Potted meat is one of the most popular ways to store meat because it lasts a long time, is cheap, and is easy to find. Also, potted meat is very tasty and has a texture that makes it easy to spread. But can dogs eat potted meat?
We’ll talk about dogs and potted meat in this article.
First, we’ll talk about what potted meat is, and then we’ll talk about what goes into it.
We will talk about each ingredient and how dangerous it could be for dogs.
What Is Potted Meat?
Potted meat is a type of canned food that is made from meat that has been preserved and different spices and seasonings. After the meat is cooked, it is pureed, ground, or chopped.
Meats like pork, chicken, turkey, beef, and even organ meats are used in different potted meat recipes.
When making potted meat, companies use too much salt, fat, and artificial preservatives, all of which are bad for your health.
Can Dogs Eat Potted Meat?
It is not advisable to feed your dog potted meat.
If you can’t get fresh meat, you can give your dog potted meat, but it shouldn’t get a lot of it every day.
Dogs shouldn’t eat canned meat because it isn’t natural for them to do so.
Instead, they should eat fresh meat and nutritious food made just for them.
Potted meat that has been canned has high levels of salt, various preservatives, and fats, but very few spices.
Because it contains so many unhealthy ingredients, your dogs should not consume it.
Is Potted Meat Good for Dogs?
The only good things about potted meat, which is good for both dogs and people, are that it is easy to find, cheap, and tastes pretty good.
But if you’re asking if cooked meat is good for dogs, the answer is a clear no.
Potted meat doesn’t have any special nutrients or health benefits.
It’s like an empty calorie that comes with more risks than benefits.
Because dogs love the way potted meat tastes, the only good reason to give it to them is to use it as a pill pocket.
Specifically, you can hide a pill or tablet in a teaspoon of potted meat.
All of you who have dogs know how hard it can be to give them medicine.
The strong smell of smoked meat will hide the smell of the medicine.
If you do choose potted meat to use as a pill pocket, you need to be extra careful about what kind of potted meat you buy.
It should be low in sodium, free of artificial additives, and not have any spices added.
Also, instead of pork and beef, it’s better to choose chicken or turkey because they have less fat.
Why Dogs Should Not Eat Potted Meat
Some of the ingredients and the way potted meat is made (by preserving it and putting it in jars) make it bad for dogs.
To help you understand why potted meat is bad, let’s look at the things that could go wrong and what happens when they do.
Digestive Issues
There is no potted meat on the dog food pyramid, which means that it is not a natural food for dogs. Even though dogs are carnivores, they need their meat either raw or with very little processing. Just like any other processed food for people, canned meat can upset a dog’s sensitive stomach.
Salt Intake
Potted meat contains a lot of salt. Only small amounts of salt are required by dogs for normal bodily functions. Salt, on the other hand, is a dangerous nutrient when consumed in excess. Dehydration or salt poisoning, which is a life-threatening emergency in dogs with compromised kidney function, can be caused by excessive salt consumption.
High in Sugar
Do not be fooled by the saltiness of the food. Meat that has been canned also has sugars added to it. Dogs don’t need sugars to survive. Some very active dogs can get a quick energy boost from sugar. However, sugar is generally thought to be dangerous and can cause both short-term problems (like agitation, moodiness, hyperactivity, and irritability) and long-term problems (diabetes, weight gain, tooth decay, obesity).
Too Much Fat
Potted meat recipes include additional fats and oils in addition to the original meat fat. The total fat content is far greater than what dogs require and can process. Eating too many fats can cause pancreatitis (pancreas inflammation), which can be fatal if left untreated. Long-term fat overconsumption causes weight gain, obesity, and other complications.
Meat Allergies
Meats are common allergens in dogs, which may seem strange. All meats can cause allergies in dogs, but chicken and beef appear to be the most common culprits. The problem with potted meat is that many brands do not specify the exact meat type within the product, instead referring to it as meat product or organ meat. As a result, it is simple to obtain potted meat that can cause an allergic reaction in your dog.
Spices & Seasonings
Manufacturers add a variety of seasonings, spices, and aromatic herbs to improve the overall flavor of the potted milk. While some are safe for dogs, the majority are not. One of the most popular spices, for example, black pepper, can wreak havoc on the dog’s stomach and even cause bleeding ulcers. All spices can cause digestive tract lining damage, which can lead to life-threatening ulcerations and perforations.
Garlic & Onion
Garlic and onion are commonly used as flavor enhancers in potted meat recipes. All members of the Allium family (onion, garlic, leek, and chives) are toxic to dogs in all forms (including the powder form used in potted meat). Garlic and onions contain chemical compounds that harm erythrocytes (red blood cells). Because the damaged cells are removed from circulation, the dog is at risk of anemia. Garlic and onion intoxications are considered medical emergencies.
Artificial Additives
Finally, all canned foods contain artificial additives such as flavors, colors, preservatives, and emulsifiers. Artificial additives are dangerous, and long-term use increases the dog’s risk of developing cancer. The same is true for humans, as additives are known carcinogens.
Potted Meat Alternatives
Since there are so many dog food brands on the market, it should never come down to potted meat being a choice.
You can buy meat-based dog treats or canned dog food instead.
If you want to give your dog a snack from the kitchen, unsalted peanut butter will do. You can also boil up some chicken or pork.
Overall, it’s not smart to get your dog used to eating human food.
Aside from ruining its diet, throwing human food off the table can reinforce bad behavior.
In addition to canned meat, you should also avoid other processed meat products.
Like the others, these products have too much sodium and preservatives that are bad for your dog.
If you don’t have fresh meat to cook for your dog, kibble alone is a good choice for a snack.
You can also try out fruits and vegetables like bananas, cooked carrots, cooked potatoes, and so on.
Can You Mix Potted Meat and Dog Food?
It’s fine to mix two different brands of dog food, but it’s not a good idea to add potted meat to the mix.
Potted meat will make your dog’s food taste better, but it will also add preservatives that aren’t necessary.
You can add a few treats to the kibble to get your dog to eat more.
You can also add a little fish oil or broth without salt to its food.
Overall, you should talk to your dog’s vet before making any changes to his or her diet.
Also, if your pet won’t eat no matter what you do, you should have it checked out to see if it’s sick.
Conclusion
To close this, potted meat should not be fed to dogs. At least not as a common practice.
Potted meat is a food that has been heavily processed and is not a natural part of a dog’s diet.
Also, potted meat often has too much of some nutrients and can have things in it that could hurt or kill dogs.
So, it is best to keep potted meat away from your dog’s food bowl.
In case your pet accidentally eats it, you should call the vet right away and ask for more instructions.
Lucky for your dog, not being able to eat potted meat is not the end of the world.
There are many safe meats and meat products you can feed to your dogs.
They will improve its overall health, and you won’t have to worry about possible side effects and risks.