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Key things to know: Dogs shouldn’t be given beef jerky or biltong made for people. The beef isn’t the problem: the salt, seasonings and spices are. Human jerky is high in sodium and often contains garlic, onion, chilli or pepper, which can upset or harm dogs. If your dog has eaten a lot, or a product containing garlic or onion, call your vet. The better option is a beef treat made for dogs, like D.Jays Pet Treats: air-dried beef treats made in Perth from premium Aussie beef, with no added preservatives or sugar.
You’re on the couch with a bag of jerky, and your dog is staring at you with the kind of devotion normally reserved for the postie. It’s beef, right? Surely one piece won’t hurt?
It’s one of the questions we get asked most, so here’s the honest answer from a business that makes jerky and biltong for a living: the jerky and biltong we make for people isn’t made for dogs, and you shouldn’t share it. That goes for our products and everyone else’s.
But we’re dog people too, and we didn’t think your best mate should miss out. That’s exactly why we make our own D.Jays Pet Treats, right here in our Malaga factory. Your jerky stays yours, and your dog gets a bag of their own.
Plain, lean beef is a normal part of plenty of dogs’ diets. The trouble with jerky and biltong isn’t the meat. It’s everything that makes them taste great to us.
Snacks made for people are seasoned for human taste buds, and a dog’s body handles those ingredients very differently. A small dog in particular doesn’t need much before it becomes a problem. Here’s what to watch out for.
Salt is how dried meat has been preserved for centuries. Our own savoury jerky flavours sit at around 1,890 to 2,310mg of sodium per 100g. That’s fine for a person enjoying a snack, but it’s a lot to hand to a dog. RSPCA NSW notes that too much salt can cause excessive thirst and urination, and in serious cases vomiting, diarrhoea, tremors and seizures.
This is the big one. Plenty of jerky marinades use garlic or onion powder, and both contain compounds that can damage a dog’s red blood cells. RSPCA SA lists onion and garlic among the foods dogs shouldn’t eat. Recipes vary between brands, so if it’s not a dog treat, check the label, and if in doubt, leave it out.
Your favourite chilli jerky is no favour to your dog. Hot and peppery seasonings can irritate a dog’s stomach, and some spice blends include nutmeg, which isn’t recommended for dogs either.
Some jerky flavours have sweet marinades (our Mango Chilli is the sweet one in our range). Dogs don’t need added sugar, which is why our Pet Treats are made with none added.
Dogs aren’t known for chewing politely, and a big piece of jerky swallowed whole can be a choking risk or hard to digest. Fattier dried meats can also be tough on sensitive stomachs.
First, don’t panic. It happens in every household with a dog and a snack drawer.
If your dog has eaten a large amount, if the product contains garlic or onion, if your dog is small or unwell, or if you’re simply not sure, call your vet. Out of hours, contact your nearest animal emergency centre or the Animal Poisons Helpline on 1300 869 738.
Our tip for next time? Keep your jerky up high, and keep a bag of Pet Treats right next to it. When the puppy eyes come out, you’ve got something to hand over that’s actually made for them.
Same answer, same reasons. Biltong is cured with salt, vinegar and spices like coriander and black pepper, and chilli biltong adds extra heat. The same goes for droewors and boerewors. We know the braai is where many dogs do their best begging, so pack a bag of Pet Treats and everyone’s covered. (Cooking up a coil this weekend? Our guide to cooking boerewors on the braai has you sorted, minus the dog.)
Our Pet Treats are air-dried beef sausage treats, made the same way we make our biltong and jerky, using the same premium Aussie beef, in the same Malaga factory. The difference is they’re made for dogs.
They’re especially handy for training, because small, high-value rewards get a dog’s full attention. For tips, see our post on training your dog with beef rewards. As a rule of thumb, keep treats to around 10% of your dog’s daily food, break them up for small dogs and puppies, and check with your vet first if your dog has allergies or a special diet.
We’ve been making jerky and biltong since 1985, and we’re proud of every bag. But we’d rather be honest with you than sell you something your dog shouldn’t eat. The jerky in your snack drawer is for you. For your four-legged mate, there’s a bag with their name on it.
Order your D.Jays Pet Treats online and we’ll deliver them wherever you are in Australia. Everyone gets their beef, and everyone’s happy. Especially the dog.
It’s best not to give dogs beef jerky made for people. The salt and seasonings, including garlic, onion, chilli and pepper in many brands, can upset or harm dogs. Choose a treat made for dogs instead, like D.Jays Pet Treats.
Biltong made for people isn’t recommended for dogs. It’s cured with salt, vinegar and spices, and flavours like chilli biltong add extra heat.
A small piece is unlikely to harm most healthy dogs, but check the ingredients and how much was eaten. If it was a large amount, contained garlic or onion, or your dog shows symptoms like vomiting or excessive thirst, call your vet or the Animal Poisons Helpline (1300 869 738).
Yes. D.Jays Pet Treats are air-dried beef sausage treats made for dogs at our Malaga factory in Perth, from premium Aussie beef with no added preservatives or sugar. They come in 80g, 250g, 500g and 1kg packs.
It depends on your dog’s size, age and activity. A common rule of thumb is to keep treats to around 10% of your dog’s daily food. Your vet can give advice specific to your dog.
Arron Zamel has been General Manager of DJays Gourmet since 2015 and under his expert leadership, the company has cemented its reputation as Australia’s leading supplier of packaged jerky and biltong.
His strong family connection to South Africa, his marketing and management degree from Monash University, his technical expertise plus his experience as a successful entrepreneur and import/export business owner made him the ideal candidate for the challenging position.
Additionally, Arron’s innovative approach to management, his proven brand-building credentials, his strong customer focus and youthful energy have ensured that DJays Gourmet’s high-quality biltong and jerky have become Australia's dried meat treats of choice.
He understands traditional South African flavours and the precision techniques required to create truly authentic biltong, jerky and droewors (dried sausage). Part of his job is overseeing operations at DJays' purpose-built facility in Perth, WA where tons of Australian beef goes into making premium dried meat products each month for distribution to retail and wholesale customers across Australia.
For more insights into Arron’s world, visit the DJays Gourmet website, check out their Facebook page or follow them on Instagram @djaysgourmet.