Did you know that December 30th is National Bacon Day? We’re guessing probably not. After all, this one definitely takes a backseat to major people holidays, such as Christmas, Hanukkah, and New Year’s Eve. However, your canine companion would be more than happy to celebrate with you. A local Carolina Forest, SC vet discusses Fido’s favorite snack below.
Bacon Basics
Here’s some information that will definitely get Fido’s tail going: bacon is safe for dogs. However, there are a few caveats. First and foremost, you’ll need to be careful not to give your furry pal too much. (Sorry, buddy: it’s for your own good.) Bacon, as we all know, is very high in fat. Eating too much fat puts your pet at risk of pancreatitis, which is a potentially life-threatening issue. Plus, the high salt content can make your canine buddy super thirsty. And, needless to say, too much bacon also isn’t great for your pup’s waistline!
Training
Bacon is a great training aid. Fido really does strive to please his humans, and really loves being rewarded for being a good boy. Giving your furry friend some bacon when he obeys a command is a great way to reinforce his training. The key here is to break the bacon into little pieces. You always want to use small portions for training purposes.
Homemade Goodies
If you enjoy baking, you may be cooking a lot over the next few weeks. Why not make your four-legged buddy some treats? Here’s a good one to try: combine bacon grease with 1 ½ cups whole-wheat flour, ½ cup wheat germ, an egg, ½ cup cold water, and ½ cup of bacon fat. If needed, you can add more flour or water to get the consistency right. Divide into small portions, and cook at 350 for about 20 minutes. Just don’t give Fido too many of these snacks at once.
Bacon Hack
We usually focus on pet care, but this is the perfect time to slip in a cooking hack. Try cooking your bacon on a cookie sheet in the oven. About 15 minutes at 400F should do it. Go ahead and give Fido a piece when it’s cooled, but no more than that. (You may need to steel yourself against your pet’s adorable sad-puppy stare.)
Happy Holidays from Waccamaw Regional Veterinary Center, your Carolina Forest, SC animal clinic. Contact us anytime!
