Can Dogs Eat Spam?

Spam Ingredient List

Spam is made of pork shoulder and ham, cooked and canned as a slab that can be easily sliced. Pork in a dog’s diet is nothing unusual, and dogs love the taste of bacon, ham and pork chops. So can dogs eat Spam? Well, let’s take a look at its other ingredients:

• salt (1/3 of the recommended daily sodium intake for people in a serving);
• water;
• modified potato starch;
• sugar;
• sodium nitrite (as a preservative).

The original Spam is also high in fat (15 grams per 2-ounce serving). The preservative, sodium nitrite, can potentially increase the risk of certain types of cancer in people. It’s unknown how it affects dogs.

Why Is Spam Bad for Dogs?

Spam can be risky meat to feed to canines. It has a low nutritional value, providing about 7 grams of protein and 15 grams of fat per 2-ounce serving. Most of the latter is unhealthy saturated fat. The high amount of salt can contribute to:

• kidney disease;
• heart disease; and
• high blood pressure.

Can dogs eat Spam without any limits? Too much fat leads to weight gain in dogs. Being overweight, in turn, increases the risk of pancreatitis in dogs. You should not feed your dog any Spam if they aren’t in good health. The preservatives in it might cause poisoning. Veterinarians don’t recommend feeding human food to dogs, especially unhealthy products like Spam.

Can Dogs Eat Spam Safely?

Honestly, you shouldn’t feed your dog any processed food. Obesity, diabetes, and hypertension are waiting to creep into their life if you do. Spam might not be the absolute worst food (at least it isn’t toxic to dogs), but with all the readily available and much healthier alternatives, there’s no reason to feed it to your pup.

If your dog begs for Spam, you can probably give them a small slice as a special treat. But it’s better for them in the long run if you choose dog food and treats that are not only safe, but also healthy. Here are some good alternatives to Spam:

• boiled pork;
• boiled chicken;
• broth jelly (without salt, garlic or spices).

Can dogs eat Spam without any concerns? No. You already know why. Instead, give your dog all-natural lean meat.

The Bottom Line

Treat Spam as an occasional (very occasional) treat for your dog, not as a regular staple. It’s best to avoid processed meat products altogether, no matter how much your pet begs for them. Take care and thank you for being a responsible dog owner who looks up these things!

Frequently Asked Questions

What Canned Meat Can Dogs Eat?

Canned chicken, beef, and tuna are some of the safest choices, although you should always choose fresh meat if available. And always check the ingredients list to make sure there’s nothing toxic to dogs in the product.

Are Dogs Allergic to Spam?

Spam contains artificial preservatives, so it’s possible that dogs could be allergic to it. But it’s not universal – plenty of dogs are fed spam without having any bad reactions.

Can Dogs Eat Canned Luncheon Meat?

Canned luncheon meat is a source of protein, but make sure it’s low in salt, preservatives and sugar before sharing it with your pooch.