Can dogs or cats eat corned beef?

4 October 2023
This article is not intended to be a substitute for professional veterinary advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your veterinarian with any questions you may have regarding your pet’s care, treatment, or medical conditions.

Can dogs eat corned beef?

Can your dog have corned beef? Unluckily for them, nope. It's just too risky. Corned beef contains high levels of sodium nitrate, which can lead to excessive salt intake in dogs. Excessive salt consumption can result in dehydration, vomiting, and diarrhoea.

Corned beef also contains large amounts of fat that could lead to pancreatitis if consumed regularly.

As always, before introducing a new food item into your pet's diet, consult with your veterinarian first! If your dog eats corned beef (or any food) and is showing signs of illness such as lethargy, diarrhoea, or vomiting, reach out to your veterinarian immediately. If they require veterinary care related to eating unsafe foods, dog insurance may help cover the cost of treatment.

Can cats eat corned beef?

Hold off on sharing that corned beef with your kitty, even if they're giving you their sweetest begging meows.

Corned beef typically contains high levels of sodium, which isn't good for cats. Additionally, corned beef recipes usually contain other tasty human ingredients that are toxic to felines. For example, garlic and onion powder are often added, which can cause health issues in cats.

As always, before introducing a new food item into your pet's diet, consult with your veterinarian first! If your cat eats corned beef (or any food) and is showing signs of illness such as lethargy, diarrhoea, or vomiting, reach out to your veterinarian immediately. If they require veterinary care related to eating unsafe foods, cat insurance may help cover the cost of treatment.

Information purposes only

The suggestions offered here are for informational purposes only and are not a substitute for pet-specific advice from your veterinarian. Never disregard your vet’s recommendations, or delay in acting on them, based on something you have read on this site. Regardless of how a food is rated here, any food that you give your pet can pose potential health risks, including allergic reactions, choking, or other health conditions such as bloat. Always monitor your pet while they’re eating, and never introduce a new food into your pet’s diet without first consulting your veterinarian. 

Pet poison emergency protocol

If your pet is acting sick, call your regular veterinarian immediately. If your regular veterinarian is closed, call a nearby on-call veterinarian, animal urgent care, or veterinary emergency hospital. If your pet is not acting sick but you think they may have been exposed to a poison, call the Animal Poison Line (01202 50 9000).

Food safety statuses

Safe

Could be given almost daily without harm

Safe in moderation

Not toxic, but should not be given regularly

Unsafe

Toxic or simply too risky to give to your pet