When it comes to feeding your dog a balanced, healthy diet, there are many factors to consider. We love our dogs and want the best for them. That is why we tend to overanalyze every aspect of their nutrition, ensuring they get all the right nutrients without exceeding their daily recommended intake of any one particular thing. These days it’s easy to come by information on whether a certain food is good for dogs or not, and if so, in what quantity and at what frequency. Questions such as – Is bacon grease good for dogs? – are commonplace among dog owners with inquisitive minds and an apparent desire for their pal to remain happy and healthy for as long as possible.
Is Bacon Grease Good For Dogs?
Yes, bacon grease is a great addition to your dog’s diet. A nutritionist will tell you that your dog should be getting at least 10% of his/her daily calories from meat. For dogs, meat is best sourced from fresh, raw meat with little or no processing. This can be done by feeding raw food or by adding bacon grease to their regular diet.
What Is Bacon Grease?
- Bacon grease is a cooking oil that is made from rendering fat from the meat of pigs. It is available for purchase in grocery stores and other retail outlets.
- Bacon grease is also used as a condiment, often found on the tables of diners and cafes throughout the United States.
- Bacon grease has been referred to as “the secret ingredient” by chefs who use it to cook their dishes and bring out the best flavors in them.
- Bacon grease is different from ordinary animal fat because it contains more saturated fats, which are considered good fats for human consumption, than animal fat (which contains less saturated fats). Saturated fats are those with at least one double bond in the fatty acid chain, like beef tallow or palm kernel oil.
- Bacon grease also has higher amounts of monounsaturated fatty acids than ordinary animal fat does; these are considered good for humans too because they reduce inflammation and lower blood cholesterol levels.
Is Bacon Grease Good For Dogs?
Bacon Grease is an Unhealthy Dog Food
Bacon grease, or lard, is a byproduct of the rendering process, which is a method of making animal fat more palatable by removing some of the water and other components. The fat can then be used in cooking and baking. Bacon grease has been accepted as a nutritious food for many years. It is commonly used as a condiment in dog food formulas. In fact, it has been recommended as an ingredient to use in dog food formulas since at least 1847, when it was listed in one of the first U.S. pet food standards.
Bacon Grease Can Be Dangerous for Dogs if Consumed at High Levels
Bacon grease can be dangerous for dogs if consumed at high levels due to the presence of trans fats. Trans fats are unhealthy fats that are found in many processed foods such as baked goods, crackers, and snack foods that have been fried or baked at high temperatures. These types of foods contain trans fats because they are made using partially hydrogenated oils. These oils are unhealthy because they also contain saturated fats which raise bad cholesterol levels in your dog’s body and can lead to heart disease. Trans fats also lower good cholesterol levels (lowered HDL), so your dog may suffer from other health problems such as atherosclerosis (hardening and narrowing of arteries) or heart disease.
Bacon Grease Does Not Contain Many Nutrients
Each tablespoon of bacon grease only contains about 0.2 grams of fat and 0.3 grams of protein. This is not enough nutrition to be considered a complete meal for your dog. Bacon grease is also low in vitamins and minerals. In fact, it does not contain any antioxidants or B vitamins, which are essential nutrients for dogs.
Bacon Grease May Contain Traces of Salmonella and E.Coli
Some dogs may have an allergic reaction to bacon grease, which could cause an illness called salmonellosis, which can be life-threatening! That’s why it’s best to avoid feeding your dog bacon grease at all times.
Bacon Grease Does Not Provide a Complete Meal
Bacon grease simply cannot provide the nutrients needed by your dog as a complete meal because it does not contain enough protein or fat to meet the requirements needed by your pet. The best thing you can do is supplement the diet of your dog with other foods such as grains, vegetables, and fruits that are rich in protein, fat, and other nutrients that he needs for his daily nutritional needs!
Bacon Grease Does Not Contain Many Nutrients
Each tablespoon of bacon grease only contains about 0.2 grams of fat and 0.3 grams of protein. This is not enough nutrition to be considered a complete meal for your dog. Bacon grease is also low in vitamins and minerals. In fact, it does not contain any antioxidants or B vitamins, which are essential nutrients for dogs.
Bacon Grease May Contain Traces of Salmonella and E.Coli
Some dogs may have an allergic reaction to bacon grease, which could cause an illness called salmonellosis, which can be life-threatening! That’s why it’s best to avoid feeding your dog bacon grease at all times.
Pros Of Feeding Your Dog Bacon Grease
Bacon grease is a natural source of protein
Think about it: bacon grease is a byproduct of cooking meat. It’s not food you’re going to find in the grocery store. It’s not something that your dog would naturally eat on its own, so it can’t be considered an “addition” to their diet. Bacon grease is a natural source of protein and contains no animal byproducts at all! This means that you are feeding your dog something that is actually good for them. And, even though it doesn’t contain any animal byproducts, it does have plenty of protein – about 18 grams per tablespoon (or 2 tablespoons). That’s more than many other foods that are commonly recommended for dogs.
Bacon grease has high amounts of fat
Bacon grease contains a whopping 41% fat content per tablespoon! That’s more than twice as much fat as most other proteins and fats commonly recommended for dogs! We don’t want our dogs to get too much fat in their diet, but we also don’t want them to be overly skinny either – as that can lead to health problems later on in life. The fact that bacon grease has such high amounts of fat makes it an ideal choice for feeding your dog – especially if they are prone to getting fatty skin infections or conditions such as hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid), hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid), or heart disease.
Bacon grease contains no artificial ingredients
When you buy bacon grease, you’re not going to find any artificial ingredients in it. It’s the real thing, straight from the source! This means that your dog will be getting a healthy dose of vitamins and minerals that are naturally present in the grease. Not only does bacon grease contain plenty of protein, but it is also rich in vitamins A and D, as well as B vitamins such as thiamin (B1), riboflavin (B2), niacin (B3), pantothenic acid (B5), pyridoxine (B6), folic acid, biotin, and choline.
Bacon grease is low in calories
If you’re feeding your dog bacon grease every day, you’ll be getting a lot more than just protein – you’ll also be giving them some good fats to keep their skin nourished and their bodies healthy! Bacon grease contains only about 40 calories per tablespoon, which is less than many other foods commonly recommended for dogs.
Bacon grease tastes great
It doesn’t matter if your dog eats it out of a bowl or licks it off its paws – bacon grease is delicious! When cooked properly, it has a very distinct flavor that dogs love to eat. Their mouth will water when they catch a whiff of the delicious greasy aroma wafting through the air from your kitchen! If you can’t get enough yourself after eating yours – don’t worry! You can use the leftover bacon grease for cooking other foods.
Cons Of Feeding Your Dog Bacon Grease
- Bacon Grease is high in saturated fat and cholesterol.
- Bacon grease contains high amounts of saturated fat, which is known to be linked with heart disease and obesity in humans.
- Bacon grease contains high amounts of sodium, which can lead to water retention and increase the risk of heart failure in dogs.
- Bacon grease may contain traces of toxic substances such as dioxins, a carcinogenic by-product of the manufacturing process used to make bacon grease.
- Bacon grease may contain traces of nitrates, which are an ingredient commonly added to fertilizers and pesticides used on lawns and gardens throughout the country, which may be harmful to dogs if ingested over a long period of time.
Conclusion
Bacon grease is a high-fat food that provides dogs with essential nutrients and can help them speed up their metabolism. However, dogs should not be consuming too much fat, and bacon grease is high in sodium, which can be harmful in high amounts. The best way to feed your dog bacon grease is to use it as a supplement and not use it as a substitute for dog food.
