Can Dogs Eat Ham? Holiday Safety, Risks, and Ham Bones

Ham is not toxic to dogs, so a small piece that falls off the holiday platter is very unlikely to cause a crisis. But ham is not a healthy treat. It is loaded with salt, high in fat, and often glazed with sugar or cooked with seasonings that dogs should not have. And the ham bone, the part many dogs want most, is the most dangerous part of all.

With Thanksgiving and the winter holidays coming up, ham is about to show up on a lot of tables and in a lot of trash cans. Here is what veterinary and pet health sources say about dogs and ham, what to do if your dog sneaks some, and better treats to share instead.

Is Ham Bad for Dogs?

Ham is not poisonous to dogs. PetMD says ham is not toxic but is also not a healthy treat, and that a dog that eats a little piece that fell on the floor should be fine. The American Kennel Club calls feeding ham “not advisable,” while noting that a little sliver once in a while probably will not hurt your dog.

So the honest answer is: a tiny bite is not an emergency, but ham should not become a habit. Your dog gets the protein it needs from a complete and balanced dog food, and there are far better protein sources than a cured, salty holiday ham.

Why Ham Is a Poor Choice for Dogs

1. It is packed with salt

Most ham sold in stores is cured, and that makes it very salty. The AKC points out that store-bought ham contains a great deal of sodium, and that even the preservatives used in ham, nitrates and nitrites, are sodium-based.

Too much salt is a real problem for dogs. According to the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, excessive salt intake can cause increased thirst and urination, and signs of salt toxicity can include vomiting, diarrhea, depression, tremors, seizures, and even death. PetMD adds that a high-sodium diet over time can contribute to hypertension, kidney disease, heart disease, and obesity in dogs.

2. It is high in fat

Ham has a higher fat content than many other meats. The AKC notes that the fatty richness that makes ham taste so good is also what makes it hard for dogs to digest, and that too much fat can lead to pancreatitis and other digestive upsets. PetMD says eating fatty food even once can give your dog an upset stomach.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration specifically warns against sharing fatty holiday table scraps such as fat trimmings from meat. It describes pancreatitis as potentially life-threatening and painful, with common signs in dogs including vomiting, stomach pain, restlessness, shaking, diarrhea, fever, and weakness.

3. It is often sweet or heavily seasoned

Holiday hams are frequently glazed with brown sugar, honey, or syrup. PetMD notes that ham can be high in sugar, which can contribute to obesity and diabetes in dogs. Some recipes also use onion or garlic, and the ASPCA lists onion, garlic, and chives as foods that can cause stomach irritation and red blood cell damage in pets. If you do not know exactly how the ham was prepared, assume it is not dog-friendly.

Can Dogs Have Ham Bones?

No. This is the most important point in this article. PetMD says you should never give your dog a ham bone to chew on, because cooked bones can splinter and become a choking hazard or cause an intestinal blockage.

The FDA has warned about this for years. In its holiday safety advice, it notes that dogs are notorious for raiding the trash for bones, which can get stuck in the esophagus, stomach, or windpipe, and that sharp bone pieces can cause severe internal injuries. The FDA also points out that if a bone lodges in the stomach or intestines, symptoms may not show up right away. Hours to days later, a dog may vomit, have diarrhea, be less active, refuse food, or have stomach pain.

The ASPCA agrees that dogs can suffer injury or obstruction of the gastrointestinal tract from eating bones, which can be serious and may require surgery. After your holiday meal, wrap up the ham bone and scraps and put them in a trash can your dog cannot open, or take the trash out right away.

Types of Ham and Ham Products

• Glazed holiday ham: The salt, fat, and sugary glaze make this one of the worst choices. Skip it.
• Deli ham and lunch meat: Usually cured and salty. A scrap that falls from a sandwich is unlikely to hurt a healthy dog, but do not make it a treat.
• Ham hocks and ham bones: Do not give them to your dog. They are salty, fatty, and the bones are a choking and blockage risk.
• Raw or undercooked ham: The ASPCA warns that raw meat can carry bacteria such as Salmonella and E. coli that can be harmful to pets and people.
• Plain, uncured ham: If you really want to share, PetMD says unprocessed, uncured ham with the fat trimmed off is the best option, and only as an occasional small treat.

Ham is not the only salty, fatty pork product that tempts dogs. Our guide on whether dogs can eat bacon covers similar risks.

Watch the Rest of the Holiday Plate

Ham rarely shows up alone. Holiday sides can be just as risky, and sometimes more so. Before your dog gets any scraps, watch for:

• Raisins and grapes in stuffing, salads, or desserts. Read our article on whether dogs can eat grapes to learn why they are so dangerous.
• Onion and garlic in gravies, stuffing, and casseroles.
• Xylitol, a sweetener found in some sugar-free baked goods and candy. The ASPCA warns it can cause low blood sugar and liver damage.
• Turkey skin, drippings, and bones. Plain, boneless, skinless turkey is a better option than ham. See can dogs eat turkey for the details.

What to Do If Your Dog Ate Ham

1. Figure out what and how much. Was it a small scrap, several slices, a glazed chunk, or the bone? Check the packaging or recipe for onion, garlic, or other risky ingredients.
2. Remove anything left over so your dog cannot eat more, and secure the trash.
3. Offer fresh water, since salty food makes dogs thirsty.
4. Watch for signs of stomach upset. PetMD lists lethargy or weakness, lack of appetite, excessive drooling, abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea. Contact your vet if you notice any of these.
5. Call right away for a bone or a large amount. If your dog swallowed a ham bone, ate a lot of ham, or shows signs like tremors, repeated vomiting, or seizures, call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 (a consultation fee may apply). If your dog is choking, PetMD advises calling your vet immediately.

A small piece of ham in a healthy adult dog usually passes without trouble. Small dogs, dogs with a history of pancreatitis, and dogs with heart or kidney conditions deserve a quicker call to the vet.

Better Treats to Share Instead of Ham

PetMD suggests plenty of dog-safe foods you probably already have in your kitchen, including green beans, carrots, apples, blueberries, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, lean chicken, and turkey. A few seasonal favorites, served plain and in small portions:

• Plain canned pumpkin, not pie filling. Learn more in can dogs eat pumpkin.
• Plain cooked sweet potato, peeled and unseasoned. Our guide on whether dogs can eat sweet potatoes covers serving tips.
• Plain cooked green beans with no butter, salt, or casserole toppings.
• Treats made for dogs, which are a far better choice than salty holiday meat.

Treats should stay a small part of your dog’s daily diet. If your dog has a health condition or is on a prescription diet, check with your vet before sharing any people food.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can dogs eat cooked ham?

A small piece of plain cooked ham is unlikely to harm a healthy dog, but it is not recommended as a regular treat because of its high salt and fat content. Skip glazed or seasoned ham entirely.

Can dogs eat deli ham?

Deli ham is usually cured and salty. A scrap that falls on the floor is not an emergency, but it should not be a go-to treat or a pill pocket.

Can puppies eat ham?

It is best not to give puppies ham. Their stomachs can be sensitive, and they do not need the extra salt and fat. Stick with their puppy food and treats made for dogs.

My dog ate a ham bone. What should I do?

Call your veterinarian. Cooked bones can splinter and cause choking, mouth injuries, or blockages, and the FDA notes that symptoms of a blockage may take hours to days to appear. Do not wait for signs before asking for advice.

Is ham worse for dogs than turkey?

Generally, yes. Plain, boneless, skinless turkey is a leaner choice than cured ham, which is much saltier and fattier. Either way, keep portions small and skip the skin, gravy, and bones.

The Bottom Line

Dogs can survive a stolen bite of ham, but ham is not good for them. It is salty, fatty, and often sweetened or seasoned, and the bone is a genuine danger. This holiday season, keep the ham platter and the trash out of reach, share plain dog-safe foods instead, and call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 if your dog gets into something it should not.

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