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My 12 kg beagle stole two slices — one spicy salami, one pepperoni — from the pizza box. Is one worse than the other for dogs?

Dogs · Food safety

Last reviewed: 2026-09-05 · Reference ranges: ASPCA, Pet Poison Helpline & Merck Veterinary Manual

Short answer

Both are bad, but pepperoni is often spicier and greasier, which can irritate the stomach more quickly. The real danger with salami is the garlic powder, which can damage red blood cells over time. For two slices, watch for vomiting or diarrhea in the next six hours, and offer plenty of water to help flush the salt. Do not panic, but skip his next meal to let his stomach settle. Call your vet if he seems lethargic or his gums look pale, as that could signal anaemia from the garlic.

Salami — Food safety facts

Feed with care · Dogs · full breakdown on the linked food page

Very salty and fatty, often with garlic and spices. Not a good treat.

Dogs and cats carry the same rating (Feed with care), so the notes below hold for either pet.

Salami is not poisonous to dogs, but it is easy to over-feed. Rich fat, salt or seasoning can bring on vomiting or diarrhoea within a day, and repeated large portions are a recognised trigger for pancreatitis.

If it ate some before you noticed, watch for vomiting, diarrhoea, loss of appetite, unusual tiredness or a painful, swollen abdomen over the next 24 hours. A one-off small amount in a healthy adult usually passes with water and rest; repeated exposure, a puppy or kitten, a senior, or a pet with an ongoing illness is a reason to call your vet the same day.

Why these cautions matter

Garlic and onion damage a pet's red blood cells and can bring on anaemia. Signs are often delayed for several days, so looking fine straight afterwards does not rule it out.

A heavy salt load drives up thirst and urination, and in the worst cases leads to sodium ion poisoning, which is a genuine emergency.

Rich, fatty food is the classic trigger for pancreatitis, a painful inflammation of the pancreas that usually needs veterinary treatment rather than rest alone.

Salami can turn up now and then, but not as a daily habit: keep the rest of the day's food unchanged and watch the next walk and the stool that comes with it.

The full verdict, portion guidance and serving notes are collected on the Salami food facts page.

Open the full food page: Salami food facts →