Dogs are popularly known as man’s best friend, which is why some people invest massive care, love, and affection in them. Knowing that their lives are not as much longer than ours, we need to take care of them, especially the foods they eat.
Sometimes, we enjoy spicing up our foods with several seasonings and spices, such as black pepper, and some of us enjoy feeding our dogs with pretty much everything.
However, did you know that black pepper can be bad for dogs? In this article, I will explain to you why.
Can dogs eat black pepper?
These hungry little furry friends can eat anything you put in front of them, which is why we need to ensure the safety of the food we are serving to them. Feeding your dogs is like feeding your kids (and most of us treat them like babies), so why not give the same level of affection and love as you would to your babies?
This will leave us a question like Can my dog eat this? Or that? What about if he ingests a black pepper? Is it safe for them to consume it?
The answer to this question is YES. However, there are limitations.
These hungry little fellas can eat a little amount of black pepper. Keep in mind that there is a very fine line between small amounts and too much.
Suppose you’re cooking a dish that includes black pepper as an ingredient, for example, a chicken pot pie.
In that case, your dog will stare at you while you’re eating and beg for your leftovers – and you will eventually start to feed him, maybe because you’ve been hypnotized with his cute puppy eyes. The very small amount is okay, but too much is a no-no.
So it is a smart move to keep it away from your dog and dispose of leftovers properly.
Black Pepper can be bad for my dogs, but why?
Eating too much black pepper can be dangerous to our dogs at the same time. It can also be unhealthy for us humans as well. We use different seasonings and spices to add more flavor and excitement to our food. However, once the amount of spices, in this case, the black pepper, is added too much, they can also cause several side effects:
1. Burning Sensation in the Stomach
Black pepper is “hot”, we all know that. Common sense tells us that it is a good choice if we limit the use of black pepper in our dishes. However, sometimes common sense takes the back seat. In most people, the overuse of black pepper leads to severe burning in the stomach. Now, how do you think your dog will feel?
2. Can lead to respiratory problems
Some dog owners claim that dogs hate it when they smell black peppers. That is why most people sprinkle a little bit of black pepper on things their dog loves to chew.
However, excessive intake of black pepper triggers serious problems in a dog’s (or human) respiratory system. Inhaling large amounts of black pepper can lead to deprivation of oxygen supply or hypoxia. And in severe cases, it can lead to obstruction of the airways and ultimately result in death.
Also, if a dog inhales black peppers, it may irritate the delicate lining of the lungs and airways and can lead to asthma or bronchitis.
3.Cause hemorrhoids
An excessive intake of black pepper can bring symptoms of hemorrhoids by irritating the rectal or colonic mucosa. Ingesting a large amount of black pepper can cause diarrhea in both dogs and humans. And severe cases of diarrhea lead to hemorrhoid flare-ups.
So, are all spices are bad for my dog?
The direct answer to this is NO.
Not all seasonings or spices are bad for your furry friend. Some of them can have a beneficial effect on your dog’s overall health.
One of these good-spices is the Basil and Parsley. It contains essential compounds such as carotenes, antioxidants, flavonoids, and lycopene, which can help for reducing the risks of stomach aches in dogs and eliminate the symptoms of arthritis and IBB Inflammatory Bowel Diseases.
As a responsible dog owner, you always need to ensure the safety of the food you’re feeding on your canine friends. Make sure to look up everything and anything from seasonings to spices. In this way, you can ensure your dog’s safety and prevent any harmful effects that may occur.
Is there any type of pepper my canine friend can eat?
There is a list of spices and other types of pepper that dogs cannot eat. But when it comes to pepper, you should avoid types that have capsaicin content.
Capsaicin is commonly found in several types of chili and pepper-based spices such as cayenne pepper, paprika, fresh pepper, bell pepper, and chili powders. This chemical can irritate the stomach linings of mammals.
It can also cause stomach aches, diarrhea, vomiting, and other gastrointestinal issues only in large doses.
It doesn’t only cause gastrointestinal irritation, but it can also cause skin and eye irritation in dogs and people.
So, it’s better to monitor the amount of bell pepper or capsaicin consumption of your favorite pooch because if not, then your dog will suffer stomach problems.
Takeaway Tips
Dogs are known for their survival instincts and don’t care about the food items they’re eating because dogs believe that the more you eat, the more chances you can survive. It does make sense.
So we, responsible dog owners, should be very careful about leaving any leftovers that can contain many types of chili, pepper-based spices, or any Capsaicin-contained foods.
Keep and store your food in durable cookware with a tight cover, just in case our hungry little fellas decide to steal some of it from the kitchen side. Additionally, you don’t want to get your dog to suffer from that burning sensation after handling some chili or black pepper, so better be careful about touching your dog too much.
Always make sure to wash your hands before and after touching foods that contain Capsaicin to avoid irritating the sensitive skin of your favorite pup.
Conclusion
Always keep in mind that there’s a fine line between a small amount and too much. The high amount of black pepper can put your dog’s health at risk, which is why it is a smart way to stay on the safe side.
Even though there are safe herbs and spices for your dogs, it is still better to have cautioned before committing to using them. In this way, you could keep your dog away from any stomach problems, irritations, or health issues. Remember, dogs can’t exactly tell us their problems, so they need some massive care, affection, and love.
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