Overview
No. Sodium nitrate is not safe for canine consumption. The compound is typically used in processed meats as a preservative. An unsafe dosage of sodium nitrate is toxic and carcinogenic and should not be given to dogs.
Can dogs eat Sodium nitrate?
Risks
- Sodium nitrate is a natural compound that acts as a preservative for processed food. It's typically added to cured meats, such as bacon, ham, hot dogs, sausages, and luncheon meat to help prevent botulism.
- Excessive consumption of sodium nitrate can lead to toxicity and cancer. When nitrates come into contact with bacteria from the dog's saliva, they are converted to nitrites. Some nitrites become nitric oxide, which helps reduce inflammation. However, nitrates that become nitrosamine are toxic and carcinogenic.
- Consuming 7.0 to 10.8 mg/kg of sodium nitrate per day can lead to methemoglobinemia, which is a blood disorder wherein the cells are deprived of oxygen. More than 40 mg/kg per day of sodium nitrate is lethal for dogs.
