Do you enjoy eating some great pastrami? Does your dog beg for a piece of pastrami? Then you’re not alone! For one thing, pastrami is a delicious type of meat. For another, dogs usually will want whatever we’re having. But can pastrami make your dog sick?
Connect with a verified veterinarian in minutes. Licensed vets are available 24/7 to answer your questions. No need to worry about your furry family member.
What is Pastrami?
Pastrami is a type of smoke, cured meat that you often find in the deli or even in a grocery store’s cold cuts section. Pastrami is made from beef, and is usually seasoned with:
- Garlic
- Cloves
- Allspice
- Mustard seed
- Paprika
- Coriander
- Black pepper
In addition, this meat contains high levels of fat, and is preserved with nitrite salt. Pastrami isn’t really healthy for humans and is definitely not a healthy option for dogs. So, you shouldn’t feed or share this yummy meat with your dog.
Why is Pastrami Bad for Dogs?
The reason pastrami’s bad for dogs is because many of the ingredients are bad for dogs (specifically, the first 4 ingredients in the list above). For instance, garlic can damage the red blood cells in your dog’s blood, which can lead to anemia. Salt, a preservative in pastrami, can lead to kidney stones, osteoporosis, dehydration and more.
While paprika and the other ingredients are not toxic to dogs, they can cause stomach upset. This can lead to vomiting, nausea, and diarrhea.
And the high levels of fat found in pastrami are also bad for dogs. If a dog eats too much fat, he may develop pancreatitis and other medical problems.
For these reasons, it’s not a good idea to feed your dog pastrami, even in a small amount.
Review symptoms, medications & behavior to keep your pets healthy with a Vet Online in just minutes.
Ask a Vet Live NowSigns Your Dog May Be Poisoned
When dogs eat too much pastrami, they may develop the signs of poisoning:
- Excessive thirst
- Excessive drooling
- Frequent urination
- General weakness
- Lethargy
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Epileptic seizures
If your fur baby shows any of these symptoms after eating pastrami, then call the vet right away. The vet will give you dog a physical exam, and then may order blood tests and other lab work, and may even do an x-ray of your dog’s stomach and intestines. The treatment will depend on what the vet finds during the exam and from your canine companion’s lab work.
Never share pastrami with your fur baby, even if he’s sitting in front of you and drooling. That’s gross, we understand, and you may want to make him happy, but don’t share your pastrami. Instead, give him a dog-safe healthy treat. He’ll be disappointed, but you’ll keep him safe and happy in the long-run!
Connect with a verified veterinarian in minutes. Licensed vets are available 24/7 to answer your questions. No need to worry about your furry family member.
Tom
Tom has always loved to write since he was little - he wanted to be either a writer or a veterinary doctor, but he ended up being a professional writer while most of his works are based on animals. He was born in San Francisco but later moved to Texas to continue his job as a writer. He graduated from the University of San Francisco where he studied biotechnology. He is happily married and a soon to be father!
Review symptoms, medications & behavior to keep your pets healthy with a Vet Online in just minutes.
Ask a Vet Live Now
