To increase the taste of foods, we often include peppers, like black pepper, in them. Thanks to its spicy and burning sensation, it makes foods mouth-watering. If you want your paw friend to enjoy this luscious taste, you may wonder, Can dogs have black pepper?
For instance, you are offering a pinch of black pepper on your dog’s food with a pinch of salt. This mixture of ingredients can be great for dogs. But if you add a pinch of black pepper to your dog’s food with some onion powder and garlic powder, this mixture would be hazardous for them. In short, black pepper is safe for dogs in small amounts unless you add any toxic ingredients to it.
This article has more to say about the safety concerns related to dogs eating black peppers.
Table of Contents
Can Dogs Have Black Pepper?
So far, vets used to say don’t offer any food to dogs by mixing salt, spices, and seasonings. The ingredients can include onions, garlic, peppers, chilli, etc. You see, onions, garlic, nutmeg, etc. fall into the category of unsafe ingredients. Meanwhile, turmeric, a few amounts of salt, etc. fall into the category of safe ingredients.
Luckily, black pepper can also be safe for dogs in small amounts. Just make sure that your dog doesn’t get in the habit of it, or else eating black pepper regularly can give him many health issues.
Is Black Pepper Good For Dogs?
Black pepper contains trace amounts of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. These can do some good for your dog’s metabolism and digestion. However, this pepper cannot serve any real health benefits but can enhance the nutrients in other ingredients.
For example, turmeric is a good substitute to add to dog foods in small amounts. Turmeric contains curcuminoid extract, an anti-inflammatory property that helps alleviate body pain. On the other hand, black pepper has a chemical compound named piperine. When you mix the piperine and curcumin, i.e., adding thematic and black pepper, dogs can get 2000% more benefits from curcumin than they used to get from the turmeric alone.
Only the black pepper may not allow your dog to reap any benefits. But if you add this ingredient to other healthy foods, your dog can reap more benefits than you can expect.
Risks Of Having Black Pepper For Dogs
Black peppers can pose health threats to dogs when they are taken more than necessary. Many spices, including black peppers, have capsaicin, which is responsible for forming a burning sensation. The more a dog eats black pepper, the more he is ingesting capsaicin. This can cause him gastrointestinal distress, like gas, bloating, an irritated gut, stomach pain, etc.
Taking more black peppers can increase the burning sensation in the whole body. This can result in infected and swollen anal glands. Most people call it anal sac disease and haemorrhoids.
Along with digestive issues, black pepper can cause constant sneezing and even breathing problems. This issue can arise not only from eating too much black pepper but also from sniffing the black pepper.
How To Offer Black Pepper To Dogs?
As said earlier, black pepper can have immense health benefits when mixed with turmeric. Hence, an option for offering this pepper to dogs is simply adding it to the turmeric.
We know dogs cannot have more than 100 grams of sodium in a day. This means their consumption of salt should be low. Meanwhile, we like to add black pepper with salt to chicken, beef, and other dishes to enhance their taste. You can do the same for your dog. You may add a few amounts of salt to the chicken and some black pepper. This can be a nice treat for him.
Another way would be to add a few amounts of salt and turmeric to the dog food and let your dog enjoy the treat.
When Can Dogs Have Black Pepper?
We know that black pepper is safe for dogs in small amounts. But that doesn’t mean you can offer it to them directly. First, you need to introduce this spice to him. Sprinkle the slightest amount of black pepper over the dog food and let your dog eat the food. If he gives no reaction, maybe he is fine with the spice. But if he shows reactions like sneezing, coughing, or restlessness, maybe black pepper is not for him.
Black pepper can increase the sodium content of foods. Hence, avoid it for dogs who are dealing with high blood pressure. Also, avoid it for dogs who have sensitive noses. The burning sensation of black pepper can lead to constant sneezing, resulting in a bloody cough.
Even if your dog seems fine with having the black pepper, don’t offer it to him. To keep him on the safe side, consult with his vet first before introducing him to any food.
Frequently Asked Questions: Can Dogs Have Black Pepper?
Can dogs eat black pepper with salt?
Dogs can eat black pepper with salt. They both have chemical compounds that boost their anti-inflammatory properties when mixed.
What spices are bad for dogs?
Dogs should not have certain spices to avoid toxicity. Such as onion powder, garlic powder, nutmeg, cocoa powder, caraway, marjoram, and many more.
Should you give black pepper to your dog?
Although black pepper gives almost zero health hazards to dogs in small amounts, you shouldn’t give it to dogs. Some dogs can’t adapt to any human foods, especially when they are allergic. In that case, black pepper is a no-no for them.
Is black pepper with salt safe for dogs?
Both salt and black pepper are safe for dogs if served a bit. They shouldn’t have more than 100 grams of sodium in a day. If these two ingredients contain less than 100 grams of sodium, dogs won’t get side effects from them.
Final Thoughts
Black pepper has more side effects than benefits. That’s why we may think again: Can dogs have black pepper? The answer is yes if your dog doesn’t have BP issues, sneezing, coughing, or swollen anal glands. Most importantly, their bet should be okay with their intake of black pepper.
If your dog ever shows symptoms after having a pinch of black pepper, don’t offer him any more. And if he eats too much, monitor his symptoms and tell him about them. If needed, offer him medications and urgent treatment. Initially, you can let him drink some water with a probiotic supplement to ease his GI tract.
