Before giving a dog jerky, check what is in it and how it was prepared. Human snacks and pet treats are not interchangeable. This guide covers ingredient concerns and when to seek veterinary advice.
Read the ingredients before offering a human snack to a dog. Jerky may contain garlic, onion, a lot of salt or other ingredients that are unsuitable for pets.
Ingredients to check
These are ingredients to check on the label:
| Ingredient | Risk | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Garlic & onion | Toxic | Garlic and onion can damage red blood cells. Powdered ingredients can be concentrated, so keep the label for your vet. |
| Salt | Too high | Salt amounts intended for people may be unsuitable for a dog, particularly in larger portions. |
| Xylitol | Toxic | Check sweetener labels. Xylitol is dangerous to dogs and requires prompt veterinary advice after ingestion. |
| Sugar, pepper, chili | Unhelpful | Added sweeteners and heat do a dog no favours. None of it belongs in a canine snack. |
Garlic and onion
Onion, garlic, chives and leeks are all Allium species, and the ASPCA flags both garlic and onion as toxic to dogs, causing the breakdown of red blood cells, Heinz-body hemolytic anemia. The American Kennel Club puts the potency in numbers: garlic is about five times more toxic than onion, and concentrated forms like garlic powder “pack more of the toxic compounds into a smaller amount.”
That last point is the one jerky makers should sit with. Marinades don’t use a fresh clove; they use powder. VCA Animal Hospitals notes that a single teaspoon of garlic powder is equivalent to about eight cloves of fresh garlic. Drying then concentrates everything further. The seemingly harmless flavour dusting on a strip of jerky is a real dose for a small dog.
Check the ingredients before sharing a snack.
The FDA jerky pet-treat investigation
There’s a real, documented reason to be careful with jerky products marketed for pets, too. Since 2007 the FDA has investigated animal illnesses linked to jerky pet treats, chicken, duck and sweet-potato jerky, many of them imported from China. As of the end of 2015 the agency had received roughly 5,200 complaints of illness involving more than 6,200 dogs (and a smaller number of cats and people), including more than 1,140 canine deaths.
The FDA investigation did not identify one definitive cause. It is a reason to check pet-treat advisories and discuss suitable treats with your vet, not proof that every pet-jerky product has the same risk.
Salt and xylitol
Beyond the Allium, two more ingredients matter. Salt: jerky is preserved and seasoned with a lot of it, and the Merck Veterinary Manual describes how excess sodium can cause vomiting, weakness, tremors and, at high doses, seizures. A strip sized for a person is a lot of sodium for a small dog. Xylitol: uncommon in jerky, but some “sugar-free” or reduced-sugar glazes use it, and the FDA warns that xylitol poisoning in dogs can begin within 20 minutes and can be fatal. Always read a label before sharing anything sweetened.
Symptoms and when to call a vet
Symptoms can be delayed after garlic or onion exposure. Call your vet or a pet poison service with the ingredients, amount eaten and your dog’s weight rather than waiting for symptoms.
Two 24/7 US lines can help, each for a fee: the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435, and the Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661. Your own vet is the first call whenever you can reach them.
How much can a dog actually have?
Our sister site has general information about dog treats. Your vet can advise on amounts for your dog.
Visit thePetCalculator.comChoosing a treat for your dog
Ask your vet about suitable treats and portions. Making dried meat without seasoning removes some ingredient concerns, but it does not remove preparation, storage or choking risks.