If there is a food that our dogs love to eat more than anything, it is meat. Whether it is chicken, pork, or beef, our dogs would surely devour any type of meat.
In fact, meat is vital to a dog’s body. It is one of the best sources of protein for dogs and humans alike.
Yet, beef jerky can be concerning when it comes to dogs. That is because many beef jerky brands use highly processed methods and are also full of seasonings. This seems as if it could be both unhealthy and toxic to our dogs.
So an important question emerges, can dogs eat beef jerky? In this article, we will inform you as to whether beef jerky is safe for our dogs to eat. We will also describe the effects of beef jerky on dogs, and tell you a bit more about beef jerky.
Can Dogs Eat Beef Jerky?
The short answer is yes. Dogs can eat beef jerky. Beef jerky is an okay food for dogs.
Even though many types of foods are not suitable for dogs, beef jerky is not one of them.
Beef jerky is fine food for our furry pups. It contains a number of benefits for dogs. There are just certain precautions to take when it comes to giving your dog beef jerky. Read on to learn what these are.
Health Benefits of Beef Jerky for Your Dog
Beef jerky is rich in some key minerals and vitamins. And it is rich in protein. Protein is an essential nutrient that can contribute to muscle development and tissue repair.
For dogs in particular, a protein rich diet is essential for their health and well being. Protein from beef is the primary nutrient found in dog foods.
However, not all kinds of beef jerky are good for our dogs.
Precautions To Take When It Comes To Dogs and Beef Jerky
Even though beef is a natural food for dogs, beef jerky is not always good for dogs.
Beef Jerky that is manufactured with high quantities of seasonings (such as salt) can be harmful to our pups. Also, some beef jerky include other harmful seasonings and is sometimes even toxic to canines.
Such include:
How to Ensure Your Beef Jerky is Dog Safe
The best way to feed our dogs beef jerky is to purchase beef jerky specifically made for dogs. Beef jerky treats are a better choice if you are looking to feed your dog some protein.
It is healthier than the beef found in dry and wet dog food, since it is real meat. The beef used in dog food is often not quality meat. And that which is found in wet dog food may be soy, artificially changed to appear ‘beef-like’.
Another alternative is to feed them homemade beef jerky. With this approach, you would be able to control the number of seasonings and ingredients that are added.
Plain in-store bought beef jerky is also an acceptable choice for dogs as long as the seasonings and spices are limited or non-existent.
Learn More About What Human Foods Are Healthy or Harmful for Dogs
This article is part of our special series of articles about “What Human Foods Can Dogs Eat?”
Up next is an article Can Dogs Eat Black Olives?
