You must have fed your dog hot dogs many times, and now you think a turkey hot dog would fare just fine.
To answer the question, “can dogs eat turkey hot dogs?”
Read on to go through a rundown of facts about what turkey hot dogs are, its nutritional content, and whether it is safe and healthy to add to your dog’s diet.
Hot Dogs in General
As the one who can decide and choose what kind of treat to feed your dog, you need to ensure that the source of hot dogs meets the standards for meat quality, processing safety, and quality ingredients.
Hot dogs are nontoxic in the:
- the sodium level is 450 mg or less
- The calorie count is 150 or below
- Fat content is no more than 14 grams
Can Dogs Eat Turkey Hot Dogs?
We have said much about typical hot dogs, but can dogs eat turkey hot dogs?
The answer: it depends.
The safety and quality of turkey hot dogs may vary according to their source of turkey meat, their processes, and additional ingredients.
These kinds of hot dogs may vary depending on the brand.
Check the brand of your turkey hot dogs.
Health experts suggest those uncured organic turkey hot dogs that are available in the market.
These usually contain:
- 60 grams of calories,
- less than 5 grams of fat,
- less than 450 milligrams of sodium, and
- around 5 grams of protein
Strictly speaking, turkey hot dogs that follow these ingredient levels are safe for your dogs to eat as it is for humans.
What Turkey Hot Dogs Should You Avoid?
On the other side of the spectrum are the worst kinds of turkey hot dogs.
Watch out and beware of turkey hot dogs that are processed out of MSM or mechanically separated meat that has excessive fat, high levels of sodium, yet only a low amount of protein.
Learn More:
Drawbacks about Turkey Hot Dogs
The next time you feed them, however, make sure to give them only moderate amounts.
We know that too much fat can be risky while too much sodium can cause:
- Dehydration
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Depression
- Seizures
In case these warning signs occur, attend to your dog’s needs right away and do water therapy to relieve your dog from dehydration.
In case of emergencies, it is always best to talk to a veterinarian for proper diagnosis and treatment.
Conclusion
Dogs can eat turkey hot dogs only if you give them:
- small to moderate amounts,
- the hot dog is not made of mechanically separated meat,
- it has low fat,
- low levels of sodium, and
- a reasonable amount of protein and calories
The calories and protein in hot dogs are okay for your dog’s diet
Excessive turkey hot dogs or feeding them the wrong kind can cause several health conditions for your dog, which you must attend to immediately.
But in general, you need not worry when dogs get to eat a tiny amount of turkey hot dogs.