You’re in the right place if you want to share some bologna with your dog or have already let them eat a little bit and are wondering whether it’s safe.
Bologna meat contains many additives and is high in sodium. It’s not the best food for dogs, but it’s not toxic if it’s plain. However, it’s best to avoid feeding dogs this processed meat, mainly if it contains onion or garlic flavouring. Both these ingredients are toxic to dogs.
My Dog Has Eaten Bologna Meat: What Should I Do?
Firstly don’t panic. It all depends on how much your dog has eaten, its size, and what’s inside it. Since plain bologna meat always contains a high amount of sodium, you may find that your dog is a little bit more thirsty than usual. Also, additives are in every slice of bologna, so expect to see a more active dog for a bit, much like a child when they eat sugar.
When a dog eats Bologna meat, it can be worrying because there might be other things in it that are harmful to dogs. Things like garlic and onions are toxic to dogs.
I suggest checking the ingredients listed and if you see anything such as garlic or onion has been added. You won’t be able to see these ingredients in the bologna meat. They are added in powder form for flavour. If you have garlic powder or onion powder listed on the back label, you should take it, and if your dog has consumed a fair amount, you should take it to the vet.
Find out below what happens when a dog eats garlic or onions.
Garlic and Onions Toxicity
Plants in the allium family, such as garlic, onions, chives, and leeks, contain organosulfur compounds. These chemical compounds give these ingredients distinctive flavours and odours. In most cases, consuming these food ingredients in small doses won’t hurt much. However, it can still lead to severe inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract, also known as gastroenteritis. They can also lead to serious medical problems for your dog.
It can also cause:
- Abdominal pain
- Diarrhoea
- Drooling
- Nausea
- Vomiting
The most severe damage that the compounds present in the Allium food group create is to the red blood cells. Once the dogs consume these plant ingredients and digest them, all these chemical compounds get metabolized into highly reactive oxidants. These can cause severe damage to the red blood cells.
As the level of oxidants in the erythrocytes cell gets higher than its general oxidant metabolism capacity, the dog develops a condition known as oxidative hemolysis that reduces oxygen transportation ability.
Excessive levels can cause the dog’s blood cells to rupture and cause self-destruction.
Low red blood cell count can cause an increase:
- Heart rate
- Discoloured urine
- Weakness
- Kidney damage
- Collapse and even death
The cells with higher oxidant levels are known to form Heinz body formation, which is the development of abnormal blood cells. This can be seen under a microscope.
Dogs that eat foods from the allium species group can get hemolytic anaemia. In most cases, the dogs will show anaemia several days after eating the food.
Allium Foods
- Chive
- Garlic
- Leek
- Onion
- Shallot
- Spring Onion
Dogs consume these food items excessively; severe symptoms can appear after consumption or take a few days. The quicker you get help, the better chance your dog has.
The most common signs of toxicosis:
- Severe diarrhoea
- Vomiting
- Gastrointestinal upset
Key Points
- Bologna meat and dogs shouldn’t mix. To keep your dog healthy, don’t give them bologna meat.
- Bologna meat is highly processed.
- Bologna meat is full of salt, which is bad for dogs.
- The additives added to this meat can make dogs hyper.
- If your dog has excessively eaten bologna with garlic or onion powder, you should take your dog to a veterinarian.
Choose other food options instead, like:
- Broccoli
- Brussel Sprouts
- Carrots
- Blackberries
- Chicken
- Bread
- Cauliflower
- Bananas
- Raspberries
- Cucumber
- Butternut Squash
- Pineapple
- Porridge
- Mango Fruit
- Goat milk
