
Is it safe to feed chorizo to dogs?
Chorizos are packed with a lot of calories and can gain a lot of weight to the dog that consumes it. You can give it as a treat, but only seldom. If you continue to feed them chorizos, it will lead to excessive weight gain, and eventually lead up to heart diseases, diabetes, and even joint pains.
Do not feed this to puppies, in any circumstance! But if you see that your dog has consumed chorizo, and is fine and active, then no need to worry.
Only worry if they start having diarrhea or even start throwing up, as chorizos have onions and garlic, which are toxic for dogs.
Why Can’t Dogs Eat chorizo? dangers of chorizo!
Like we mentioned above, chorizos are packed with a lot of spices and forbidden spices that dogs cannot consume. It has a lot of side effects and negative effects, so it is best not to feed your dog chorizos. Let’s talk a little more about the dangers, in detail:
You can give your dog a treat, every once in a while, but not all the time. But, if you develop a habit of feeding them chorizos, it will only serve to harm your dog, rather than benefit them.
Ingredients contained inside chorizos
Chorizos are made out of pork, namely pork fat and pork meat. This is richly seasoned with paprika, garlic, and onions. What happens is, that the meat is grounded, and then it is stuffed into the pork guts.
Let’s dive into the ingredients and let’s find out the possible effects of it, on your dog:
Much like humans, dogs also have a set limit of salt they can consume, otherwise, they can succumb to diseases that can harm their life. It will lead to a high concentration of sodium in the blood, which will lead to high blood pressure.
That will damage the kidney and the heart. It can even kill your dog!
Onion
Now that we have seen that salt is very detrimental to dogs, the big no to feeding dog chorizos, is onion seasonings. This is packed with thiosulphate like we mentioned above, can cause Heinz Anemia, which will kill your dog.
Paprika
This makes the sausage very tasty and adds flavor to it, but it can cause skin and eye irritation to your dog, moreover, it will also cause stomach pain and upsets, coupled with diarrhea, vomiting, and even intestinal irritation.
Garlic
Another flavor enhancer, which contains the same element as paprika, which is thiosulphate, and has the same adverse and harmful effects.
Can dogs eat chorizo – Is it Recommended?
Generally, it is not recommended to feed your puppies, or your dog chorizos. Chorizos might look and even taste delicious, but it can silently kill your dog, without you knowing it.
These pork delicacies are laced with more harm than good, for your dog. They contain alarming amounts of salt and spices, which can be very deadly and harmful for your dog.
Like we have mentioned above, keeping in mind factors such as obesity, excessive weight gain, correlated to kidney and heart problems, which can kill your dog, it is recommended to not feed your dog chorizos.
Instead, what you can do is, you can find healthy alternative snacks, that won’t harm your dog, and will keep them happy as well. We will list down the things that are harmful for your dog, and which should not be given to them below.
Foods that are bad for dogs
Mentioned below are the foods that should not be fed to dogs under any circumstances, as they can kill your dog and are not beneficial for them whatsoever:
How much quantity of chorizo is safe to feed dogs?
Feeding your dog chorizos is a risky thing to do, because feeding them cooked chorizo can lead to them developing stomach upsets and even diarrhea, alongside the heart and kidney problems. Whereas, feeding them uncooked chorizo can lead to a parasitic infection, so how do you feed them chorizos safely?
Well, there is not set amount you can feed, the only recommendation would be, to give small chunks, in a small quantity to dogs. Keeping in mind not to feed puppies, as they simply don’t have the stomach for it, but remember not to feed your dog in large amounts or very frequently.
What happens if your dog eats chorizos?
Chorizos should not be given to dogs, because of the elements used to make it, they will lead to suffering for your dog, in the form of diarrhea, vomiting and even stomach aches and upsets. They might even choke on the pieces of meat.
When the frequency and quantity being fed to the dog rise, then it can become a serious problem. Problems such as kidney failure, heart failure, obesity, stomach pain and much more. Pork fat coupled with seasoning is not an ideal fit for your dog.
If you notice your dog becoming sick after eating a chorizo, or chorizos, give them ample amounts of water, and feed them boneless, season less and skinless chicken with white rice.
Do not season or flavor the rice or the chicken, and use this diet for 3 days.
What should you do if your dog eats chorizos?
If you notice that your dog is less active than usual, or is walking in a sick or weak manner, you should give them freshwater.
Feed them white rice, with boiled chicken will do them a world of good, and will help in the cleanse of the stomach. Remember, do not season or spice up the rice or the chicken, keep it plain.
If your dog shows other symptoms, the best course of action would be to take them to the vet. If your dog has consumed a small piece of chorizo, that won’t harm them, or cause them life threatening problems, they would be fine. Just remember to not feed them chorizos in the future.
How to identify if your dog has eaten chorizos?
There are a lot of signs and symptoms dogs can show if they have consumed chorizos, they vary from the size and health of the dog, we have listed the possible signs and symptoms below:
Once your dog recovers and regains his health and activeness, they can then be eating better as well. Just remember to keep your vet in the loop!
Why are chorizo treats forbidden for dogs?
Chorizos are highly seasoned and popular cuisines, and will surely spice up your food plate. They might become your favorite, but that does not mean the same for your dog. They have more negative and detrimental effects for your dog, than the good ones.
Any type of season, or salted chorizo treat is highly dangerous for your dog, and should not be fed to them under any circumstances, as it can lead to a lot of complications which can eventually lead to the death of your dog.
These complications are high blood pressure due to the high salt levels in the chorizo, coupled with excessive weight gain, which will cause extra burden on the heart to pump blood and will lead to heart and kidney failure and damage.
Next, any treat that contains too much fat or fatty substances should not be fed either, as it can lead to weight gain and the shortening of the life of your dog.
We have listed the ingredients above, which should not be fed to your dog in any circumstance and should be avoided, you can look into that for future reference when you want to see if something you’re about to feed your dog is healthy, or not.
Moreover, feeding your dog cooked chorizos is also a bad idea, especially the ones that are spiced and seasoned with a lot of spices.
The following are chorizo treats that you should not feed your dog:
Healthy Alternatives for your dog
There are healthy alternatives you can consider for your dog, and there’s a large variety of them out there.
The following are the things you can feed your dog occasionally, instead of chorizos:
Pomegranates
These are rich in vitamin c and potassium and are full of calcium which aids in bone and teeth strength.
Watermelon
Removing the skin, and seeds and rinds before feeding your dog is essential. Watermelon is full of vitamins such as A, B1, B6, B5 and Vitamin C. This also has magnesium and potassium which aids in bone mineralization and the metabolic rate and process in the dog’s body.
Cantaloupes
These are good for all dogs, as it has Vitamin C and Vitamin A and a large number of anti-oxidants which will keep their eyes, nerves and skin healthy.
When to seek the vet’s help?
A dog consuming any sort of chorizo will have an issue, be it cooked or undercooked, what will happen is, you will begin to notice stomach upsets, leading to vomiting and diarrhea which will in turn, make your dog less active, more lethargic and nauseous.
Just like seasoned popcorns and bagels are bad for your dog, the same is the case with chorizos. The high level of salt can cause sodium iron poisoning which would lead to thirst and frequent and a lot of urination.
Apart from this problem, many other may supersede, such as high body temperature, swelling, cramps and even diarrhea.
If your dog consumes small amounts of chorizo, then you need not to worry, as that won’t harm your dog, it will only harm them if the quantity they consume, is large. Immediately give your dog water, to cope with the thirst and dehydration.
Do remember to call you vet if things escalate or worsen.
Conclusion – Can Dogs Eat Chorizo?
No one wants to see their pet in pain, and no one wants to harm them intentionally. The advice would be to not feed your dog chorizos, at all.
Giving them this once in a blue moon, in small quantities is alright, but not as a staple or a very frequent treat. You should always research and study the food you want to feed your dog, before actually feeding it to them.
