Spicy food comes in all sorts of forms. If you are a spicy food lover, you may have wondered whether your dog is one, too… So, can dogs eat spicy food?
Can dogs eat spicy food?
The answer to this question is simple – it’s a big no! We do not recommend offering any spicy food to your dog. Dogs do not have the same amount of taste buds as we do, but they have the same pain receptors… So they will suffer with spicy food just as we do, but without understanding what is happening.
What are the signs of toxicity?
If your dog eats spicy food, even the soft ones, they may show some of these signs:
- Anxious behavior
- Runny eyes
- Disorientation
- Rubbing their face on the floor
- Panting
- Diarrhea
- Flatulence
- Abdominal pain
- Vomits
- Excessive thirst
- Drooling
- Sneezing
- Dehydration if not given access to water
This is because many of the ingredients in spicy foods could potentially be dangerous to your pup. Chili, for example, contains capsaicin – which causes the unpleasant burning sensation in the mouth and throat.
Onion is often found in these kinds of foods, which is toxic for dogs.
What to do if my dog eats spicy food?
The first thing to do is provide them plenty of fresh water. If you feel comfortable, you can also offer them a spoon of yogurt or milk, because it has a cooling effect. Then, wash your dog’s paws with water to keep the spicy stuff out of their face.
Remember to check the ingredients list. If you find any toxic food for dogs in there, you need to contact your vet as soon as possible.
If your dog ate spicy food, an upset tummy is expected from then on – so a bland diet is needed for the next few days. These symptoms are usually short term and will go away by themselves, but occasionally they can persist and you’ll need to contact the vet for support. If your pup becomes lethargic or is vomiting non stop, calling your vet should be the first thing on your mind.
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