Can Dogs Eat…The Meat Edition

Every single month on Google, thousands of people are searching, “can dogs eat meat”. For the most part, meat is a very healthy option to feed your dog. There are some meats to be aware of, especially processed meats and cooked meat bones.

Continue on below to read the top 70 searches on Google pertaining to dogs eating certain types of meat. In order to answer these questions we’ve consulted vets, the American Kennel Club, (AKC), and various pet food manufacturers.

In addition to researching what meat dogs can and can’t eat, we’ve also written blog posts answering…

Can dogs eat…The Nuts, Beans, Grains, Rice, and Seeds Edition

Can dogs eat…The Vegetable Edition

Can dogs eat…The Fruit Edition

Can dogs eat…The Seafood Edition

Can dogs eat…The Dairy Edition

Can dogs eat…The Human Food Edition

A note on the answers below — when the answer is:

• No – That means that the food is harmful or toxic to dogs.

• Yes – That doesn’t mean you should feed your dog a diet exclusively of that food. Only that it is safe for dogs to consume, just not as its main food source.

• A little bit – That means that if your pup snuck some of this food off of your plate, or ate it before you realized it, it should be ok in small quantities. You shouldn’t make it a habit of feeding dogs these foods regularly.

Now that that’s out of the way, let’s find out what meat your pup can and can’t eat.

_{(Keep in mind: Avenue Dogs is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission (with no additional cost to you)).}

We’ve turned this blog into a book. We’ve listed over 500 foods dogs can and can’t eat. This paperback would make a great gift for a new puppy owner, a dog lover, or anyone concerned about their pup’s health. Check it out!

Can Dogs Eat Bacon

No

The excess salt and fat in bacon and its derivatives are unhealthy and can give your dog serious digestive problems.

Can Dogs Eat Beef

Yes

Offer your dog plainly cooked lean beef as a protein source chock full of nutrients.

Can Dogs Eat Beef Bones (Cooked)

No

Dogs should never eat any type of bone, including beef bones, that have been cooked. The cooked beef bones become brittle and could splinter causing damage to their digestive tract.

Can Dogs Eat Beef Bones (Raw)

Yes

Dogs can eat most raw bones, including beef bones, as long as they’ve never been cooked. While raw beef bones don’t splinter, your dog should be supervised while eating them.

Can Dogs Eat Beef Jerky

A Little Bit

Because it is highly processed, beef jerky contains preservatives and other harmful ingredients you should limit in your dog’s diet.

Can Dogs Eat Beef Rib Bones (Cooked)

No

Dogs should never eat any type of bone, including rib bones, that have been cooked. The cooked rib bones become brittle and could splinter causing damage to their digestive tract.

Can Dogs Eat Beef Rib Bones (Raw)

Yes

Dogs can eat most raw bones, including rib bones, as long as they’ve never been cooked. While raw rib bones don’t splinter, your dog should be supervised while eating them.

Can Dogs Eat Bologna

A Little Bit

Bologna is fine in small quantities, but don’t go overboard because of its high levels of sodium and other additives.

Can Dogs Eat Bones (Cooked)

No

Dogs should never eat any type of bone that have been cooked. The cooked bones become brittle and could splinter causing damage to their digestive tract.

Can Dogs Eat Bones (Raw)

Yes

Dogs can eat most raw bones as long as they’ve never been cooked. While raw bones don’t splinter, your dog should be supervised while eating them.

Can Dogs Eat Canned Chicken

A Little Bit

While chicken is good for your dog, canned chicken has too much sodium. Only give it your dog occasionally, and rinse it with water first.

Can Dogs Eat Chicken

Yes

Cooked chicken is an excellent protein source that many dog food brands like to use because it’s safe for most breeds.

Can Dogs Eat Chicken Bones (Cooked)

No

Dogs should never eat any type of bone, especially chicken bones, that have been cooked. The cooked chicken bones become brittle and could splinter causing damage to their digestive tract.

Can Dogs Eat Chicken Bones (Raw)

No

Dogs can eat most raw bones, but raw chicken bones should be avoided. Raw chicken bones can carry salmonella which could make your dog very sick.

Can Dogs Eat Chicken Broth

Yes

Feed your sick dog chicken broth to help with diarrhea or other digestive issues, Plus, it adds a healthy boost of electrolytes.

Can Dogs Eat Chicken Feet

No

Avoid giving your dog chicken feet because they can be injured by the talons in raw chicken feet and splinters in cooked feet.

Can Dogs Eat Chicken Gizzards

Yes

Gizzards are an excellent source of nutrition for your dog. Serve raw or cooked, just be sure to slice them up because they can be a choking hazard.

Can Dogs Eat Chicken Liver

Yes

Chicken liver and offal give your dog a boost of minerals, vitamins, and cartilage. Serve raw or cooked.

Can Dogs Eat Chicken Nuggets

A Little Bit

Chicken nuggets are notoriously full of fats and mystery ingredients. So avoid giving them to your dog, but they’ll be fine if they have the occasional one.

Can Dogs Eat Chicken Skin

A Little Bit

Chicken skin contains the highest levels of fat in chicken, so limit it in your dog’s diet to avoid digestive issues and inflammation of the pancreas. Cook it first, please.

Can Dogs Eat Chorizo

No

Avoid chorizo for your dog at all costs. Salt, fat, and unknown spice blends can harm your dog, not to mention the risk of trichinosis from raw chorizo.

Can Dogs Eat Cooked Bones

No

Dogs should never eat any type of bones that have been cooked. The cooked bones become brittle and could splinter causing damage to their digestive tract.

Can Dogs Eat Cooked Pork

A Little Bit

Try giving your dog a small amount of pork first to make sure they can handle the higher fat content and don’t get digestive problems.

Can Dogs Eat Cooked Pork Bones

No

Dogs should never eat any type of bone, including pork bones, that have been cooked. The cooked pork bones become brittle and could splinter causing damage to their digestive tract.

Can Dogs Eat Corned Beef

No

Avoid corned beef because it contains too much salt, enough to cause sodium poisoning in dogs.

Can Dogs Eat Fried Chicken

No

Fried chicken has too much fat for most dogs to handle, and it is extremely unhealthy.

Can Dogs Eat Gravy

No

Not only does gravy contain too much salt and fat, but it often includes ingredients toxic to dogs such as onions and garlic.

Can Dogs Eat Ground Beef

Yes

Beef has one of the best nutritional profiles for dogs. It’s rich in protein, omega-6 fats, and other nutrients that keep your pup healthy.

Can Dogs Eat Ground Turkey

Yes

White turkey meat cooked plainly without the skin or any seasonings is a healthy option for your dog.

Can Dogs Eat Ham

A Little Bit

Your dog will be fine if gets a taste of your holiday ham but don’t make it a habit because the fat content is unhealthy.

Can Dogs Eat Ham Bones

No

Dogs should never eat any type of bone, including ham bones, that have been cooked. The cooked ham bones become brittle and could splinter causing damage to their digestive tract.

Can Dogs Eat Hamburger

Yes

You can give your dog plain hamburger meat. Just make sure you aren’t adding spices, salt, and especially no onions and garlic.

Can Dogs Eat Hot Dogs

A Little Bit

A bite of your hot dog probably won’t harm your pup too much, but the long list of mystery ingredients and preservatives make hot dogs a bad choice.

Can Dogs Eat Lamb

Yes

Add lamb to your dog’s diet for a boost of essential amino acids and healthy fats.

Can Dogs Eat Lamb Bones (Cooked)

No

Dogs should never eat any type of bone, including lamb bones, that have been cooked. The cooked lamb bones become brittle and could splinter causing damage to their digestive tract.

Can Dogs Eat Lamb Bones (Raw)

Yes

Dogs can eat most raw bones, including lamb bones, as long as they’ve never been cooked. While raw lamb bones don’t splinter, your dog should be supervised while eating them.

Can Dogs Eat Liver

Yes

Liver is a superfood rich in nutrients, so it’s an excellent addition to your dog’s diet.

Can Dogs Eat Meat

Yes

Meat, for the most part, is very healthy to feed to your pup. Just stay away from processed meats and cooked meat bones.

Can Dogs Eat Pepperoni

No

The amounts of salt and fat required to preserve pepperoni can give your dog gastrointestinal problems, or even lead to kidney failure and salt poisoning.

Can Dogs Eat Pork

Yes

Fully cooked pork is safe for your dog to eat, as long as it is cooked very plainly.

Can Dogs Eat Pork Bones (Cooked)

No

Dogs should never eat any type of bone, including pork bones, that have been cooked. The cooked pork bones become brittle and could splinter causing damage to their digestive tract.

Can Dogs Eat Pork Bones (Raw)

Yes

Dogs can eat most raw bones, including pork bones, as long as they’ve never been cooked. While raw pork bones don’t splinter, your dog should be supervised while eating them.

Can Dogs Eat Raw Bacon

No

Bacon (and any cured meats), cooked or raw, contain too much salt and preservatives for dogs. Additionally, the fat content causes obesity, pancreatitis, and other gastrointestinal problems.

Can Dogs Eat Raw Beef

No

Raw meat is likely to contain harmful bacteria like Salmonella. Cooking meat to a safe temp kills off those harmful bacteria and is safer for your dog.

Can Dogs Eat Raw Chicken

No

Raw chicken carries the risk of salmonella and other serious bacterial infections, so avoid giving it to your dog.

Can Dogs Eat Raw Chicken Bones

No

Dogs can eat most raw bones, but raw chicken bones should be avoided. Raw chicken bones can carry salmonella which could make your dog very sick.

Can Dogs Eat Raw Ground Beef

No

Raw ground beef is likely to contain harmful bacteria like E. coli. By feeding uncooked meat, there’s a risk your dog will develop a foodborne illness or a bacterial infection.

Can Dogs Eat Raw Hamburger

No

Raw hamburger is likely to contain harmful bacteria like E. coli. By feeding uncooked meat, there’s a risk your dog will develop a foodborne illness or a bacterial infection.

Can Dogs Eat Raw Pork

No

Raw or improperly cooked pork is known to cause trichinosis in dogs and humans. Always ensure pork is thoroughly cooked.

Can Dogs Eat Raw Steak

No

Raw steak is likely to contain harmful bacteria like Listeria. Cooking meat to a safe temperature kills off the bacteria and is a much safer alternative for your pup.

Can Dogs Eat Ribs

No

Ribs of any kind tend to contain splinters that can injure your dog, whether you offer cooked or raw ribs.

Can Dogs Eat Roast Beef

Yes

As long as you control their portions and don’t add any sauces or gravy, roast beef is safe for your dog to eat.

Can Dogs Eat Rotisserie Chicken

Yes

Rotisserie chicken (without the bones) is an excellent source of nutrition and favorite among most dogs.

Can Dogs Eat Salami

A Little Bit

The concern with feeding your dog salami isn’t toxicity, but the unhealthy levels of fat and salt.

Can Dogs Eat Sausage

A Little Bit

Reserve sausages as a special treat for your dogs. Sausages shouldn’t be a major part of their diet.

Can Dogs Eat Slim Jims

No

Highly processed foods like Slim Jims are full of unhealthy ingredients and preservatives that you shouldn’t give your dog.

Can Dogs Eat Spam

A Little Bit

Offer spam only sparingly to avoid giving your dog high levels of sodium and fat.

Can Dogs Eat Steak

Yes

Steak is rich in high-quality protein and fats that are essential to maintaining your dog’s health.

Can Dogs Eat Steak Bones (Cooked)

No

Dogs should never eat any type of bone, including steak bones, that have been cooked. The cooked steak bones become brittle and could splinter causing damage to their digestive tract.

Can Dogs Eat Steak Bones (Raw)

Yes

Dogs can eat most raw bones, including steak bones, as long as they’ve never been cooked. While raw steak bones don’t splinter, your dog should be supervised while eating them.

Can Dogs Eat Turkey Bacon

A Little Bit

If you want to give your dog bacon, low-sodium turkey bacon without spices is the best option. Still, only offer sparingly.

Can Dogs Eat Turkey Bones (Cooked)

No

Dogs should never eat any type of bone, including turkey bones, that have been cooked. The cooked turkey bones become brittle and could splinter causing damage to their digestive tract.

Can Dogs Eat Turkey Bones (Raw)

No

Dogs should never eat raw turkey bones. The only exception is a raw turkey neck. Raw turkey bones splinter easily, making them a choking hazard for your pup.

Can Dogs Eat Turkey Breast

Yes

Turkey breast without trimmings and gravy is fine for your dog, but avoid deli turkey. Keep portions low to avoid inflammation and digestive problems.

Can Dogs Eat Turkey Meat

Yes

Only give your dog plainly cooked, white meat turkey. Make sure to remove the bones and do not add seasoning.

Can Dogs Eat Turkey Necks

Yes

Give your dog a raw turkey neck (not cooked) to gnaw on and clean their teeth while getting a boost of protein and minerals.

Can Dogs Eat Vienna Sausages

No

The seasonings, fat, and salt in Vienna sausage make it an unhealthy and potentially dangerous option for your dog.