Spices give the food we eat that extra kick that turns an ordinary meal into a spectacular one. Small wonder we love seasoning our cooking with spices such as black pepper!
All canine health experts will tell you the same thing: don’t give your pooch any food that contains seasoning. Spices and herbs can harm your dog. Some of them, if eaten regularly and/or in abundance, can even lead to serious, lasting damage.
But is black pepper the exception to this rule? Can dogs eat black pepper?
We hate to break it to you, but you shouldn’t feed dogs black pepper. Sure, a teeny-weeny amount won’t hurt them. But it may still cause them discomfort. Larger quantities can lead to more severe issues requiring treatment by a veterinarian.
Read on if you’d like to know more about why black pepper is bad for dogs!
Why Is Black Pepper Bad for Dogs?
Here’s the good news: black pepper isn’t toxic to dogs, so you don’t have to worry about your pet dropping dead from consuming it.
The bad news? If eaten in significant quantities, black pepper can make your dog ill. Even a small amount can cause problems, especially if your pet’s digestive system has little to no tolerance for the stuff.
Here are the problems black pepper can cause your dog:
Gastrointestinal upset
Spicy food doesn’t go down without a fight. Black pepper will burn your dog’s mouth, throat, and stomach. On the way out, it’ll even burn their rectum and anus.
The burning sensation caused by black pepper is due to a compound known as capsaicin, which is an irritant to canines. However, capsaicin can do more than just make your dog’s inside uncomfortably hot; it can also cause digestive issues, such as:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Gas
- Abdominal pain
The more black pepper your dog swallows, the more intense these symptoms are. In cases of severe symptoms, the best thing you can do is take your dog to the vet for treatment. If left untreated, such digestive concerns can result in dehydration due to water loss, which can be deadly.
Keep in mind that dogs are more sensitive to capsaicin than humans. So if you’re one of those people who experience digestive problems after eating something spicy, just imagine how much worse things can get for a dog who consumes black pepper.
Respiratory problems
Inhaling black pepper can make a dog suffer a sneezing fit. While this isn’t the worst thing that can happen to your pet, it sure as heck will annoy them.
It’s a different story if your pooch has asthma. Black pepper can cause significant irritation to an asthmatic dog’s airways, resulting in:
- Breathing difficulty
- Wheezing
- Coughing
- Sluggishness
- Panting with the mouth parted wide
A severe asthmatic attack can lead to a lack of oxygen. This can turn a dog’s gums blue and even make your dog collapse, while allowing this condition to go untreated can have fatal consequences. When handling an affected dog, however, keep in mind that the anxiety and panic such symptoms can cause them can also make them aggressive enough to bite.
As an asthma attack is an allergic reaction, a dog doesn’t have to inhale black pepper to become ill; mere exposure to the spice is enough.
Seek veterinary aid if your dog has an asthmatic attack after exposure to black pepper. You should also have the vet find out what your pet’s allergies are so that you can avoid giving them any food that can trigger an allergic reaction.
Horrid taste
We humans enjoy the taste of black pepper—that’s why we sprinkle this spice all over our food. However, we should remember that what we find delicious isn’t necessarily delicious for dogs.
Dogs can’t stand the spicy bitterness of black pepper. In addition, their sense of smell is strong enough to tell them this spice is bad news. So if you add some black pepper to their meal, that meal is likely to go uneaten. Don’t waste any dog food—don’t season it with black pepper!
In fact, dogs find black pepper so gross that some people use it to discourage destructive chewing. An owner, for example, can scatter a tiny bit of black pepper on items they don’t want their pet using like a chew toy. Due to all the issues black pepper can cause dogs, however, we can’t completely recommend this technique.
FAQs About Black Pepper for Dogs
Below, we answer commonly asked questions about black pepper for dogs!
My dog ate black pepper. What should I do?
Don’t panic. Find out how much they ingested and monitor them for issues.
If your dog ate a small amount of black pepper, they’ll most likely be fine. Nevertheless, observe them for signs of digestive problems or an allergic reaction. Give them some water to ease any discomfort the spice may be causing them.
If the amount ingested was more than a little, there’s a chance they’ll experience digestive and/or respiratory problems. Contact a vet the moment your dog exhibits symptoms of such issues, and do whatever they tell you to do. If the symptoms are intense, rush your pooch to the pet clinic or hospital; you don’t want to wait for their condition to grow worse.
If you can’t reach a vet, those in North America can call the Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661 or Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435.
What are good alternatives to black pepper?
If you want to add some flavor to your dog’s meal, consider sprinkling some parsley, rosemary, or oregano on their food. These herbs are not only delicious but also nutritious. Rosemary, for example, contains antioxidants, iron, calcium, and vitamin B6. Parsley is rich in carotenes and lycopene and can even solve your dog’s bad breath problem.
Make sure to feed your dog these herbs in moderation only, however, as significant amounts can also be harmful.
Is black pepper healthy for dogs?
Black pepper contains a host of nutrients dogs need to stay healthy, including vitamin B6, vitamin E, calcium, and potassium.
Unfortunately, the problems black pepper can cause a dog far outweigh these nutritional benefits. Besides, these nutrients can be found in foods that are actually safe for dogs to eat, such as the aforementioned parsley, rosemary, and oregano. You can also feed your dog carrots, cucumbers, and eggs—just remember to do so in moderation.
Can dogs eat other types of pepper?
Don’t give your dog:
- Cayenne pepper
- Hot pepper
- Lemon pepper
Cayenne pepper and hot pepper are spicy and can thus cause digestive issues. Lemon pepper usually contains substances that are toxic to dogs. Don’t forget that your dog could be allergic to these spices, too.
You should also avoid giving dogs white, pink, or green peppercorns. These aren’t toxic to dogs, but they can cause digestive concerns and/or an allergic reaction, especially if large amounts are consumed.
Peppercorn sauce is bad for dogs as it typically contains onions, garlic, alcohol, and other ingredients that are highly toxic to dogs. If your pet consumes such ingredients, they can experience far worse issues than a stomach upset or an allergic reaction. In the worst of cases, such toxins can even cause death.
Can dogs eat salt and pepper?
No. Pepper is bad enough, but salt can be extremely unhealthy for dogs.
Dogs can only consume a tiny amount of salt daily. Exceeding their daily salt intake can result in rapid, drastic dehydration, which affects the muscles and kills brain cells, causing dizziness, seizures, and other issues.
Ingesting salt and pepper can therefore lead to salt toxicity, whose symptoms include:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Weakness
- Reduced appetite
- Incoordination
- Extreme thirst, causing excessive drinking and urination
- Confusion
- Respiratory problems
- Rapid heartbeat
In severe cases of salt toxicity, a dog can even experience:
- Muscle tremors
- Seizures
- Fainting
- Coma
Untreated salt toxicity can result in death. If your dog displays the above symptoms after swallowing salt and pepper, contact a vet as soon as possible.
Conclusion
It’s a bad idea to feed dogs black pepper. This spice can give our canine friends digestive issues such as diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. And if your pooch is unfortunate enough to be allergic to black pepper, it can make them experience respiratory issues such as coughing, wheezing, and breathing difficulty.
Dogs don’t even like the taste of black pepper, so there’s little point in adding it to their meals. Save this spice for human food; your dog’s health—not to mention your taste buds—will benefit from it!