Peppers are a vegetable that is very rich in vitamins. It can be found on our menu in cooked form or raw as a snack. But what is good for people does not have to be healthy for dogs. We already know that. So, can dogs have peppers?
Paprika comes in different flavors, from mild to hot. Peppers contain the chemical compound solanine, just like tomatoes and raw potatoes. Solanine is toxic to dogs and can cause vomiting and diarrhea. If the dog eats a large amount of foods containing solanine, the nervous system can also be impaired. Breathing disorders, drowsiness and paralysis can result.
So, does that mean dogs can’t eat Peppers at all? Let’s see!
If you want to learn more about which human foods are safe and which are not, you can check out the following articles:
- What fruits can dogs eat and which are toxic?
- What Vegetables Can Dogs Eat?
- Which Food Is Good Or Bad For Dogs?
Can dogs have peppers?
So, can dogs have peppers? Yes, but it’s not that simple. Your dog has to eat large amounts of Peppers to have a negative effect, but you should still be careful with it.
Only feed your dog well-ripened and soft peppers. Then the solanine content is lower and the peppers are no longer as toxic to dogs. You can feed your dog peppers even when cooked, but always pay attention to the amount – no more than one slice of peppers once a week should end up in your four-legged friend’s food bowl. Also, avoid feeding the stalk, as it contains a lot of solanine.
Only the classic sweet peppers are edible for the dog. It is best to feed only a small amount of red or yellow peppers.
Look for fresh fruits. At best, choose untreated organic varieties.
Remove the stem and white parts of the pepper. Cut the peppers into small pieces.
Red peppers taste sweet
The color of peppers differs depending on their degree of ripeness. All peppers are green when unripe. Then they turn yellow and finally red.
The taste changes with the color. The riper, the sweeter it becomes, because the sugar content increases. The ingredients hardly change during the degree of ripeness. The vitamin C content is particularly high in red fruits.
Overall, peppers contain a lot of vitamin C, A and B. That’s why peppers are considered a healthy vegetable.
Bell peppers also contain large amounts of calcium, magnesium, zinc and potassium. A certain essential oil is responsible for the typical taste of paprika.
Bell peppers also contain flavonoids, which have an anti-oxidative effect. They also contain carotene, which gives these vegetables their typical color.
Bell peppers for dogs: raw or cooked?
Please don’t feed your dog raw peppers, but you can feed them small amounts of cooked peppers.
Fresh peppers contain a lot of solanine, and if your dog eats large amounts of solanine, it can lead to irritation of the mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract. Your dog then suffers from typical symptoms of poisoning, such as:
- diarrhea,
- drowsiness,
- vomiting,
- nausea,
- increased sensitivity to touch
But, when you cook the peppers or steam them, the solanine content lowers. Especially in red or yellow peppers. So, you can safely offer them to your dog in smaller quantities. When the peppers are cooked, the toxin passes into the hot water because it has water-soluble properties at high temperatures.
But, to be honest, peppers should rarely be on the menu for dogs. Again, the reason for this is the solanine concentration. Solanine is a carcinogenic toxin that attacks the mucous membranes in the dog’s gastrointestinal tract, causing the dog to have severe diarrhea and vomiting. In addition, the solanine destroys the red blood cells, which can have serious consequences such as cardiac arrest, breathing problems, paralysis and an inhibited nervous system.
What if your dog ate too many peppers and is showing symptoms?
If symptoms such as breathing problems, paralysis, diarrhea or vomiting occur after eating bell peppers, you should see a veterinarian immediately. This is an emergency!
You should get in the car right away and go to the nearest doctor. Don’t wait long there, either, because your dog is an emergency and needs immediate treatment. You should definitely tell the vet that the dog ate peppers and how much they are.
If your dog has only a slight pepper poisoning, the vet can help by making the dog vomit. In consultation with the veterinarian, a charcoal tablet can sometimes do the trick too. But, all of this is only for mild symptoms.
As already mentioned, if your dog is showing severe symptoms or you know they ate a lot of peppers, go to the vet immediately!