There are so many different levels of spicy, and as people, we all have different tolerances for the level of heat we can stand. Some people can tolerate spicy foods that would burn someone else’s mouth to the point of tears while other people can barely stand pepper.
What about dogs? If your family lives off of hot, spicy dishes, you’ve probably had your dog get a taste of something spicy. Is it okay to give your dog spicy food, or should it be strictly off limits?
How Good Are Dog's Tastebuds?
You might think a dog’s sense of taste is more highly tuned than a human’s, but it’s actually weaker! A human has about 9000 taste buds, and dogs only have about 1700. Humans have four basic tastes (bitter, sweet, salty, and sour), but dogs’ taste buds skipped developing their salt receptors during evolution as they consumed a carnivorous diet naturally high in salt.
Dogs eat gross things because their tastes aren’t as refined as ours. Instead, they use their sense of smell when sampling food.
Can Dogs Have Spicy Food?
Dogs may not have the exact same taste buds as we do, but that doesn’t mean they don’t react to spicy foods. No matter how little spice you think your spicy food has, your dog won’t have the same opinion as you. Something that’s just slightly spicy to you could be incredibly hot and painful for your dog.
What Happens When Dogs Eat Spicy Foods?
The biggest concern is your dog getting an upset stomach. Vomiting, diarrhea, and a painful tummy are likely if your dog is eating a lot of spicy food. Much like when you eat too much hot food, your dog is going to get the same reaction.
The other concern is the spices in the food. Bottled or jarred products like hot sauce are heavily flavored with a variety of seasonings that are bad for your dog, such as garlic and onion powders.
There’s really no reason why your dog would enjoy spicy food, either. Remember they have significantly fewer taste buds than you do, and while they might not taste the spice, that doesn’t mean their GI tract isn’t going to suffer the side effects.
Hi, I’m Jacob. I’ve been a professional blogger for over 6 years and in that time I’ve written countless blogs that have reached millions of people. I am a DVM by profession but all you need to know is that I LOVE DOGS!
SDO started way back in 2015 on a whim. I’d read a couple of dozen blogs online while searching for the best products for my pup and the amount of misinformation online from unqualified sources giving potentially harmful advice shocked me. Then suddenly it hit me, hey, I can do this too! And I can do this RIGHT! Without even knowing what a blog was or how it makes money. I jumped right in to share the years of knowledge I have of dogs with the world.
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As a dog owner only you would know the feeling you get when you come home at night and you pup is there at the door wagging their tail in sheer joy. The bond a person and their dog share can not be explained in mere words. Yet dogs are like children, and they need to be cared for and trained, and that’s why Smart Dog Owner exists, to give you the precise and exact information that you seek about your dog. No matter how minute that detail is, chances are we will be there to help you out! As someone who has raised 7 of her own dogs. Jacob will always help you out.