Can Dogs Eat Ham?

Can dogs eat ham? The ASPCA advises avoiding processed meats like lunch meat or bacon, because they can be high in salt. Ham is a cured, processed meat, so it falls in the group the ASPCA suggests skipping.

The FDA also warns against sharing high-fat scraps such as fat trimmings, and the FDA and the WSAVA both advise against giving dogs bones. For sharing, the ASPCA lists small amounts of lean cooked meat, free of bones and seasoning, as okay.

If your dog has already helped themselves, the sections below explain what the sources say, what to watch for, and when to call your vet.

Why isn't ham a good choice for dogs?

The ASPCA advises avoiding processed meats such as lunch meat and bacon because they can be high in salt. Ham is cured pork, which places it among the processed meats.

The ASPCA explains that excessive salt intake can produce increased thirst and urination, and sometimes abnormal electrolytes in the blood, depending on the amount eaten.

The ASPCA lists the signs of salt toxicity as vomiting, diarrhea, depression, tremors, seizures and even death. The Merck Veterinary Manual says signs can appear in dogs after about 2 to 3 grams of salt per kilogram of body weight.

Merck also notes that salt poisoning is unlikely as long as fresh drinking water is available. That is the reason to check the water bowl if your dog sneaks a slice.

Is the fat in ham bad for dogs?

The FDA's holiday safety advice is direct: don't give your pet table scraps that are high in fat, such as fat trimmings from meat. Rich foods can trigger pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas), which the FDA calls a serious condition.

The FDA lists the signs in dogs as vomiting, stomach pain, restlessness, shaking, diarrhea, fever and weakness. The ASPCA adds that too much fat or sugar can lead to pancreatitis that can land your pet in the hospital.

Research points the same way. A study of 198 dogs with pancreatitis, published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, found that eating table scraps in the week before diagnosis was linked to roughly double the odds.

Getting into the trash was linked to about 13 times the odds in the same study. The FDA recommends wrapping scraps and bones securely and using a trash can your pets can't get into.

Merck's veterinary manual describes this kind of eating, which vets call dietary indiscretion, as believed to be a common risk factor in dogs.

Can dogs have a ham bone?

The FDA and the WSAVA both advise against it. The WSAVA, the global body for small animal vets, says that bones, both cooked and raw, can be very dangerous for dogs to chew or swallow.

The FDA warns that bones can get stuck in a dog's esophagus, stomach or windpipe, and that sharp bone pieces can injure the mouth, esophagus and stomach. The ASPCA notes that a bone injury or obstruction in the gut could be serious and require surgery.

For dogs who love to chew, our guide to safe chews for dogs covers what the vet sources say about the options.

What about the glaze, the stuffing and the sides?

What's on the ham, and what's served beside it, can carry its own risks. The ASPCA names several common holiday ingredients.

• Sweet glazes add sugar. The ASPCA says too much fat or sugar can lead to pancreatitis.
• If a sauce or side contains raisins, the ASPCA warns that grapes and raisins can lead to kidney damage in dogs.
• If rubs, gravies or stuffing contain onion or garlic, the ASPCA says these can cause stomach irritation and red blood cell damage, which can lead to anemia. Our guide to can dogs eat garlic explains why.
• Sugar-free desserts may contain xylitol. The ASPCA says it can cause low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and potentially liver damage, depending on the amount. See xylitol and dogs for which foods to check.

The ASPCA's own guidance on sharing meat says it should be free of bones and seasoning, which rules out glazed, seasoned or sauced pieces.

So, can dogs eat ham at all, and how much?

The ASPCA's list of foods you can share includes small amounts of lean cooked chicken, turkey, beef or pork that are free of bones and seasoning. Ham isn't on that list, because the ASPCA advises avoiding processed meats for their salt.

Whatever you share, keep extras small. The WSAVA advises that all extras stay under 10% of a dog's daily calories, and the ASPCA is stricter at no more than 5%.

Here is a surprise from the WSAVA's own table. An ounce of ham has about 46 calories, almost the same as an ounce of lean chicken breast at 47. So the sources' concerns about ham are salt and fat, not calories.

If turkey is on your table this year, our guide to can dogs eat turkey walks through what the ASPCA and FDA say about it.

My dog ate ham. What should I do?

The ASPCA's advice for any food on its avoid list is to note the amount eaten and contact your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.

• Note what was eaten, roughly how much, what it was served with, and when, so you can tell your vet.
• Remove anything left within reach, including the trash. The FDA recommends wrapping scraps and bones securely and using a trash can your pets can't get into.
• Put out fresh water. Merck notes salt poisoning is unlikely while fresh drinking water is available.

If a bone was swallowed, call your vet even if your dog seems fine, because the ASPCA notes a bone obstruction can be serious enough to need surgery. Your vet can tell you whether to come in or watch at home.

Call your vet promptly if your dog:

• swallowed a ham bone or bone pieces
• shows any of the pancreatitis signs the FDA lists: vomiting, stomach pain, restlessness, shaking, diarrhea, fever or weakness
• shows signs of salt toxicity the ASPCA lists, such as vomiting, diarrhea, depression, tremors or seizures
• is drinking and urinating far more than usual
• ate a dish that contained raisins, onion, garlic or xylitol

Questions dog parents ask

Can dogs eat ham bones?

The FDA and the WSAVA both advise against it. The FDA warns that bones can get stuck in a dog's esophagus, stomach or windpipe, or injure the mouth and gut. It recommends wrapping bones and using a pet-proof trash can.

Can dogs eat deli ham or lunch meat?

The ASPCA names lunch meat as a processed meat best avoided because it can be high in salt. Its list of shareable foods includes small amounts of lean cooked meat free of bones and seasoning instead.

Can dogs eat bacon?

The ASPCA puts bacon in the same group as lunch meat, a processed meat best avoided because it can be high in salt. The FDA also advises against high-fat scraps, because rich foods can trigger pancreatitis.

Can dogs eat honey-glazed ham?

The ASPCA links too much fat or sugar with pancreatitis, and sweet glazes add sugar. The ASPCA also warns about onion, garlic and raisins, so check what any glaze or side contains.

Sources

• ASPCA: Sharing Is Caring: Foods You Can Safely Share with Your Pet
• ASPCA Animal Poison Control: People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets
• ASPCA: 10 Holiday Pet Hazards to Steer Clear of This Holiday Season
• FDA: Keep Your Dogs and Cats Safe From Holiday Hazards
• Merck Veterinary Manual: Salt Toxicosis in Animals
• Merck Veterinary Manual: Pancreatitis in Dogs and Cats
• Lem KY, Fosgate GT, Norby B, Steiner JM. Associations between dietary factors and pancreatitis in dogs. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 2008
• WSAVA Global Nutrition Committee: Feeding Treats to Your Dog

This article is for general information and is not veterinary advice. Talk to your vet about your own dog — they know the animal in front of them.

Choolip products are food supplements, not medicine. They are not intended to diagnose or manage any medical condition. If your dog has been diagnosed with a condition, their diet should be set by your vet.