Introduction
Spicy foods like hot sauce can seem enticing to our canine companions. Dogs have a strong sense of smell, so flavorful foods capture their attention. However, what humans find tasty does not always align with a dog’s dietary needs. Hot sauces in particular require caution around dogs. While a few licks likely cause no issues, consumption of larger amounts can provoke negative health reactions. Determining if and how to serve hot sauces like Tabasco to dogs necessitates understanding the sauce’s intensity, the canine sense of taste, and potential risks.
Background on Tabasco Sauce
Tabasco sauce is made from just a few simple ingredients, the main one being red tabasco peppers. According to the TABASCO® Brand Original Red Sauce product page, it contains aged red peppers, salt, and distilled vinegar.
Specifically, Tabasco sauce is made from tabasco peppers (Capsicum frutescens), which are a variety of chili peppers grown in the Tabasco region of Mexico. The peppers are harvested, mashed into a pulp, and then mixed with salt from Avery Island, Louisiana and high-quality distilled vinegar, according to the TABASCO® Brand Original Red Sauce history page.
So the two main ingredients that give Tabasco sauce its signature flavor are the spicy tabasco peppers and the vinegar used for fermenting them.
Scoville Heat Units
The Scoville heat unit (SHU) is a measurement used to determine the pungency or “heat” of chili peppers and other spicy foods. It refers to the amount of capsaicin, the chemical compound responsible for spiciness, present in the chili pepper. The scale was created in 1912 by American chemist Wilbur Scoville as a way to quantify how hot different pepper varieties are in relation to each other (Scoville scale – Wikipedia).
On the Scoville scale, bell peppers have a rating of 0 SHU, as they contain no capsaicin and are not spicy. The higher the number of Scoville heat units, the more intense the heat and spiciness of the pepper. For example, a jalapeño pepper registers around 2,500 – 8,000 SHU, while the renowned ghost pepper can reach over 1 million SHU. The current world record holder for hottest pepper is the Carolina Reaper, with an average of 1.6 million SHU.
To determine the SHU rating of a pepper variety, an extract is made from the pepper which is then diluted in sugar water until the heat is no longer detected by a panel of 5 taste testers. The number of dilutions gives the SHU rating. The ratings provide a standardized way for people to assess and compare the intensity of different peppers before trying them.
Tabasco’s Scoville Rating
According to https://www.tabasco.com/hot-sauces/original-red-sauce/, TABASCO® Original Red Sauce rates at around 2,500 to 5,000 Scoville heat units on the Scoville scale. The Scoville scale measures the pungency or “spiciness” of chili peppers and spicy foods. On the Scoville scale, a rating of 0 means no heat, and pure capsaicin (the chemical that makes chili peppers spicy) rates at 16 million Scoville heat units. Tabasco sauce gets its heat from tabasco peppers, which are a variety of red chili peppers. While Tabasco Original Red sauce is on the lower end of the Scoville scale, some of Tabasco’s other sauces use spicier peppers and rate much higher, like the TABASCO® Scorpion Sauce which contains scorpion peppers that can reach up to 2 million Scoville heat units.
Can Dogs Taste Spicy Foods?
Dogs do have the ability to taste spicy foods, but not to the same degree as humans. Dogs have only about 1,700 taste buds compared to a human’s 9,000 taste buds. So while dogs can detect spicy flavors, their experience of these flavors is less intense than what humans experience.
According to The Spruce Pets, dogs have fewer receptors that detect capsaicin, the chemical compound that makes chili peppers spicy hot. So a food humans find unbearably spicy may only taste mildly pungent to a dog.
A dog’s sense of smell is also thousands of times more acute than a human’s. So spicy scents may be more noticeable to a dog than the actual taste. Dogs primarily experience flavors through their sense of smell, which is why smell is very important when it comes to a dog’s appetite.
While dogs can taste spicy flavors, their experience is diminished compared to humans. The combination of fewer taste buds and a heightened sense of smell means dogs detect spiciness differently than their owners.
Health Effects on Dogs
Ingesting spicy sauces and foods like tabasco can be dangerous to dogs due to the intense capsaicin, the chemical compound found in spicy peppers like chilis that activates pain receptors in the mouth and stomach. Dogs have many more taste buds than humans and are more sensitive to the burning sensation of capsaicin.
Feeding tabasco or other spicy foods to dogs can lead to negative side effects such as:
- Excessive drooling or panting as the dog tries to cool its mouth
- Nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite
- Stomach pain, cramps, and diarrhea often containing blood or mucus
- Dehydration from increased water intake to soothe the burning sensation
The spiciness and acidity of tabasco sauce can seriously irritate a dog’s sensitive digestive tract, especially in large quantities. According to veterinarians, dogs should never be intentionally fed tabasco sauce or food seasoned with it.
(As cited in: https://www.hillspet.com/dog-care/nutrition-feeding/can-dogs-eat-spicy-food)
Serving Tabasco to Dogs
While small amounts of Tabasco sauce are unlikely to seriously harm most dogs, it is generally not recommended to serve it intentionally. Tabasco and other hot sauces can be irritating and cause discomfort when ingested by dogs.
According to veterinarians, a small amount of Tabasco sauce licked up by a dog is usually not a cause for concern. The dog may drool, paw at their mouth, and experience mild stomach upset. Giving a few licks of Tabasco sauce to deter negative behaviors like chewing may be unpleasant for the dog, but is unlikely to cause lasting harm [1].
However, deliberately feeding hot sauce to dogs or applying it to deter behaviors is controversial and divisive. Many dog owners view it as unnecessarily cruel and stressful. There are also safer and more humane alternatives for deterring bad behaviors in dogs.
Risks and Dangers
While an occasional lick of hot sauce likely won’t harm most dogs, consuming larger amounts does pose some risks. Hot sauce contains capsaicin which can irritate the mouth, esophagus, and stomach lining in dogs [1]. Ingesting too much hot sauce may lead to vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and even dehydration [2].
Some of the most serious risks of overconsumption include:
- Gastrointestinal irritation, inflammation, or ulcers
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhea and dehydration
- Difficulty swallowing
- Drooling, panting, and visible distress
While most minor exposure will not seriously harm a dog, it’s still best to avoid feeding dogs tabasco sauce or using it as a deterrent. The negative effects are not worth any intended training purposes. If a dog accidentally ingests more than a tiny amount of hot sauce, contact a veterinarian right away.
Safer Spicy Alternatives
While certain spices like capsaicin in hot sauce can be dangerous for dogs, there are some spicy yet safe alternatives dogs can enjoy. Many pet stores and specialty bakeries now offer spicy dog treats made with ingredients that provide flavor without the risks.
Some examples of safe, spicy ingredients for dogs include anise, basil, chamomile, cilantro, and ginger. These can provide calming or anti-inflammatory effects. Specific spicy dog treat recipes may also incorporate cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, or allspice which are not too hot for dogs in small amounts.
Popular spicy dog treat flavors include pumpkin spice, barbecue, and chili. These often use spices like cinnamon, paprika, cumin, and oregano to create exciting flavors without being too spicy. Homemade spicy dog treats can also be made safely using dog-friendly ingredients.
Checking the ingredients list and avoiding capsaicin is key for any spicy dog treats. Moderation is also important, even with dog-safe spices. But the right spicy treats can give dogs a taste of flavor without the dangers of hot sauce.
Conclusion
In summary, while tabasco sauce itself is not toxic for dogs, it does come with some risks. The capsaicin that gives tabasco its heat can be irritating and even painful for dogs if consumed in large quantities. Small amounts could cause stomach upset or diarrhea.
That being said, many dogs enjoy spicy foods just like their human owners. The best practice is to start with tiny amounts of tabasco or a milder hot sauce to gauge your dog’s reaction. Pay close attention for signs of distress or illness. Avoid letting your dog access tabasco bottles and limit the total consumption.
For dogs that enjoy spice, there are safer hot sauce alternatives without as much capsaicin, like sriracha. Or consider making your own homemade dog-friendly hot sauce. Just be sure to consult your veterinarian if you have any concerns about introducing new foods. With proper precautions, you can find a moderate spicy treat that you and your dog can safely share and enjoy together.