Dogs and Spicy Foods Don’t Mix
For humans, spice levels are a matter of personal taste and tolerance. But for dogs, capsaicin and other compounds that give chili peppers their heat can cause serious discomfort and health issues. According to one survey, over 90% of dogs showed signs of gastric distress after eating spicy foods.
While a stray pepper flake or dash of chili powder may not harm an adult dog, consuming larger amounts of spicy ingredients can irritate their digestive tract, airways, and nervous system. In severe cases, spicy foods could even be life-threatening for canines.
This article explores how dogs experience spicy flavors, the dangers of spicy food for dogs, and what to do if your pup gets into something too hot to handle.
Are Dogs Sensitive to Spicy Foods?
Dogs have a much more sensitive sense of taste and smell compared to humans. A dog’s sense of taste is about 1,000 to 10,000 times more acute than a human’s. They have up to 300 million taste buds, while humans only have around 9,000 taste buds on the tongue.
This highly advanced sense of taste allows dogs to detect many flavors humans cannot. Dogs have specific taste receptors dedicated to perceiving bitter flavors, which is one of the predominant flavors in spicy foods like chili peppers.
According to this source, dogs likely experience the burning sensations from spicy capsaicin oils and spices more intensely than humans do. So while they may not necessarily dislike or avoid spicy flavors, they certainly have a heightened sensitivity and reaction to them.
How Spicy Foods Can Harm Dogs
Spicy foods contain compounds called capsaicinoids that give them their signature heat and burning sensation. While most mammals have similar taste receptors, dogs experience capsaicinoids much more intensely than humans do. Even small amounts of spicy food can cause irritation and burning sensations in a dog’s mouth, throat, and stomach (Source).
The severity of irritation depends on the amount and type of spicy food ingested. Mildly spicy foods may only cause minor drooling or lip licking. However, foods with higher concentrations of capsaicinoids, like hot peppers or chili powder, can cause more extreme symptoms.
Contact with spicy foods irritates sensitive mucous membranes in a dog’s mouth, esophagus, and stomach. This leads to inflammation, pain, and a burning sensation. A dog may excessively lick its lips and drool, paw at its mouth, swallow repeatedly, and drink lots of water in an effort to soothe its burning mouth and throat.
Gastrointestinal Issues
Ingesting spicy foods can cause a range of gastrointestinal issues in dogs, including stomach pain, vomiting, and diarrhea. The capsaicin found in spices like chili peppers, cayenne, and paprika irritates the stomach lining and intestines. It increases gastric acid production and gut motility, leading to an upset stomach.
According to Hill’s Pet Nutrition, the most common symptom of a dog eating spicy food is acute stomach pain [1]. The irritation and inflammation in the GI tract causes dogs to vomit, have diarrhea, lose their appetite, and seem lethargic. These symptoms may appear within hours of ingestion. Vomiting and diarrhea can lead to dehydration, which is dangerous if left untreated.
In mild cases, dogs may only experience mild diarrhea or soft stools after eating spicy food. But in severe cases, hemorrhagic gastroenteritis can occur, leading to vomiting blood and bloody diarrhea. This requires immediate veterinary treatment with IV fluids, anti-nausea medication, and antibiotics.
Respiratory Distress
Consuming spicy foods can cause respiratory distress in dogs, leading to symptoms like coughing, panting, and wheezing. The active compound in spicy foods, capsaicin, can irritate a dog’s throat and airways. As stated by [https://www.justanswer.com/dog-health/il4co-ate-spicy-food-hyper-breathing.html](this vet), dogs may exhibit increased respiratory rate and hyperventilation after eating spicy food due to gastrointestinal discomfort and/or gas. The irritation and inflammation caused by capsaicin makes it difficult for dogs to breathe normally. According to [https://www.hepper.com/dog-ate-chili-spicy-food-vet-answer/](this vet resource), dogs may gag, retch, and cough as their bodies try to expel the burning sensation. Wheezing and panting can also occur as dogs struggle to breathe comfortably. The respiratory effects happen rapidly but are usually short-lived. However, prompt veterinary attention is required if breathing problems persist or worsen after spicy food ingestion.
Neurological Symptoms
Ingesting spicy foods can cause neurological symptoms in dogs, especially if they consume a large amount. Spicy foods contain capsaicin, the chemical that gives peppers their heat. Capsaicin is an irritant and can affect a dog’s nervous system if consumed in high doses (source).
Some of the neurological effects seen in dogs after eating spicy food include:
- Disorientation – Dogs may seem dazed, confused, or unsteady on their feet.
- Trembling – Dogs may shiver or shake uncontrollably.
- Seizures – In severe cases, seizures can occur if the dog’s nervous system is overwhelmed.
These neurological symptoms are concerning and require immediate veterinary attention. Disorientation, trembling, and seizures indicate the dog’s nervous system is being disrupted by the irritating compounds in spicy foods (source). Left untreated, prolonged or severe neurological symptoms could become life-threatening.
Can Spicy Foods Kill Dogs?
In extreme cases, yes – very spicy foods can potentially kill dogs. Certain ingredients in hot sauces and spicy dishes, especially in large quantities, can cause severe reactions.
Specifically, onions, garlic, and excess salt or sugar can lead to toxicity and damage a dog’s red blood cells, liver, and kidneys (Source). Capsaicin, the chemical that gives chilies their heat, can also cause significant gastrointestinal distress, respiratory issues, and neurological symptoms in dogs if they ingest enough of it.
The spiciness itself is not directly deadly, but the accompanying ingredients or the body’s response to them can be. Ingesting large amounts of extremely spicy foods may induce vomiting, diarrhea, electrolyte imbalances, seizures, shock, and organ damage or failure, which could ultimately be fatal (Source).
While small amounts of spice are not typically dangerous, owners should take care to avoid feeding dogs excessively spicy people food, especially those containing toxic components. Monitor your dog closely if they accidentally consume very hot or spiced foods and contact your vet immediately if worrisome symptoms develop.
First Aid for Spicy Food Ingestion
If your dog ingests spicy food, the first step is to try to dilute and soothe their mouth and throat. Give them small amounts of milk or plain yogurt to help coat their mouth and throat and ease the burning sensation. Only give a few tablespoons at a time to avoid further upsetting their stomach.
After giving them milk or yogurt, monitor their condition closely. Look for signs of respiratory distress such as panting, drooling, wheezing or coughing. Check their gum and tongue color – they should be pink. If their gums or tongue appear bright red, blue/purple, take them to the vet immediately, as this can be a sign of restricted oxygen.
Watch for vomiting, diarrhea or lethargy after ingestion. If your dog exhibits concerning symptoms or you are worried about the amount of spicy food they ingested, take them to the vet right away. The vet can provide supportive care such as IV fluids, medicine to control vomiting/diarrhea, and oxygen if needed (1). Don’t try to induce vomiting at home.
With prompt veterinary treatment, most dogs recover fully after accidentally eating spicy people food. However, spicy food toxicoses can become serious quickly, so observe your dog closely and don’t hesitate to go to the emergency vet if concerned.
Preventing Spicy Food Accidents
The best way to prevent your dog from accidentally ingesting spicy foods is to keep them out of reach. Store hot sauces, salsa, chili, and other spicy items in cabinets up high where your dog can’t get to them. Dogs are opportunistic eaters and will happily consume human foods left within their reach.
When cooking with spices, be sure to keep your dog out of the kitchen to avoid any accidental spills or stolen bites of food. Clean up immediately after meals and don’t leave spicy foods unattended on the counter or table.
It’s also important to monitor your dog’s diet closely. Carefully check all ingredients in commercial dog foods, treats, and chews to ensure they don’t contain any spices harmful to your pet. Many savory dog treats contain onion and garlic, which are toxic. Stick to plain, unseasoned dog foods and treats to be safe.
Most veterinarians recommend avoiding feeding dogs any spicy human foods, even in small amounts. The capsaicin and other compounds found in spices can irritate dogs’ gastrointestinal tracts and cause extreme discomfort. Simply keeping spicy foods away from your dog can prevent many avoidable accidents.
Conclusion
Dogs should never eat spicy human foods, as capsaicin and other compounds can irritate their digestive systems and respiratory tracts. While mild cases cause symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea, severe toxicity has the potential to be fatal if not treated promptly. Preventing access to spicy foods is key.
In summary, dogs lack the proper receptors to metabolize capsaicin. Ingesting spicy foods triggers gastrointestinal distress, breathing issues, neurologic symptoms, and even death at high enough doses. Seek emergency vet care if a dog eats a concentrated source of capsaicin and shows concerning signs. Going forward, keep all pungent foods well out of a dog’s reach to avoid accidental exposures. With vigilance, owners can keep their dogs safe.
The clear takeaway is that dogs should never consume human foods containing capsaicin, chili peppers, or other pungent seasonings. These ingredients are unhealthy and potentially life-threatening for canine companions. Just say no to sharing spicy snacks with dogs.