Can Dogs Eat Peppers?

Paprika is a nightshade plant that is considered to be particularly rich in vitamins and healthy. At least for humans. But is paprika also suitable for dogs to eat to ensure a balanced diet? And in what form can dogs eat peppers?

The Most Important Things Summarized

• Peppers contain solanine, a toxin that can cause diarrhea and vomiting in dogs, but it can also cause serious health problems.
• Yellow and red peppers that are very ripe no longer contain solanine. Therefore, only feed your dog peppers in this form. Green peppers, on the other hand, are taboo!
• There are many other types of vegetables that are well tolerated by dogs. If necessary, use these for a balanced and healthy diet for your dog.

Beware of the Solanine Concentration

Solanine is a toxin that attacks the lining of a dog’s gastrointestinal tract, causing diarrhea and vomiting. At the same time, solanine is considered carcinogenic and the substance destroys red blood cells. The consequences are cardiac arrest, breathing problems, paralysis, and an inhibited nervous system. Your dog should therefore not consume solanine if possible.

Accordingly, you would do well not to feed your dog other nightshade plants such as tomatoes, aubergines, and (raw) potatoes.

It Depends on the Color and Shape

There is no general answer to the question of whether a dog can eat peppers. It depends both on the color of the peppers and on the preparation. Green peppers contain the highest solanine content. You should therefore never feed this to your dog. Yellow and red peppers, on the other hand, are harmless if you first remove the stalk and core. Make sure that the fruit is really ripe and no longer has any green spots, as there is still solanine here, which only disappears when it ripens.

Peppers for the Dog – Raw or Cooked?

When cooking peppers, the toxin also goes into the water, as it is water-soluble at high temperatures. It is therefore worth boiling or cooking the peppers before feeding them.

Hot Peppers and Chilies for Dogs?

Like humans, dogs have different taste receptors: sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and savory. However, the sense of taste is different and dogs are z. B. is significantly less sensitive to salty foods. There are also four-legged friends who eat chili sauce, wasabi, or other very hot spices without appearing ill.

Keep in mind that spiciness can attack a dog’s stomach lining just like solanine, and sooner or later it can lead to gastrointestinal disorders. So it is better to refrain from feeding your dog with chilies & co.

How Many Peppers Can Dogs Eat?

If you don’t want to give up feeding your dog peppers, the amount should only be about one slice per week – only cooked and/or ripe and only yellow or red peppers.

Overall, however, there are vegetables that are just as healthy as peppers but can also cause less damage to your dog in larger quantities.