Can Dogs Eat Chorizo? Why They Shouldn’t!

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We all know how tasty Chorizo is, so it makes sense that you’d want to give your furry friend a taste. If you’ve ever questioned whether your dog can eat chorizo, you’ve come to the right place. Spoiler alert, this pork dish is not suitable for pups!

While their are two types of chorizos, we will explain why both are off the table for your pup!

a two image collage with mexican chorizo tacos, and spanish chorizo being sliced on a cutting board

What Is Chorizo?

Chorizo is a wildly popular and delicious type of sausage that’s used primarily in Mexican and Spanish dishes. It is a highly seasoned ground pork sausage that can be cooked in a variety of ways, such as smoked, grilled, or baked. You’ll find Chorizo fully-cooked and semi cured in pretty much any grocery store you go to.

The most common dish you’ll hear people raving about is Chorizo and eggs, which is a go-to breakfast dish for people all over the world. So we get it, Chorizo is delicious and liked by most people… but for those of us with pets, is Chorizo safe for dogs?

Is Chorizo Safe For Dogs?

Unfortunately, Chorizo is not a safe food for your dog to eat. This lies in the fact that Chorizo is heavily seasoned and contains a lot of fat, which can upset your dog’s stomach.

This can lead to immediate issues like poor digestion, diarrhea, or gastrointestinal irritation. Consuming large quantities of salt and other seasoning found in Chorizo can lead to sodium poisoning or other severe health issues for your dog. When it comes to the fat content in Chorizo, this can cause your dog to gain weight, leading to obesity or other health issues.

Toxic Ingredients Found In Chorizo (for Canines)

Now that we know it’s the fat and large amounts of seasoning in Chorizo that are bad for your dog, it raises this question: what are the actual ingredients in Chorizo that are toxic to your dog?

The answer is garlic powder and onion powder, which are usually plentiful in Chorizo along with the popular tamale dish. Dogs should stay away from onions and garlic, regardless of if they’re raw, powdered, or cooked. They can kill your dog’s red blood cells which causes anemia and eating either of these foods can cause immediate food poisoning. Both these seasonings can have adverse effects on your dog’s health including weakness, vomiting, and breathing problems.

While those are the two main seasonings in Chorizo that are toxic to dogs, you should avoid seasoning your dog’s food all together. According to the American Kennel Club, you want to cook or prepare your dog’s meals without oil, butter, or seasoning. Sure, your pup might love the taste, but seasoned food will give them digestion and intestinal irritation, so it’s best to avoid any seasoning on your dog’s food.

My Dog Ate Chorizo, What Should I Do?

When your dog eats Chorizo, there are a few factors that will determine what you should do.

If your pup eats a small amount of cooked Chorizo, monitor them to see if they have an upset stomach or if there are changes in their stool.

If they eat a large amount of cooked Chorizo, they may begin vomiting or producing diarrhea, which will cause them to be dehydrated. In this case, you’ll need to have water readily available to them. Also, make sure it is not distilled water, which doesn’t have the essential minerals and electrolytes your dog needs. You may also give them a few sips of Powerade if they aren’t interested in water.

Both of these examples are based on your dog only eating Chorizo one time. If you’ve been feeding them Chorizo regularly for a long period of time, it may be worth a visit to the vet.

Your vet will be able to conduct a blood test to see if the high fat consumption from eating Chorizo has caused any significant issues or if there are any other health problems. In any case, if your dog seems to be having a significant negative reaction to consuming Chorizo, take them to the vet immediately.

dog laying on porch in front of an empty bowl

Can Dogs Eat Raw Pork Sausage?

Recently, raw meat diets have become extremely popular for dog owners looking to have a more ‘natural’ diet for their pup. As we’ve explained, Chorizo is pork sausage and some would think that feeding their dog raw pork sausage could be good for their health.

However, raw meat diets are very intricate and require a great understanding before putting your dog on one. So this begs the question, can dogs eat raw pork sausage? To put it simply: no, your dog cannot eat raw pork sausage.

While some raw meats are okay for your dog to eat if they are acclimated to a raw meat diet, raw pork sausage puts your dog at risk for trichinosis, a parasite infection. This parasitic infection is known as “pork worm”, which can cause muscle pain and stiffness, diarrhea, vomiting, and other symptoms. 

Short Version: Why You Shouldn’t Feed Your Pup Chorizo

Chorizo is heavily seasoned pork sausage and usually has garlic and onion powder, both of which are toxic to dogs. Heavily seasoned food can also cause breathing problems and sodium poisoning, so it’s best to never use any seasoning on your dog’s food in the first place. When ingested raw, pork can give your dog “pork worm” (trichinosis) a parasitic infection that can affect their muscles and cause vomiting and diarrhea. Ultimately, you should never feed your pup Chorizo because it can lead to digestive and gastrointestinal problems, vomiting, diarrhea, and even a parasitic infection if the Chorizo is raw.

If your dog ends up eating Chorizo, either raw or cooked, you should monitor them to see if they vomit, develop breathing problems, or begin acting out of the ordinary. At the end of the day, if your dog is having a negative reaction to eating Chorizo and you’re unsure of what to do, take them to the vet immediately.

Key Points

  • Chorizo is a heavily seasoned pork sausage that contains garlic and onion powder, both of which are toxic to dogs
  • Dogs should not eat Chorizo in any amount, because it could cause vomiting, diarrhea, sodium poisoning, and other health issues
  • Consuming raw pork can give dogs a parasitic infection called Trichinosis which affects their muscles and causes vomiting, diarrhea, and other issues

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