Can My Dog Eat Chili?

It’s rather unusual to imagine that a dog would willingly want to eat chili. One would think that given its spicy taste and uncomfortable after effects, dogs are likely to turn it down.

If you’ve been wondering, can my dog eat chili, here’s what you need to know.

Is Chili Safe for Dogs?

Dogs aren’t designed to distinguish the taste of one spice from another. Compared to humans, whose tongues have about 9000 taste buds, dogs have only about 1,700 taste buds to work with.

So, typically, a dog’s taste receptors can identify four basic flavors such as sweet, sour, salty, and bitter. This goes to show that dogs don’t react to the spicy taste of chilies as intensely as humans do but this doesn’t mean that eating chilies is in any way good for them. 

As dogs smell better than they taste, dogs are likely to shy away from eating chilies when they smell one. Even if a dog doesn’t taste the spiciness of chili, it can definitely taste the sourness and bitterness of the chili.

If you’re wondering whether dogs like chili powder, a small pinch mixed in their food won’t do them any harm. But on its own, chili powder isn’t something they would indulge in.

But, can dogs eat chili soup? Unfortunately, no.

While there are several spices like ginger and turmeric that are healthy, chili is one of those spices that are not good for dogs.

Also Read: Can My Dog Eat Cinnamon?

Hazards of Eating Chili

Can chili kill my dog? A one-off won’t cause damage to your dog’s system. Nevertheless, regular consumption of chilies poses some serious consequences.

Dehydration

If your dog eats chili pepper, it may experience severe dehydration and uncontrollable thirst.

Certain symptoms indicate whether your dog is allergic to chilies or not. For instance, if your dog’s eaten chilies and it’s incessantly drooling and has a runny nose, this may be an allergic reaction.

Digestive Issues

Almost all chili peppers carry an enzyme called capsaicin that causes irritation to the digestive tract. Your dog may endure painful digestive tissues or acute stomach infection due to the inflammation.

Pet parents often share their food with their dogs and in the process, dogs end up consuming several spice-laden condiments like chili flakes or hot sauce. While minute amounts of chili won’t make a difference, excessive quantities of chili intake can make your dog sick. Some of the common symptoms of a stomach upset from chilies include vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach aches.

Hypertension

Capsaicin, a compound present in chili, causes hypertension in dogs. After eating a chili, your dog’s heart rate can increase rapidly. This compound is known to produce an exuberant amount of heat in a dog’s body. It can also cause skin rashes and lesions.

What Should I Do If My Dog Eats Chili?

Dogs don’t usually eat chilis. Having said that, there are rare cases where your dog may end up consuming some. Here are a few things you could do to provide it some relief.

Chili ends up burning the inner lining of your dog’s throat, stomach, and intestines. The best way to soothe your dog’s system is to give it more fluids. Give your dog cool water for the next few hours.

Chewy treats or even frozen yogurt cubes can help cut the spice and reduce inflammation. Moist foods like a piece of bread or cheese will absorb the spicy residue of the chili to give relief.

If symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea become unmanageable, seek professional help.

Also Read: Can My Dog Eat Salt?

It’s true that some dogs are more tolerant towards spice than others. The problem with allowing your dog to eat chilies is not so much the spiciness of the chili but its properties. If you really wish to give your dog some chili, go for something like sweet bell peppers. They are easy on the palate and the stomach.