Can Dogs Have Sausage? What You Need to Know Before Sharing
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Sausage is one of the most popular meat products around the world. Whether it’s a juicy bratwurst on the grill, a smoked summer sausage on a charcuterie board, or a savory breakfast link, sausage is a delicious and satisfying treat.
And if you’re enjoying sausage, it’s only natural to wonder:
Can dogs have sausage?
At Wisconsin River Meats, we know how tempting it is to sneak your dog a bite of your favorite meat snack. After all, dogs love meat. But sausage is more complicated than it looks, and there are important reasons to think twice before giving sausage to your pup.
What Is in Sausage?
Sausage may seem simple — ground meat in a casing — but the ingredient list often includes:
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Ground pork, beef, or a meat blend
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High amounts of salt
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Seasonings like garlic powder, onion powder, nutmeg, or pepper
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Fats
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Nitrates or nitrites for curing
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Sometimes added sugar
While the meat in sausage is dog-friendly on its own, the spices, high salt content, preservatives, and fat can be dangerous for dogs.
Why Sausage Can Be Harmful for Dogs
High Sodium
Sausage is often heavily salted to preserve it and enhance flavor. A dog’s kidneys aren’t designed to handle excessive sodium, which can lead to dehydration, vomiting, diarrhea, and in severe cases, sodium ion poisoning.
High Fat
Sausage tends to be rich in fat, which can quickly upset a dog’s stomach. Too much fatty food can even trigger pancreatitis — a painful, sometimes life-threatening inflammation of the pancreas.
Dangerous Spices and Ingredients
Many sausages include onion powder, garlic powder, or even nutmeg. These common sausage spices are toxic to dogs and can damage their red blood cells, leading to anemia, weakness, and serious health risks.
Other flavorings, such as hot peppers, mustard seed, or paprika, can irritate a dog’s digestive system, causing vomiting or diarrhea.
Preservatives and Additives
Most commercially cured sausages contain nitrates and nitrites, which help preserve the color and safety of the meat. In large amounts, these preservatives can be harmful to dogs and may even be linked to certain types of cancer.
What Happens if My Dog Eats Sausage?
If your dog steals a small bite of cooked sausage, don’t panic — most dogs will be fine, though you should still keep an eye on them.
Watch for signs of distress:
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Vomiting
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Excessive drooling
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Diarrhea
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Excessive thirst
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Weakness
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Lethargy
If your dog eats a large amount of sausage, or sausage with garlic, onion, or other harmful spices, call your veterinarian immediately.
Is Raw Sausage Safe for Dogs?
Raw sausage is even more dangerous for dogs than cooked sausage. Raw sausage may contain:
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Harmful bacteria like salmonella or E. coli
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Parasites such as trichinella
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Spices and salt in raw form, which can be more potent
Feeding raw sausage to your dog puts them at risk of serious illness or even food poisoning.
Can Dogs Have Plain Sausage?
Even plain, unseasoned sausage is typically high in fat and sodium. A very small amount on rare occasions is unlikely to harm a healthy dog, but it shouldn’t become a habit.
If you want to give your dog a treat with a sausage-like flavor, there are safer options you can choose instead.
Better Alternatives to Sausage for Dogs
Dogs love meaty treats, but you can give them something safer than human sausage. Here are better alternatives:
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Plain cooked lean beef (unseasoned, with no salt or spices)
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Plain cooked chicken or turkey (skinless, boneless)
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Dog-specific jerky treats, made with no added spices or preservatives
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Freeze-dried beef treats for dogs, which preserve nutrients without excess salt
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Homemade dog treats with plain ground beef or turkey, baked without garlic or onion
If you enjoy making your own sausage at home, you could even prepare a dog-friendly version with lean ground meat, no salt, and no spices, then cook it thoroughly before serving.
Why Dogs Love Sausage
It’s no surprise dogs go crazy for sausage — it’s packed with flavor, rich in fat, and has an intense, meaty aroma. Dogs have powerful senses of smell and are drawn to these savory foods.
Unfortunately, the very things that make sausage so appealing to humans (salt, spice, and fat) are the reasons it’s risky for your dog.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can dogs have breakfast sausage?
No. Breakfast sausage often includes seasonings like sage, garlic, or nutmeg, and is very high in fat and salt. It should not be fed to dogs.
Can dogs eat smoked sausage?
It’s best to avoid it. Smoked sausage still contains high sodium, spices, and preservatives that can harm your dog.
Can dogs eat sausage rolls?
No. Sausage rolls usually contain spiced sausage meat wrapped in pastry, which adds even more fat and calories. Both components can upset a dog’s digestion.
Can dogs eat bratwurst?
Bratwurst, a Wisconsin favorite, is delicious for people but contains onions, garlic, and high fat, making it unsafe for dogs.
What should I do if my dog ate sausage?
Watch for vomiting, diarrhea, or weakness. If your dog ate a lot, or if the sausage included harmful seasonings, call your vet right away.
Final Verdict: Can Dogs Have Sausage?
Technically, dogs can eat sausage, but they really shouldn’t.
Between the high sodium, risky spices, and fatty content, sausage is more likely to cause harm than to help your pup. A tiny, plain bite once in a blue moon is generally okay for a healthy dog, but making sausage a regular treat is not safe or healthy.
Your best bet? Share your love of meat with your dog by giving them plain, cooked, lean cuts, or treats made specifically for dogs, with no risky ingredients.
Wisconsin River Meats: Sausage for People, Not Pups
At Wisconsin River Meats, we take pride in our delicious, handcrafted sausages made with traditional Midwestern methods. Our smoked sausages, summer sausages, and brats are made for human enjoyment — not for dogs.
If you’re craving authentic, old-fashioned sausage, explore our Sausage Collection and taste the difference real craft butchery makes.
For your four-legged family members, choose safe, dog-formulated treats from a trusted pet store, or talk to your veterinarian about the best protein sources for your pup.
Ready to stock up on authentic Wisconsin sausage for your next gathering?
Shop Wisconsin River Meats Sausage today — and leave the sharing to dog-approved snacks only!
