Can Dogs Eat Jalapenos? (And What to Do If Pup Ate Too Much?)

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Benefits of jalapenos

Jalapeños are low in calories and loaded with nutrients. One raw jalapeño contains 4 calories, 0.4 g of fiber, folate, manganese, Vitamins K, A, C, and B6.

Vitamin C is an antioxidant that fights free radical damage and keeps your skin healthy and firm, while vitamin B6 is an essential nutrient involved in over 140 bodily reactions.

Another unique compound in jalapeños is Capsaicin, an alkaloid that brings peppers their distinctive spiciness and is accountable for many of their health effects. So it seems like a fantastic food for people and dogs.

Can dogs eat jalapenos?

The answer is “NO, dogs cannot eat Jalapenos safely without the risk of complications.”

Jalapeno by itself has no toxic properties to dogs but is just bad for them because of its spiciness. Pups digestive system is not used to deal with spicy foods. Jalapeno peppers are not poisonous to dogs but can trigger some stomach pains and discomfort.

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Are jalapenos bad for dogs?

Jalapenos’ health benefits are minimal for dogs and this product doesn’t deserve a shot due to the potentially dangerous consequences. E.g., the full range of potential problems with digestion.  

Are jalapenos too spicy for dogs?

Canines have unbelievably sensitive noses, and their taste buds are another story. There are about 1,700 taste buds in the dog’s mouth on average. While this amount may sound like a big deal, it is quite low. For reference, humans have approximately 9,000 taste buds.

But what has spicy food at all to do with a number of taste buds? Research has shown that dogs can distinguish the same four main types of tastes as humans: bitter, salty, sour and sweet.

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Nevertheless, because they can feel the same kind of tastes, they don’t react to them in the same manner. In general, dogs are much less sensitive to taste than humans. For example, your dog loves the smell and taste of meat just as much (if you are an omnivorous person), but they can not say that chicken and beef vary significantly in the same way as you can.

If they experience a spicy flavor in their mouths, they may not react like a human to heat, but they certainly react to the bitter and sour taste. If your dog likes spicy smells and begs for a nibble of your juicy, spicy curry, think hard before you give in or read our guide “Can dogs eat spicy food?” for more details.

My dog ate a jalapeno. What to do next?

Watch your dog for typical symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea. And if any of those has happened, the first step would be to provide your pup with enough water.

You can also put him a bland diet of white rice and boiled chicken for a couple of days in case of diarrhea. And can also offer him a spoonful of canned pumpkin to bulk up his excrement.

If, however, the symptoms are not going aways it’s best to contact your vet.

But what if it’s not that simple and your vet is almost always busy because people get their appointments scheduled weeks in advance? And in an emergency, going to a vet can prove itself to be a nightmare?

Well, you can always check out services like  “Just ask” for online support with hundreds of qualified vets on call to help you in a second for a tiny fraction of the cost. Check them out!

Even if you’ve previously given your dog Jalapenos in small amounts and discovered he enjoyed it and nothing terrible seemed to occur, chances are you may not be that fortunate next time and your pup may experience those side effects.

Jalapeno and dogs. Summary

In general, it’s better for your pup to avoid jalapenos at all costs, and let your pet prosper on a nutritious, balanced, dog-appropriate diet. Jalapenos will only cause discomfort, such as stomach pain, gassiness, diarrhea. Better safe than sorry.

Credits: thanks for the cover photo to Gerhard Bögner from Pixabay