Can Dogs Eat Biltong? Why to Ask Your Vet First

Do not hand your dog biltong until you have asked your vet. Our certified Glatt Kosher biltong is made for people, and its seasoning includes salt and garlic, which are known concerns worth raising with a vet before any dog gets a bite.

We are Grub, and we make Glatt Kosher biltong in small batches in Florida from grass-fed beef. Every few weeks someone asks if the dog can have a piece, usually because the dog is staring at them. We are a snack maker, not a veterinary practice, so we will not tell you it is fine and we will not give you an amount. What we can do is show you what is in the bag, explain why that matters to the question, and tell you what to ask.

Nothing here is veterinary advice.

Why this is a vet question, not a snack question

Dogs are not small people. Foods that are ordinary for us can be a problem for them, and the only person who can say what is right for your dog is a vet who knows your dog's age, size, health and history. A general article cannot do that, including this one.

So the useful thing we can offer is information about our own product. Here is the full ingredient list for each flavor of Sliced Biltong, as printed on the product page:

• Original: grass-fed kosher beef, coriander, black pepper, salt, garlic, vinegar.
• Peri Peri: grass-fed kosher beef, coriander, red pepper, black pepper, salt, garlic, vinegar, brown sugar.
• Loaded Garlic: grass-fed kosher beef, coriander, garlic, roasted garlic, salt, tomato powder, vinegar.

Look at what is on that list. Salt, in every flavor. Garlic, in every flavor, and in Loaded Garlic twice. Pepper, in two or all three. Peri Peri adds red pepper and brown sugar. Garlic, heavy seasoning and salt are exactly the sort of things people mean when they say "ask your vet before sharing human food". We are not saying any one of these will or will not harm your dog. We are saying they are the questions.

Why the question comes up so often

Biltong is dried beef, and dogs love beef. That is the whole reason this page exists. The smell is strong, the bag crinkles, and the dog appears from another room. It looks like a harmless piece of meat, and people reason that a dog eats meat, so a piece should be fine.

The trouble is that biltong is not just meat. It is meat plus the things that make biltong biltong. The salt preserves it. The vinegar and spices flavor it. Those additions are the point for a person and the reason a vet may say no for a dog. Plain beef and seasoned beef are two different questions, and only the second one is on our shelf.

If you are asking because you want to include your dog in the moment, that is a lovely instinct. Ask your vet what they would pick for that moment instead.

What to ask your vet

Print the ingredient list or keep it on your phone. Then ask:

1. Is a cured, salted beef snack made for people appropriate for my dog at all?
2. What about the garlic, and the spices, in the list?
3. Does my dog's age, size, weight or any health condition change the answer?
4. If a treat is fine, what do you recommend instead, and how should I choose one?

That last question is the useful one. Vets often have a view on dog treats made for dogs, and that is a better route than sharing from a human bag.

Is a dog treat the same as a meat snack?

It is easy to assume that because both are dried meat, they are interchangeable. They are not necessarily. A treat made for dogs is formulated for dogs. A snack made for people is formulated for people, with the seasoning people enjoy. Biltong is defined by its seasoning: salt, coriander, pepper, garlic and vinegar are part of what it is. You can read how the method works in our complete guide to biltong.

That is not a criticism of biltong. It is an explanation of why we send this question to a vet.

How to read any snack label before asking a vet

This habit works for every human snack in the house, not just ours. Before you call, turn the bag over and write down three things.

• Every ingredient, in order. The list on the bag is the one your vet needs. Do not summarize it from memory.
• Anything that is a seasoning rather than the main food. In biltong that is coriander, pepper, garlic and vinegar. In a glazed jerky it also includes the glaze.
• The size of the bag and what your dog actually got into. If this is about a mishap rather than a plan, the vet will want to know.

Our own bags list every ingredient, and we are happy to answer a question about a label. If your vet wants something specific from us, tell us what they asked and we will pass on what we know about the product.

What about the other things on our shelf?

Meat Candy is our jerky: cooked, glazed and sweet. It carries a glaze, and the label is where to check what is in it. It is also made for people. The same advice applies, so ask your vet before sharing. Our kosher beef jerky page lists the full range. Biltong Slabs are a pound of uncut seasoned beef, and the seasoning is the same as the sliced bags. Our biltong collection shows every size and flavor, and all of them are for human snacking.

We do not make dog treats, and we do not sell a pet product. If you see a Grub product described as a dog treat anywhere, it is not ours.

Practical points for a house with a dog

You do not need medical knowledge to follow these. They are just good habits when a dog lives with a bag of seasoned snacks.

• Store the bag out of reach. Biltong needs no refrigeration, so it sits in cupboards, desk drawers and bags. Dogs find all three. Our storage guide covers how to keep a bag sealed.
• Do not leave an open bag on a low table or a bag on the floor. A dog who gets into a bag is a better reason to call your vet than to wait and see.
• If your dog eats some, call your vet. Tell them the flavor and the ingredient list, and let them decide what happens next. Do not wait for symptoms, and do not guess at an amount from an internet article, including this one.
• Do not use the dog as a flavor tester. If you want to know which flavor your family likes, the Biltong Sampler Pack is made for exactly that, and it is a gift for people.

The honest trade-off is that dog owners love sharing. We understand the instinct. Biltong smells wonderful, and a hopeful dog is hard to refuse. The better habit is a treat your vet has cleared, kept in a separate jar, so the dog gets a ritual and you are not the one guessing.

A note on kosher households

Some kosher families wonder about feeding pets from the table. That is a question for your rabbi, because custom varies. We will only say the plain part: our biltong is a meat product, certified Glatt Kosher, and you can read about the certification on our kosher biltong page. Anything beyond that, ask your rabbi.

Bottom line

Do not guess. Biltong is salted, garlicky, spiced beef made for people. Whether any of it is right for your dog is your vet's decision, and a short conversation with the ingredient list in hand settles it. Until then, keep the bag where the dog cannot reach. We ship to every US address, and orders over $50 ship free.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can dogs eat biltong?

Ask your vet first. Our biltong is made for people and contains salt and garlic, which are known concerns for dogs. We do not recommend it for dogs and cannot give amounts.

Is any Grub flavor safe for dogs?

We cannot say any flavor is safe for dogs. All three contain salt and garlic. Show your vet the ingredient list and follow their advice.

My dog already ate some. What should I do?

Call your vet and tell them what was eaten, the flavor and roughly how much. Do not wait to see what happens.

Does Grub make dog treats?

No. We make biltong and Meat Candy for people.

Why does the garlic matter?

Garlic and onion are commonly raised as concerns for dogs. We are not vets, so we do not explain the details. Ask yours.

Is Meat Candy a safer option for dogs?

No. It is also made for people, with a sweet glaze. Check the label and ask your vet before sharing.

What should I give my dog instead?

Ask your vet to recommend a treat made for dogs. They know your dog's needs.