Kielbasa is a Polish sausage traditionally made with pork, pepper, garlic, salt, and marjoram. Kielbasa doesn’t only refer to one type of sausage. In the Polish language, kielbasa is translated to sausage, and each region in the country has a signature sausage.
Kielbasa is versatile as you can eat it as is, serve it with sauces, or add it to your favorite casseroles, soups, and stews. But even though kielbasa is filling and flavorful, you shouldn’t immediately give some to your dogs. Remember, dogs’ and humans’ bodies are different.
Unfortunately, kielbasa is one of those human foods you can’t share with your furry friends. This Polish sausage contains ingredients harmful for your dogs, namely:
High-Fat Content
Your dogs’ diet should contain fat to have healthy skin and fur. Certain fats, like omega-3s, can also support healthy eyesight and maintain your dogs’ brain health.
A 33-pound dog should consume about 14 grams of fat a day. Unfortunately, every 6 ounces of kielbasa contains 24 grams of fat, an amount that’s too much for your dogs’ daily nutritional needs. Feeding your dog with kielbasa will eventually cause excessive weight gain and obesity. Obese dogs have higher risks of developing chronic health conditions, such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.
Additionally, the high-fat content of kielbasa can also put your dogs at risk of acute pancreatitis. This happens because their bodies produce digestive enzymes in order to process the fat from the sausage. When these enzymes accumulate in their pancreas, their cells attack and damage themselves, causing internal inflammation.
Some of the common symptoms of pancreatitis in dogs include a hunched back, stomach pain, lethargy, fever, and vomiting.
High Sodium Content
In limited quantities, sodium is beneficial for your dogs. In fact, their bodies need sodium to ensure the proper functioning of their nervous system and musculoskeletal system. Sodium is also responsible for maintaining the balance of electrolytes in your dogs’ bodies, so their cells won’t swell or become dehydrated.
A medium-sized dog only needs around 100 milligrams of sodium every day. Unfortunately, 100 grams of kielbasa contains about 1060 milligrams of sodium — that’s about 11 times the recommended daily sodium intake for dogs.
Excessive sodium can cause several issues to your dogs, namely stomach distress, cardiovascular breakdown, and neurological disorders. The effects of consuming large quantities of sodium can become more severe in senior dogs or dogs diagnosed with internal organ problems.
Garlic And Onion
Kielbasa recipes commonly use garlic and onions. If you have been a pet owner for years, you know how toxic these are when consumed by your furry friends.
Both garlic and onion belong to the allium family. These species of plants can cause severe inflammation in your dogs’ digestive tracts and trigger several symptoms, such as vomiting and nausea. However, this isn’t the only danger the allium family does to your dogs’ bodies.
Garlic and onion also react with the red blood cells of your dogs and cause their cell walls to become thinner. Over time, this can lead to cellular death. The lesser red blood cells your dogs have in their bodies, the more challenging it can be for them to carry oxygen.
When Should You Take Your Dogs To The Vet?
If your dogs snatched a small amount of kielbasa off of your plate, you shouldn’t be worried. Eating a small quantity of kielbasa isn’t a cause for concern. However, if your dogs consume large quantities of Polish sausage and exhibit the symptoms listed below, you should take them to the vet right away.
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Labored breathing
- Dehydration
- Lethargy and weakness
Are There Any Healthier And Safer Alternatives To Kielbasa?
Fortunately, there are! In fact, you can choose from a wide variety of options if you’re looking for healthier and safer alternatives to kielbasa. Giving these foods to your dogs will ensure that they’re full, safe, and healthy.
Instead of giving kielbasa to your dogs, feed them the following:
Chicken
Chicken is a must in your dogs’ diets. Chicken is a type of lean meat, which gives your dog’s energy. Chicken also helps your dogs build muscle mass and maintain a shiny and healthy coat. Thanks to the essential amino acids it contains, feeding your dogs chicken can also help build and maintain strong bones.
Turkey
If your dogs are sensitive to chicken, consider feeding them turkey. Turkey is also lean meat that helps your dogs build muscle. Just make sure to feed your dogs with raw, unseasoned turkeys, as seasonings can cause stomach upsets and diarrhea.
Eggs
Eggs are safe for dogs and are packed with essential vitamins and minerals. For one, eggs contain vitamins A, D, E, and K, which are important building blocks in your dogs’ immune function, metabolism, growth, and development. Eggshells also have calcium, sodium, and magnesium that work together in keeping your dogs’ bones and teeth strong.
Brown Rice
Brown rice has high fiber content that can positively impact the digestive tracts of your dogs. Fiber can soften your dogs’ stool, so they can have regular bowel movements. Brown rice is also an excellent source of vitamins, minerals, and carbohydrates for your canine friends.
Green Beans
Green beans contain vitamin C that can boost the immune system of your dogs. Green beans also have vitamin A which supports healthy vision and reproduction in dogs. Because of its manganese content, feeding your dogs green beans regularly can also expedite their bodies’ natural wound healing process, lessening their risk of developing infections.
Broccoli
Your dogs can benefit from eating broccoli as this vegetable has several vitamins and minerals. For starters, broccoli has vitamin K that promotes higher bone density and strong bones among dogs. Broccoli also has folic acid or folate that helps produce and maintain healthy cells in your furry friends, especially for pregnant dogs.
Work With A Vet
If you have questions about kielbasa and how it affects your dogs’ nutrition, reach out to a vet. Never alter and incorporate foods into your dogs’ diet without your vet’s approval. Sure, your intentions might be good, but feeding your dog with the wrong food can be fatal to them.