Understand Why Your Dog Ate Spicy Food
There are a few common reasons why dogs end up eating spicy human food, even though it’s generally not good for them:
Curiosity – Dogs explore the world with their mouth, and will try eating new things they find just to see what it’s like. Their curiosity can lead them to sample spicy foods.
Boredom – Dogs that are bored or understimulated may eat spicy food simply for something to do. Make sure your dog gets plenty of activity and enrichment.
Hunger – A hungry dog is more likely to eat whatever food they can find, including spicy food sitting out. Prevent access by storing human food properly.
Accidentally getting into something spicy – Dogs can accidentally get into spicy foods left unattended, like a plate of spicy wings. Supervise your dog around new foods.
While spicy food is enticing to dogs for these reasons, it can wreak havoc on their digestive system. Understanding why they ate it can help prevent repeat incidents. Source
Recognize Symptoms of Spicy Food Ingestion
After ingesting spicy food, some common symptoms to watch for in dogs include:
- Excessive thirst – Your dog may drink much more water than usual in an attempt to soothe their mouth and throat.
- Panting – Heavy panting can indicate your dog is feeling discomfort or stress.
- Drooling – Excess drooling from the mouth is often a reaction to irritation caused by spicy food.
- Lip smacking – Repeated lip smacking gestures may signal irritation or a burning sensation in the mouth.
- Pawing at mouth – Your dog may rub and claw at their mouth trying to alleviate irritation.
According to the ASPCA, these reactions occur because spices contain oils that can cause burning sensations in a dog’s mouth and stomach (Source). Be alert for symptoms, as excessive thirst, panting and drooling can also indicate overheating, stress or other issues.
If your dog displays multiple symptoms after eating spicy food, examine the severity and take appropriate action right away. The quicker you respond, the better the outcome will likely be for your dog.
Determine Severity and Take Action
If your dog ate spicy food, it’s important to determine how severe their reaction is. Look for signs like excessive drooling, panting, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, or distress. Mild cases may only involve temporary discomfort, while severe cases can lead to more concerning symptoms.
For mild reactions, you can provide supportive care at home by giving them plenty of water and bland foods to help settle their stomach. Keep an eye on them, but they will likely recover on their own within a day or two. Call your vet if symptoms persist or seem to get worse.
If your dog has more severe symptoms like continuous vomiting or diarrhea, noticeable pain or distress, lethargy, or signs of an upset stomach that last more than 24 hours, you should call your vet right away. Severe cases often require veterinary treatment with medications or IV fluids to recover. Your vet will recommend the appropriate care based on your dog’s specific condition.
Do not wait to see if symptoms resolve on their own if your dog seems to be in distress after eating spicy food. Call your vet promptly so they can advise you on the best course of action and provide medical care if needed. Acting quickly can help prevent lasting complications.
Try to Identify What Was Eaten
If your dog ate something spicy unexpectedly, your first step should be to try to identify the exact food or spice they ingested. Check anywhere your dog could have accessed, like countertops, the pantry, trash cans, or any spilled food on the floor. Some especially dangerous spices for dogs include onion, garlic, nutmeg, and chili powder (1). Knowing what and how much they ate will help you gauge the severity and determine next steps.
Look for opened containers or spilled spices and see if you can identify them by scent. Check for symptoms like excessive drooling, vomiting, or breathing issues that started suddenly after your dog accessed an area. The faster you can determine the source, the better equipped you’ll be to get them treatment if needed. Don’t forget to thoroughly puppy-proof any accessible areas to prevent repeat incidents.
Provide First Aid at Home
If your dog shows mild symptoms after eating spicy food such as panting or drooling, there are some home remedies you can try to soothe their mouth and stomach before taking them to the vet.
Giving your dog some milk or chicken broth can help dilute the spicy flavor coating their mouth. Peanut butter can also help calm the burning sensation. Make sure not to give your dog too much, as you don’t want to cause further digestive upset. Just a spoonful or two is usually enough.
Offer your dog some ice cubes to lick as well. The cold temperature can numb their mouth and give relief from the spicy irritation. You can also try wrapping an ice pack or cold compress in a towel and gently holding it to your dog’s mouth for a few minutes at a time.
Wipe your dog’s mouth out with a cold, wet towel or cloth. This can remove any lingering spices and chili oils from their lips and gums.
Most importantly, continue providing fresh cool water so your dog stays hydrated. This will help flush the spices out of their system.
If symptoms seem severe or persist longer than an hour or so, it’s best not to delay and take your dog to the vet right away. But for mild cases, these tips can provide temporary relief until your dog recovers or you can get them to the vet.
Avoid Inducing Vomiting
Inducing vomiting can often make the situation worse, so it’s best not to do it unless specifically recommended by your veterinarian. Vomiting can cause further irritation and damage to your dog’s throat and stomach lining, especially if the ingested food was spicy or caused burns. It can also lead to aspiration pneumonia if your dog inhales some of the vomit into their lungs.
According to vets, you should never induce vomiting at home without first consulting with your vet, as the risks often outweigh the benefits1. The only time your vet may recommend inducing vomiting is if your dog ingested the spicy food very recently, and if you can do it in a safe, controlled manner under their guidance. Otherwise, it’s best to avoid inducing vomiting and focus on providing supportive care for your dog until you can get them to the vet.
Rather than trying to make your dog vomit, focus your efforts on helping them feel comfortable until you can get veterinary treatment. Try to identify what and how much spicy food was ingested so you can inform your vet.
Book a Vet Appointment
Even if your dog is only exhibiting mild symptoms like stomach upset after eating spicy food, it is still a good idea to book an appointment with your veterinarian to get your dog checked out.
While symptoms may seem minor at first, spicy food ingestion can potentially cause more serious gastrointestinal issues for dogs, like irritation or inflammation of the stomach and intestines. Getting your dog seen by a vet allows them to thoroughly evaluate your dog’s condition through a physical exam and diagnostic tests if needed.
The vet can also provide supportive care to help soothe your dog’s stomach, recommend any needed medications, and rule out any underlying conditions that could be making your dog more sensitive to spices. They can advise you on the best diet and care while your dog recovers from the spicy food incident.
Though an urgent vet visit is often not required for mild cases, scheduling a non-emergency appointment within a day or two allows the vet to monitor your dog’s improvement. It also gives you peace of mind knowing your dog’s health is in good hands.
According to Dr. Christian Cumberbatch, director of medicine at Bond Vet, “it’s always best to consult your veterinarian if your dog gets into anything she shouldn’t — that includes spicy foods.” Better safe than sorry when it comes to your furry friend’s health and comfort.
Prevent Repeat Incidents
To stop your dog from getting into spicy food again, you’ll need to take preventative measures. Some tips include:
Keep human food out of reach. Store spicy foods like hot sauce, salsa, and chili in high cabinets or containers with locking lids. Never leave food unattended on the counter or table.
Train your dog to “leave it.” Use treats to reward them for leaving food alone when commanded. Start training with low-value items, then work up to human food. This teaches impulse control.
Feed your dog before mealtimes. A hungry dog is more likely to counter surf. Make sure they’re fed first.
Use baby gates, exercise pens or crate training to restrict access to rooms where food is prepared and eaten.
Clean up immediately after meals so there are no leftovers to grab. Don’t let your dog roam while you’re cooking.
With diligence about securing food and training, you can help prevent your dog getting into spicy foods again. Their health depends on keeping human food out of reach.
Recognize Long-Term Risks
Ingesting spicy foods can have lasting consequences for dogs beyond just the initial symptoms. Some of the potential long-term risks include:
Gastrointestinal Issues: Spicy foods can irritate a dog’s digestive tract and cause inflammation or ulcers in the stomach and intestines. This can lead to chronic digestive problems, diarrhea, vomiting, or loss of appetite (Source 1).
Mouth and Throat Burns: Capsaicin in spicy foods can cause chemical burns in a dog’s mouth, gums, and throat if they eat a lot of very spicy food. This pain and damage may cause them to avoid eating or have difficulty swallowing (Source 2).
Food Aversion: A negative gastrointestinal reaction to spicy food can cause a dog to develop an aversion to that food item or spice. They may refuse to eat it in the future. This may limit the variety of foods you can feed your dog.
These potential long-term effects demonstrate why it’s important to avoid feeding dogs spicy human foods as much as possible and to minimize their access to such items.
Focus on Dog’s Recovery
After your dog has eaten spicy food, you’ll need to focus on their recovery in the next 24 hours. Monitor them closely during this period for any returning symptoms like vomiting or diarrhea. Keep an eye out for lethargy, pain, or other concerning signs.
It’s a good idea to feed your dog a bland, soft diet during their recovery. Avoid any fatty, rich, or spicy foods that could further upset their stomach. Boiled chicken and rice, mashed sweet potato, or scrambled eggs are gentle options. Give smaller, frequent meals rather than large ones to make digestion easier.
Make sure your dog stays hydrated by providing fresh water at all times. You can also try adding some low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth to their water to encourage drinking. Limit exercise and stimulation during the recovery period.
If symptoms persist or return, don’t hesitate to call your vet. They may want to examine your dog or prescribe medications to help settle their stomach. With close monitoring and supportive care, your dog should make a full recovery within a day or two.