Why dogs should not have it
Sausages and other processed meat products are fatty and salty. Fatty food can give a dog vomiting, diarrhoea and inflammation of the pancreas, while salt increases thirst and is especially bad for dogs with heart or kidney disease.
Sausages contain spices, sometimes onion or garlic powder, which are harmful to dogs, and preservatives. One stolen bite is not an emergency, but sausages should not be a dog's treat.
What to watch out for
- A lot of fat can cause vomiting, diarrhoea or inflammation of the pancreas.
- Salt increases thirst and puts strain on the heart and kidneys.
- Onion and garlic powder are harmful to dogs.
- For a small dog, a larger swallowed piece or the sausage skin can get stuck in the throat or gut.
- If your dog keeps vomiting, has a painful belly, is lethargic or refuses food, contact a vet.
What it can cause
Signs that can appear after eating it. Each page explains what to look out for and when to hurry to a vet.
What to give instead
Foods that are safer to give.
- Chicken Yes, plain cooked chicken without bones, skin or seasoning makes a good treat for a dog, but do not give bones or raw meat. Safe
- Turkey Yes, plain cooked turkey without skin, bones or seasoning is fine for a dog, but do not give festive turkey with stuffing and gravy. Safe
- Beef Yes, lean cooked beef without seasoning makes a good treat for a dog, but do not give fatty cuts, bones or raw meat. Safe
- Carrots Yes, carrots are fine for dogs: raw or cooked, unseasoned and cut into pieces, they make a crunchy, low-calorie treat. Safe