Beef jerky is a meat snack dogs go after hard, and some jerky is made for dogs. This isn’t.
What is on the label
I pulled the ingredient list for Beef Jerky Original from Open Food Facts (product code 0017082876317). Ingredients are listed from the most to the least by weight.
Beef, water, sugar, salt, less than 2% soy sauce [(wheat, soybeans, salt), maltodextrin], flavorings, hydrolyzed corn protein, yeast extract, citric acid.
Recipes change, and flavors and package sizes can differ, so read the bag you actually have before you rely on this list.
What matters for your dog
- Salt. ASPCA says excessive salt can cause increased thirst and urination and, depending on the amount, vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, seizures and even death. Size matters: the same snack is a bigger dose for a small dog.
- Vague flavorings. The label says “flavorings” without naming them, so I can’t tell you what’s in that part. Another reason to treat jerky as a human snack.
- Nothing else from ASPCA’s list. I compared this label to ASPCA’s list of people foods to avoid and didn’t find onion, garlic, chives, chocolate, caffeine, xylitol, grapes, raisins or macadamia nuts.
About Jack Link’s Beef Jerky
The Beef Jerky Original label lists beef, water, sugar, salt, soy sauce (wheat, soybeans, salt), maltodextrin, flavorings, hydrolyzed corn protein, yeast extract and citric acid. No onion powder or garlic powder is listed, though “flavorings” is a catch-all term that doesn’t spell out what’s in it.
Salt is fourth on the list, right after sugar, and the soy sauce adds more. ASPCA says excessive salt can cause increased thirst and urination and, in larger amounts, vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, seizures and even death. Jerky is dried and seasoned, so it packs a lot of salt into a small piece.
Other Jack Link’s flavors, like teriyaki and peppered, have different labels and can include onion or garlic. I checked the Original.
If your dog already ate some
Write down what it was, how much, when, and your dog’s weight, and keep the package. Then call your vet, ASPCA Poison Control at (888) 426-4435, or Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661.
Don’t wait for symptoms if the snack has chocolate, xylitol, or a lot of onion or garlic in it. And don’t try to make your dog vomit with salt or salt water. Pet Poison Helpline says that can cause salt poisoning.
Questions people ask
Can dogs eat beef jerky?
The Original label lists no onion or garlic, but it’s very salty and sweetened. Jerky made for dogs is the better choice, and any jerky with onion or garlic powder is off the table, per ASPCA’s list.
What about teriyaki or peppered jerky?
Check the label of the exact flavor. Onion and garlic are common seasonings in jerky, and ASPCA says both can damage a dog’s red blood cells depending on the amount.
My dog ate a bag of jerky. Now what?
Call your vet or a poison hotline and tell them the bag size, the flavor, and your dog’s weight. A whole bag is a lot of salt for any dog.
More label checks
- Can Dogs Eat Pepperoni?Garlic powder is on the label, and pepperoni is very salty.
- Can Dogs Eat Hot Dogs?No onion or garlic on this label, but hot dogs are salty and processed.
- Can Dogs Eat Jif Peanut Butter?Peanuts, sugar, palm oil, salt, molasses. No xylitol on this label.
- Can Dogs Eat Skippy Peanut Butter?Peanuts, sugar, oil and salt. No xylitol on this label.
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Sources
- ASPCA: People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets
- Pet Poison Helpline: Salt
- Open Food Facts: Beef Jerky Original (code 0017082876317)
Last reviewed October 31, 2026. I’m not a vet, and this page is general information, not veterinary advice. Every dog is different. If you’re worried about your dog, call your vet.