No, dogs should not be fed pastrami because it contains ingredients like garlic, salt, and fat content. However, if you want to learn more about feeding pastrami to your dog then read all about it.
What is Pastrami?
Pastrami is a Romanian dish made from plate or brisket cuts of beef. Firstly, the raw meat is brined, dried, seasoned with herbs and spices, smoked, and then steamed. It is the oldest type of preserved meat. In older times, there was no refrigerator, so people used to preserve meat by salting it. They simply coat the outer layer with salt and let the salt diffuse. It is usually served at a deli on sandwiches. It is generally seasoned with cloves, garlic, mustard seed, coriander, black pepper, and allspice. It sometimes looks similar to corned beef. It contains a very high amount of fat, nitrate, and salt, which is unhealthy for humans as well as for dogs.
Can dogs eat pastrami?
So the answer is a big no, dogs should not eat pastrami because it contains many ingredients that are toxic for dogs. It contains garlic which can damage your dog’s RBC, which can lead to anemia. It also contains salt, which can lead to kidney stones, dehydration, and other health problems. Excessive sodium can cause sodium ion poisoning. Other ingredients like paprika can cause stomach upset, vomiting, nausea, and diarrhea. It contains very high levels of fat which is not good for dogs. For the above reasons, avoid feeding pastrami to your dog.
Why is pastrami bad for dogs?
The main reason pastrami is bad for dogs is because it contains a lot of ingredients. It is made with beef which is very high in fat and can cause pancreatitis. The percentage of salt in it is very high and could lead to sodium hypertension. Along with these two, it has spices like garlic which are toxic to dogs. It is marinated and soaked in vinegar which causes calcium deficiency. It contains a lot of preservatives that could lead to stomach upset or skin discoloration in dogs. That is why pastrami is very harmful to dogs.
Signs your dog may be poisoned
When your dog eats a lot of pastrami, these signs of poisoning may develop:
- Excessive drooling
- Excessive sweating
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Lethargy
- General weakness
- Frequent urination
If your dog shows any of the above symptoms, then immediately call your veterinarian. Never share your pastrami with dogs, even if your dog is drooling in front of you. Instead, give dog-safe healthy food to your dog.
Can dogs eat packaged pastrami?
Packaged pastrami is loaded with lots of preservatives which is bad for your dog. Packaged sandwich meat like packaged pastrami ( to make their shelf life longer) is loaded with salt and contains high sodium, which can be harmful to your dog’s health. Packaged pastrami contains a lot of spices like paprika and garlic (to enhance the flavor of meat) which can cause gastrointestinal issues in your dog. It can be poisonous for your dog if eaten in large quantities. Many processed meats contain a lot of chemicals that are toxic for dogs. So it is better to avoid feeding packaged pastrami to your dog.
Can dogs eat turkey pastrami?
Turkey is a part of the same animal; beef and pork. It contains healthy nutrients such as lean protein, Vitamin B-complex, phosphorus. It has 25g of protein which is good to keep your dog’s muscles healthy. Turkey pastrami has a low level of fat(95% fat-free) which dogs can eat. It should be given in moderation as it has sodium which leads to bloating. Too much salt could lead to Tremors, seizures, vomiting, and diarrhea in your dog. In 2015, the world health organization found that processed meat was linked to cancer. It is better to cook turkey pastrami at home with healthy vegetables without adding salt or spices.
Avoid feeding pastrami to dogs with kidney issues
Pastrami contains too much salt, which can be harmful to dogs that leads to kidney issues. Large quantities of salt do not get processed and excreted easily, which might lead to kidney stones. If your dog has poor kidney function, Avoid feeding them meat. High salt diets might increase the blood pressure of your dog and worsen kidney damage. Other health symptoms of feeding pastrami to dogs are:
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Abnormal heart rate
- Difficulty in breathing
- Abnormal behavior
The substitutes for pastrami are:
These are some of the substitutes for pastrami that you can give to your dog :
- Cooked lean meat like turkey, beef, etc.
- Cooked or raw vegetables
- Boiled eggs
- Rotisserie chicken
- Cooked white and sweet potatoes
- Chicken
Can dogs eat pastrami cold cuts?
Pastrami cold cuts should not be given to dogs as they can cause salmonella poisoning after eating that has already expired. It has nitrates which are used to cure meat, and it makes the meat very firm, which can cause kidney problems in dogs. Store-bought cold cuts are not good for dogs. Deli meats are highly processed and are harmful to dogs. It is typically high in fat and salt and has lots of spices which are bad for dogs and could cause pancreatitis.
What we learned from all this
Pastrami is very toxic to dogs as it has a lot of unhealthy ingredients such as garlic, paprika, salt, which can cause serious health problems, so do not feed pastrami to your dog, not even a small slice. As a dog owner, it is your responsibility to not feed your dog any kind of food that is unhealthy and not safe for your pet. Before giving any kind of food to your dog, it is better to consult a veterinarian and always read the ingredient labels.