As a dog owner, you want to share many foods and treats with your furry friend.
However, not all are going to be received well by your dog, and especially pork rinds.
Dogs are always up for a treat, and if you eat near them, in a way, they mentally force you to give them a taste of your snack or food.
Most dogs go crazy for pork rinds, but are they safe for their consumption?
Pork rinds are a tasty snack that humans enjoy a lot, but when it comes to your dog, you might want to reconsider.
Pork rinds are not considered a safe snack or treat for dogs, as they are high in protein and fats, among other reasons, so avoid feeding your dog pork rinds.
When cooked right, pork rinds are downright delicious, so it isn’t shocking that dogs love snacking some pork rinds for themselves, even though dogs and pork don’t go together well.
Are Pork Rinds Safe For Dog Consumption?
Many dog food brands include pork in their recipes, but many dogs react very negatively to pork in their diet.
These negative reactions are mostly itchiness and discomfort, but in some cases, the effects are extreme and include hair loss, boils on the skin, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Pork rinds are safe for dogs to snack on, as long as you don’t feed them all the time.
When fed to dogs too much, pork rinds wreak havoc on these furry friends, which affects their short and long-term health prospects.
As a dog owner, it’s important to recognize that pork rinds are not the healthiest snack for them, even though dogs enjoy the treat.
Pork rinds are made from the worst pork cut, so they may not be the first thing you want to feed your dog.
They are made using pork that doesn’t make it into any pork products for human or animal consumption, so they may not have much nutritional value for your dog.
Whichever name they are given, these scratchings are harmful to canines, and the ingredients used in preparation are not very dog-friendly.
They Are Fried Snacks
Pork rinds are fried using oil that isn’t canine-friendly like coconut oil and olive oil.
Some of the oil used in deep frying comes from the fats under the pork skin, which isn’t healthy for dogs as it could lead to obesity.
Fried foods are always trouble, and pork rinds are no exception.
Pork rinds are made by deep-frying, which causes stomach upset and diarrhea in some cases.
When you consistently feed your dog pork rinds, it causes stomach upset due to the high-fat content, and it can ultimately cause pancreatitis, which if untreated causes death.
Fried foods do a number on the human body, so it isn’t a shock that they have a worse impact on your furry friend, especially because dogs’ digestive systems aren’t meant to handle fried foods.
If your dog exhibits signs like vomiting, appetite loss, severe dehydration, lethargy, stomach pains, occasional shock, and collapse, visit a vet immediately.
Seasonings And Ingredients
Pork rinds are prepared with a variety of seasonings which may not be good for dogs.
Spicy pork rinds, in particular, are generally toxic for your dog, and they cause stomach upset, pain, diarrhea, and excess gas in dogs.
If the pork rinds are prepared using onions or garlic, don’t feed them to your dog as these ingredients contribute to stomach upset, diarrhea, and in some cases, anemia in dogs.
Garlic isn’t safe for dog consumption, whether the dog has a sensitive stomach or not.
Even in small amounts, garlic causes health issues in dogs which are diagnosable within a couple of days.
Garlic and onions belong to the allium family, containing thiosulfate, which damages the dog’s red blood cells causing hemolytic anemia.
When in large amounts, the pork rinds cause garlic toxicity which is manifested by;
- Abdominal pains
- Appetite loss
- Dehydration
- Depression
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
Salt Content
Pork rinds are high in extreme amounts of salt, and just as excess salt is bad for humans, it’s bad for dogs too.
Excess salt makes your dog very thirsty, and in the long run, it causes sodium ion poisoning and kidney damage.
Dogs ingested excess sodium show signs like fever, diarrhea, vomiting, depression, tremors, and seizures.
If your dog exhibits any of these signs after eating pork rinds, take them to a vet as soon as possible.
The excess sodium causes your dog’s muscles to be stiff and dehydrated, making it hard for dogs to walk and move around due to pain.
The excess sodium levels in pork rinds cause muscle spasms too, and in extreme cases, they lead to life-threatening problems or even death.
Consuming small amounts of salt is okay, but too much salt in their diet is harmful to dogs, so it might not be a good idea to share your pork rinds with your furry friend.
Allergic Reactions
Just like humans, dogs are also prone to food allergies, and pork is one of the meats that can cause an allergic reaction in dogs, especially if they’ve never eaten pork before.
Dogs that are allergic to pork exhibit signs like;
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Stomach cramps
- Ear infections
- Itchy skin
- Bald spots
- Excess licking and scratching
- Hot spots
Keep an eye on your dog if he has eaten pork rinds, and if you notice any of the above symptoms, visit a vet immediately.
Vinegar
Pork rinds are prepared using vinegar which in most cases is undiluted.
When dogs ingest pork rinds with vinegar, they get stomach upsets or gastrointestinal upsets.
Dogs with kidney diseases or failure and sensitive stomachs shouldn’t be allowed any foods with vinegar.
If you notice any of the following symptoms in your dog, it could be a result of gastrointestinal upset, so consult a vet immediately;
- Vomiting
- Dehydration
- Diarrhea
Barbecue Sauce Is Harmful
The barbecue sauce used in preparing pork rinds is not safe for dogs consumption, and it leads to vomiting and diarrhea shortly after ingestion.
When preparing pork for your dog, ensure that it doesn’t have any seasonings as the high amount of sugars and salt cause salt toxicity and canine obesity.
Some sauces have toxic ingredients and spices which shouldn’t be fed to dogs.
Cinnamon-Sugar
Cinnamon is safe for dog consumption, but cinnamon sugar isn’t.
This has to do with the sugar levels, which cause weight gain and ultimately canine obesity.
As such, pork rinds are not considered a safe treat for your precious pup as the sugar could also contribute to dental issues.
Can I Make Pork Rinds For My Dog At Home?
There are a few guidelines on making pork rinds at home that are healthy for dog consumption.
Homemade pork rinds are a safe treat for dogs, as soon as they are fed once in a while and as long as the dog doesn’t have a sensitive stomach.
However, you shouldn’t feed your dog pork rinds if they have a sensitive stomach, kidney issues, or aren’t completely healthy.
Pork rinds shouldn’t be made with extra spices or any other ingredients that could pose a problem to these furry friends.
Using excess salt and ingredients affects the digestive system of dogs, which causes them to react by vomiting, extreme diarrhea, and having breathing difficulties.
All these are life-threatening issues, and if they aren’t mild, then take your dog to the vet for a check-up.
When making homemade pork rinds for your dog, strain all the excess fat; otherwise, you end up with a dog with blood pressure issues.
The ingredients used should be in limited amounts, and ensure you keep an eye on the dog after eating the pork rinds.
They should be fed in small amounts and ensure that these pig products aren’t harmful to your dog’s health before feeding them.
It isn’t safe to feed your dog pork rinds regularly, so avoid it.
Pork rinds are high in salt, fat, and they have an oily grease that isn’t safe for dog consumption.
When fed regularly, pork rinds cause dehydration, stomach upset, and eventually weight gain in these furry friends.