Biltong, Braai Meat and Pets: What Is Safe and What Is Not

Biltong: mostly the salt

Plain, unspiced biltong in a small quantity is not toxic. The problem is that almost no biltong is plain. Commercial biltong is heavily salted and usually seasoned with coriander, pepper and frequently garlic or onion powder. Garlic and onion damage red blood cells in dogs and cats, and the powdered forms are far more concentrated than fresh.

Boerewors and braai meat

The fat content is the issue. A sudden large quantity of rich fatty meat is a common trigger for pancreatitis, which is painful, expensive and occasionally fatal. Braai day is when vets see it. A small piece of plain grilled meat is fine; a boerewors coil scavenged off a plate is not.

Bones from the fire

Cooked bones splinter. Chop bones, rib bones and chicken bones from a braai cause perforations and obstructions, and this is one of the more common emergency surgeries. Raw bones carry their own debate, but cooked bones are simply not up for discussion.

Corn on the cob

Frequently overlooked and genuinely dangerous. A cob swallowed whole is close to the perfect shape to obstruct a dog's intestine, does not break down, and usually requires surgery. Clear plates promptly and keep the bin closed.

The realistic approach

You will not stop guests feeding your dog. Say it out loud at the start, put a bowl of something appropriate near the braai so people have a permitted option, and accept that a dog under a table at a braai is doing their job perfectly.