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Can Dogs Eat Carne Asada? Vet Reviewed Facts & FAQs

Jessica Kim

By Jessica Kim

Can Dogs Eat Carne Asada

Vet approved

Dr. Lauren Demos  Photo

Reviewed & Fact-Checked By

Dr. Lauren Demos

DVM (Veterinarian)

The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research.

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Carne asada is a delicious and savory dish that originates from Mexico and Central America. Carne asada translates to “roast meat” in English and is usually prepared by grilling marinated chuck steak, skirt steak, flap steak, or flank steak.

While many people enjoy eating carne asada, it’s not the best dish to give to dogs because the marinade can contain ingredients that are harmful to dogs. Your dog most likely won’t get sick if it eats a small piece of carne asada. However, it can start to experience health issues if it continues to eat carne asada regularly.

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What’s in Carne Asada?

Carne asada is prepared by marinating a cut of meat for many hours and then grilling it. People will have different carne asada marinade recipes, but you can expect them to share some common ingredients.

A typical carne asada marinade will consist of the following ingredients:
  • Lime juice
  • Cilantro
  • Garlic
  • Chili powder
  • Cumin
  • Paprika
  • Black pepper
  • Chipotle pepper
  • Olive oil
  • Jalapeños

A good number of these ingredients aren’t safe for dogs to eat. Garlic and all vegetables belonging to the allium family are toxic to dogs. Garlic contains toxins that can cause damage to a dog’s red blood cells, and many dogs end up developing a form of anemia if they continuously consume garlic.

Dogs also cannot digest spicy foods very well, including jalapeños, chili powder, and black pepper. Some peppers contain elements that are toxic to dogs, but most dogs will just have difficulty digesting them and can end up experiencing diarrhea or vomiting if they eat something spicy.

While dogs can eat a few limes, it’s important to remember that limes contain a lot of citric acids. If a dog eats too much citric acid, it can lead to gastrointestinal issues or complications with its central nervous system and coordination.

These ingredients that we’ve mentioned are just some of the basic ingredients that you’ll find in a carne asada marinade. Different marinades will have additional ingredients that could also be harmful to dogs. So, it’s not recommended for you to feed your dog carne asada that’s been prepared with a store-bought marinade. It’s also not recommended to feed your dog carne asada prepared with homemade marinade because it most likely contains ingredients that aren’t the best or safest for your dog to eat.

Carne Asada
Photo Credit: JumpStory

Healthier Carne Asada Alternatives You Can Feed Your Dog

Fortunately, your dog can enjoy safer treats while you are preparing carne asada. First, if you’re making your own carne asada, you can set aside a few cuts of beef for your dog. Dogs can safely eat unseasoned, fully cooked beef. The FDA recommends cooking steaks until they reach an internal temperature of at least 145℉. Meat that has not been fully cooked can contain bacteria that causes food poisoning. It’s also important not to feed your dog any raw meat because there’s a higher risk of it being contaminated and causing your dog to experience gastrointestinal upset.

You can also always opt to feed your dog a beef-based treat or wet dog food. Since beef is such a popular ingredient in dog food, you won’t have much trouble finding food and treats that contain beef. You can also find beef jerky for pets that your dog can safely enjoy while you eat some carne asada.

What to Do If Your Dog Eats Carne Asada

If your dog happens to sneak a bite of carne asada from your plate, you probably won’t have to worry too much about its condition. Your dog may be able to digest it just fine, and you’ll just have to be extra watchful in the future. However, dogs with more sensitive stomachs may get an upset stomach from eating carne asada because the ingredients can be difficult for them to digest.

If your dog experiences diarrhea or vomiting for more than a couple of days, make sure to contact your veterinarian. Your veterinarian may recommend that your dog goes on a fast to help soothe its stomach and then feed it bland food, like plain white rice or pumpkin. When your dog’s condition stabilizes, you’ll re-introduce your dog back to its usual diet incrementally. It also doesn’t hurt to consult your veterinarian to see if diarrhea medication would be helpful for your dog.

sick chihuahua dog lying on a rug
Photo Credit: Zozz_, Pixabay

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Conclusion

There’s no denying that carne asada is a delicious dish. However, it’s important to resist feeding it to your dog because it can cause digestive issues. Continuously eating carne asada can lead to more chronic health issues, as it may contain ingredients such as garlic that can damage a dog’s red blood cells. Your dog will be happy to eat a piece of fully cooked, unseasoned beef while you eat carne asada. So, make sure to keep your dog away from carne asada and stick to feeding it nutritious foods that it can safely eat.


Featured Photo Credit: JumpStory

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