Bologna contains a lot of sodium and fat that your dog shouldn’t consume in high quantities.
Nitrates are also present in large amounts, posing a danger to your dog.
Though convenient, the added chemicals can cause vomiting, diarrhea, bloating, and even seizures.
There are several reasons why dogs should not eat bologna. This article gives more information on this and what you should keep an eye out for.
Should Dogs Eat Bologna?
No, don’t feed your dog bologna.
Bologna is a highly processed food made from leftover bits of meat, fat, and various chemical additives, which are not suitable for your dog.
The preservatives and additives can upset a dog’s stomach if they overeat Bologna.
Most processed meats contain sodium nitrate as a preservative to keep the color pink and prevent bacteria growth.
However, nitrate compounds react with amines present in the foods and produce carcinogenic nitrosamines.
This chemical is potentially dangerous to dogs’ health when consumed in large quantities or over a prolonged period as it’s often linked to cancer.
Since dogs can develop cancer faster than humans, especially when exposed to carcinogenic nitrates, use other meat sources to feed them, such as turkey.
Bologna also contains a lot of fat and spices.
These ingredients can lead to digestive issues or even pancreatitis in large quantities. Due to its heavy processing, Bologna is not an optimal dog food.
Though convenient, the calories in Bologna can cause weight gain and, more importantly, heart problems for your pup.
Moreover, bologna meat contains sodium and salt that are harmful to the dog’s health in excessive quantities.
The high sodium or salt content of bologna meat can cause dehydration and sodium ion poisoning. Therefore, avoid feeding Bologna to your dog.
What are Some Alternatives to Bologna?
Bologna may be popular with your dog, but that doesn’t mean its consumption will benefit them.
Give them treats that are healthier than bologna.
So what’s the alternative?
Many healthier options are available, which are just as tasty, in many cases, even more so, than processed meat.
Plus, they are not all costly either. They can fit your dog’s taste buds while providing them with their nutrition.
Make sure you choose treats that contain healthy vitamins and minerals instead of just empty calories.
The treat should provide your pet with the nutrients they need without causing them to overeat or feel hungry.
You can also supplement their diet with carrots or celery, which are lower in salt and still tasty for most dogs.
Be careful with treats that contain a lot of starch and fillers.
The treat may not be necessary for your dog, and he may have difficulty digesting them. As a result, the food may sit in their stomach instead of being absorbed into the system.
While bologna isn’t entirely unhealthy for dogs, other meats are suited to their needs. For instance, turkey and chicken are excellent choices.
Potential Side Effects of Bologna for Dogs
There is a possibility your dog may develop an allergic reaction to a component in the bologna meat.
Usually, this occurs if your dog’s diet already consists of a large amount of bologna meat or if your dog has never eaten it before.
If you are going to feed your dog a bologna meat treat, you must know how to look out for the signs and symptoms of any potential side effects.
Weight gain and a decrease in activity levels – This is particularly true if your dog has an iron deficiency, as it will crave more iron-rich foods such as red meat.
In the long term, continuous bologna consumption can result in heart problems and certain types of cancer later in life.
A poor diet rich in fatty foods and a little exercise will exacerbate these risks.
If you notice any of these symptoms after giving your dog bologna meat as a treat, take them to the vet immediately. The vet will diagnose if your dog has food allergies or if there is an underlying illness.
Does Bologna Have Any Nutritional Benefits to Dogs?
Meaty treats like bologna are delicious and nutritious.
They provide protein and healthy fats that your pup needs to maintain a healthy weight and keep them feeling full between meals.
They’re easy to digest, so there’s no need for extra bathroom trips after eating one of these tasty dishes.
Bologna is a moderate source of protein that provides more amino acids to a dog’s body than an egg does.
Your dog’s body also needs amino acids to build healthy cells and tissues.
However, these proteins are not as easily absorbed by the body.
Bologna meat has some amount of fat that enhances the energy level in your dog’s body.
The fatty acids in bologna also help improve skin and fur quality.
The problem is that high-fat content can be harmful to your dog’s life.
Their food must be rich in proteins and low in carbohydrates or fats.
Therefore, only give your dog commercial low-fat bologna to avoid fat buildup and other potential problems.
Plus, your dog doesn’t need all of that extra fat in his diet.
This meat has lots of potential side effects that might outweigh its benefit.
Still, if you have some on hand and want to share a little bit with your pup, go ahead. Just make sure to keep it in moderation and save some for yourself.
Conclusion
Bologna is not suitable for dogs.
While this sandwich meat doesn’t contain any toxic ingredients, it contains plenty of unhealthy ones.
While it’s not likely to kill your dog– unless it has a bad allergy to one of the ingredients – there’s no reason to feed bologna to them.
It’s low in nutritional content and high in preservatives.
So, if your dog is used to eating processed foods like hot dogs, then maybe steer clear of the bologna.
On the whole, there are better sources of protein for your pet.
Hi, my name is Megan Turner and I have worked in a dog’s shelter for four years now. It is truly my dream job, and I see hundreds of dogs every month being united with new owners to give them a loving forever home.
Unfortunately, handicapped dogs are much more likely to be ignored when a family is picking out their new pet. Handicapped pets need more care than non-handicapped pets, so it is understandable why they are often harder to rehome.
