Can You Feed a Dog Jerky?

Jerky is the treat that gets a dog's full attention. It is also the treat that has an unsettled safety record, which is an odd combination for something sold in every pet shop.

There are really two questions here: the packets sold in pet shops, and the strips you bought for yourself. They go wrong in different ways.

Are pet-shop jerky treats safe?

Usually, yes. Occasionally, no. Nobody has been able to say why, and that is the uncomfortable part of the whole story.

The US Food and Drug Administration began receiving reports of pets falling ill after jerky treats in 2007. By the end of 2015 it had about 5,200 complaints involving chicken, duck or sweet potato jerky, covering more than 6,200 dogs and more than 1,140 canine deaths (US FDA). About 60% of the reports described gut illness. About 30% involved the kidneys or urinary tract.

Then the awkward part: testing for contaminants did not reveal a single root cause.

What that does not show is how common the problem is. Complaints are owners reporting what they suspect, with no control group and no count of the dogs that ate the same treats and were fine. It is a warning light, not a risk figure, and worth treating as one without panicking over the next packet you open. We went through the wider question of origin in [should I avoid dog treats made in China](/blogs/news/dog-treats-made-in-china).

What did the kidney cases look like?

A useful look comes from Australia. Vets there described 108 dogs with a kidney tubule problem, all of which had eaten the same brand of dried chicken treats made in China (Australian Veterinary Journal, 2013). Most were small breeds, 88% of the group. Their owners reported drinking and urinating a lot (76%), lethargy (73%), poor appetite (65%) and vomiting (54%).

Six dogs died or were put to sleep. For the 25 dogs whose recovery time was recorded, it ranged from under two weeks to two to six months. The authors concluded the treats likely contained a toxin affecting the kidney tubules.

One brand, studied in hindsight: it cannot speak for jerky in general. It does tell you which signs matter: a dog that suddenly drinks and urinates far more than usual after a dried treat needs a vet, not a wait-and-see.

What about Salmonella?

Dried is not cooked. Meat that was air-dried or freeze-dried without ever being heated is, as far as bacteria are concerned, still raw.

Researchers in the UK bought 84 dried, non-heat-treated meat treats from pet shops and online sellers and tested them (The Veterinary Record, 2023). Sixteen per cent grew Salmonella, 39% of the bacteria they isolated resisted antibiotics, and every type found can infect people. The study was small, covered a limited set of sellers, and looked at many kinds of meat treat, not only jerky. Nothing in it describes products sold in India.

Hands matter too. Wash them after handling, particularly before a child touches the dog or the dog goes in for a lick of someone's face, because the risk is to people as much as to the dog.

Can I share my own jerky?

A tiny plain piece will not usually hurt a healthy dog. A habit of it is a worse idea.

Human jerky is made for human tastes, and the label is the only way to know what went into it. Two things to look for:

Onion or garlic. WSAVA's treat guidance lists onions, leeks, shallots, garlic and chives among the toxic ingredients for dogs (WSAVA, 2024). Onion powder and garlic powder count. If either is on the list, the packet stays shut.

Salt. The Merck Veterinary Manual notes that salt toxicosis is unlikely while a dog's sodium regulation is working and fresh water is available (Merck Veterinary Manual). A strip or two is not the worry. A dog that has finished half a packet and has no water nearby is. Excess salt shows up as vomiting within hours, and can progress to weakness, diarrhoea, tremors and seizures.

Sweeteners, chilli and heavy sauces are further reasons to skip a flavoured one. If you want to give your dog something from your plate, [can I give my dog human food as treats](/blogs/news/can-dogs-have-human-food-as-treats) goes through it.

How much, and what shape?

Jerky is dense. A strip that looks like nothing can hold a large share of a day's treat allowance, which is how a few generous handfuls turn into a dog that has had far more than the guideline without anyone noticing.

WSAVA says treats should make up less than 10% of daily calories, which works out at 47 kcal for a 10 kg dog and 64 kcal for a 15 kg dog. It also advises avoiding excessively hard treats and sharp edges, and sizing any treat to the dog to reduce the risk of choking. For jerky, that means tearing it into fingernail-sized bits, and for a small dog, smaller still. Hard, leathery pieces suit a small mouth poorly.

Our post on [how often to give a dog treats](/blogs/news/how-often-to-give-dog-treats) covers the allowance in more detail, and the chicken-specific angles are in [is dehydrated chicken a good treat for dogs](/blogs/news/dehydrated-chicken-treats-for-dogs).

How do you pick a safer one?

Three habits do most of the work.

Read the whole label. One or two ingredients is plain. A long list with sweeteners, salt or spice is not what you want in a daily treat.

Look for a manufacturer and a batch number. If the packet gives neither, you have nothing to report if something goes wrong. Keep the packet until it is finished.

Check it is properly dried and stored. Our guide on [storing dog treats in Indian humidity](/blogs/feeding-dogs-in-india/storing-dog-treats-indian-humidity) is worth a read.

When should you see a vet?

After jerky, watch for vomiting, diarrhoea, reduced appetite, lethargy, and drinking or urinating more than usual. Stop the treats and keep the packet with its batch number. Repeated vomiting, bloody diarrhoea, tremors, or a dog that will not get up is urgent: go the same day. The wider list is on our page about [when to see a vet](/blogs/news/when-to-take-dog-to-vet-digestive-problems).

Where ChewCheer fits

It doesn't. ChewCheer is a soft chew of about 2 g, in a chicken and pumpkin flavour, made with chicory root fibre and inulin; it is not jerky and does not do the job of a high-value reward. It does contain chicken, so a dog with a chicken allergy should not have it. If your dog gets jerky as well, both count towards the same daily treat allowance.

The short version

A small piece of plain, fully dried jerky is usually fine for a healthy dog. The category carries a record that is not reassuring: thousands of FDA complaints with no cause found, and Salmonella in 16% of the dried meat treats one UK study tested. Human jerky adds seasoning, so check for onion, garlic and salt. Tear it small, count it towards the treat allowance, wash your hands, and see a vet if your dog starts drinking, vomiting or tiring unusually.

Frequently asked questions

Is it safe to give a dog jerky?

A small piece of plain, fully dried meat jerky is usually fine for a healthy dog. The category has a mixed record, though: the US FDA received about 5,200 illness complaints linked to chicken, duck and sweet potato jerky by the end of 2015 and never found one cause. Choose traceable products, keep pieces small and watch your dog afterwards.

Can dogs eat human beef jerky?

Better not as a habit. Human jerky is made for people and usually seasoned, and the ingredient list is the thing to read. WSAVA lists onions, garlic, leeks, shallots and chives as toxic to dogs, so any jerky seasoned with onion or garlic powder is out. A tiny plain piece is a different matter from a handful of marinated strips.

Why were jerky treats linked to dogs getting sick?

Nobody knows. The FDA's testing for contaminants did not reveal a single root cause for the many different reported illnesses. About 60% of reports involved the gut and about 30% involved the kidneys or urinary tract. Complaint reports are not a controlled study, so they show a pattern worth caution, not proof of what caused it.

What signs should I watch for after my dog eats jerky?

Vomiting, diarrhoea, eating less, lethargy, and drinking or urinating more than usual. In the Australian case series, 76% of dogs were drinking and urinating more. Stop the treats, keep the packet and its batch number, and call your vet. A dog that is repeatedly vomiting or will not get up needs to be seen that day.

How much jerky can I give my dog?

Treats should stay under 10% of daily calories. WSAVA puts that at 47 kcal for a 10 kg dog and 64 kcal for a 15 kg dog. Dried meat is dense, so a few fingernail-sized pieces use up a large share of that allowance. Tear strips small and trim the main meal on days you give more.

Can puppies have jerky?

A puppy can have a tiny piece of plain jerky once weaned onto solid food, but it is a poor first treat. Dried strips can be tough to chew and swallow, and a puppy's gut is still settling. Soft, small, simple treats in tiny amounts suit better. Ask your vet before introducing dried meat to a puppy with a sensitive stomach.