Can Dogs Eat Prosciutto? Everything You Need to Know

No, dogs should not eat prosciutto, including beef prosciutto because they are highly processed meat that contains lots of salt and fat. The nitrates and spices often found in cured meat can also be very dangerous for dogs to consume.
Prosciutto paste should also be kept out of reach of your dog’s paws for the same reason.

Cured meats, including salami, pepperoni, bacon, pancetta, chorizo and prosciutto pate contain dangerous levels of salt for dogs.

If our furry friends consume too much salt they may experience salt poisoning which can lead to various health issues including diarrhea, vomiting, tremors, a high temperature, depression and seizures. Large consumption of salt can even cause death in dogs.

Cured meats also usually contain spices such as pepper, garlic and paprika that are toxic to dogs. Garlic contains thiosulfate that deprives red blood cells of oxygen, causing them damage. All of the above are extremely bad for a dogs health and should not be consumed by canines.

Raw prosciutto contains dangerous bacteria that can cause parasitic diseases in humans and animals. Never let your pet come into contact with uncooked meats.

If a dog consumes too much salt, he will naturally drink more water to quench his thirst and prevent damage from being done to his body. However, if your pooch ingests too much salt over a short period of time, the cells in a dog’s body start to release water to try to balance the excess amount of salt. This process damages brain cells and can cause neurological symptoms such as headaches and seizures.

Parma ham is also considered a cured deli meat and should not be given to dogs. It is cured in the same way as prosciutto, by adding lots of salt and being left to dry. Parma ham contains no nutritional benefit to dogs. It can make them very sick due to the high levels of sodium it contains.

For the same reason that dogs shouldn’t eat cured meat, they should not eat smoked salmon either. This is because the salmon is cured in excessive amounts of salt.

As smoked salmon isn’t cooked, there is also a small chance that the salmon contains parasites that can lead to salmon poisoning, a bacterial infection in dogs.  Symptoms of salmon poisoning include a lack of appetite, diarrhea, vomiting, weight loss and discharge from the eyes or nose. Increased heart rate, respiratory rates and muscle tremors are other common signs.

If the infection is not treated quickly it can significantly reduce a dog’s chance of survival.

Like other processed meats, feeding your dog ham could lead to a life-threatening disease called pancreatitis. In particular, store-bought ham contains extremely high levels of sodium.

If your dog ate a small amount of ham, they will become thirsty. Fresh water should be provided for your dog’s body to try and balance the levels of salt. Too much salt in your dog’s diet and dog food can make them very poorly and experience sickness, diarrhea and lethargy. Sodium can also cause more serious health issues such as kidney damage, comas and even death.

Ham bones should not be given to your pooch because splinters from the bone can cause a dog to choke or damage their mouth, throat or even intestines. Ham bones have also been known to create blockages in a dog’s intestines so should be kept out of reach of your dog.