Can dogs eat ham?
Ask your vet about your own pet. This page is general information from the sources below.
Ham is only for small amounts, or in certain forms, for dogs. Source: PDSA. One dog source lists small pieces of lean ham, with chicken and turkey, as an occasional treat. But ham is salty, and the ASPCA warns that too much salt can cause thirst and, in bad cases, vomiting, tremors and seizures. Keep it tiny, and call a vet if a dog ate a lot.
Checked October 29, 2026.
Why
One dog source lists small pieces of lean ham, with chicken and turkey, as an occasional treat. But ham is salty, and the ASPCA warns that too much salt can cause thirst and, in bad cases, vomiting, tremors and seizures. Keep it tiny, and call a vet if a dog ate a lot.
How to serve it
A tiny piece of lean, plain ham now and then. Cut off the fat.
Good to know
Ham is cured with a lot of salt. Salt, not poison, is the worry: too much can upset the body's salt balance.
Watch for: Glazed holiday ham, deli meat and ham bones add extra salt, sugar and fat, and bones can splinter. Call a vet or poison line if a pet ate a lot.
Already ate it?
If your pet ate a lot, or you are worried, call your vet. Say what was eaten, how much and when, and have your pet's weight ready.
Poison emergency? Call now
ASPCA Animal Poison Control: (888) 426-4435, 24 hours a day, every day. A consultation fee may apply.
Pet Poison Helpline: (855) 764-7661, 24/7. $99 per incident, follow-up calls included.
Or call your vet or the nearest emergency vet.
For the children
"Ham is only a tiny treat for dogs, and only a grown-up decides how much."
A job: Be the label reader. Before a grown-up shares any food with the dog, check this page, and ask a grown-up if the food is not on it.
This page is general information from the sources below, not veterinary advice. Your own vet knows your dog. Dogs differ.
Sources
- PDSA: A Guide to the Right Dog Diet (checked October 29, 2026)
- ASPCA: People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets (checked October 29, 2026)