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My 60 lb lab mix just swallowed a slice of salami five minutes ago—what should I do right now?

Dogs · Food safety

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

Short answer

Do not induce vomiting unless your vet specifically tells you to. Remove any remaining salami from your dog's reach and watch closely for the next hour. Look for vomiting, excessive drooling, or signs of abdominal discomfort such as pacing or a hunched posture. Salami is very salty and fatty, and often contains garlic, which can irritate the digestive tract. Call your vet if your dog shows any of these signs.

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.

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

Open the full food page: Salami food facts →