Can Dogs Eat Curry?
Do not give your dog any curry or other spicy foods, as doing so could cause severe digestive damage or even obesity.
Spices like cumin, coriander, and turmeric are used in certain curry dishes. Dogs shouldn’t eat these spices in large enough quantities for them to have any beneficial effect on their health, despite the fact that they may have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and be good for humans’ immune systems.
Due to the presence of several potentially harmful ingredients, traditional curry recipes should not be fed to pets or used as a supplement to their diet.
If your pet accidentally consumes a large amount of curry, you must act quickly to prevent dehydration.
Until your dog’s stomach issues clear up, you may want to try switching his diet over to blander items like plain chicken and rice.
What Is Curry?
Curry can mean either curry paste or curry powder, or it can refer to a combination of spices. In Japan, Jamaica, Thailand, and India, the term can also describe a dish of rice topped with sautéed meat or vegetables and a tangy, hot sauce.
What Is Curry Powder?
The spices that go into curry powder are available for purchase elsewhere. Turmeric, a rhizome native to South Asia, is the primary flavoring component of most curry powders due to its bright yellow color and earthy flavor.
The complex flavors of South Indian sauces and stews inspired the creation of curry powder by British colonists, who then found a way to produce it on a large scale.
Dangerous Ingredients in Curry for Dogs
Curry dishes typically consist of a meat base and a variety of healthy vegetables and greens. Also, your dog isn’t reacting badly to those components. Spices and seasonings are the main offenders.
Garlic & Onions
The allium family, of which garlic and onion are members, is extremely toxic to canines despite being a rich source of flavor for humans.
Their thiosulfate content is the reason for this. Thiosulfate is safe for humans but can cause serious oxidative damage to your dog’s red blood cells.
Hemolytic anemia is a possible outcome of thiosulfate damage. Indicators of anemia in your dog include labored breathing and a listless disposition.
Symptoms like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, and dehydration are all relatively minor.
Chilies
Humans love to try new things, and chillies are a great way to do that. On the other hand, they can be a living hell for your dog. Unlike onions and garlic, they aren’t obviously toxic to them, but their potency doubles when it comes to pain.
Capsaicin is the name of the chemical responsible for the spiciness of chili peppers. Even more so in the case of the spicier curries, it can be an extremely irritating substance.
Your dog’s mental and physical state may change drastically after ingesting this.
It’s possible they’ll get frightened and run to their water bowls to douse the flames. Some people will just cry and moan about how bad they feel.
Don’t give your dog any chili peppers, period.
Salt
Sodium is essential to a healthy diet for dogs (and humans). They don’t require a lot, though. Some of the salty foods we eat, like chips and pretzels, can be too much for your dog. And curry typically has a lot more salt than the aforementioned foods.
If your dog consumes too much salt, it can have some terrifying effects. They will be extremely thirsty at first. People who are dehydrated will drink as much as they can.
It’s possible they’ll start feeling weak and throwing up. The last possible outcome is seizures for your dog. It’s best to limit or eliminate their exposure to salty foods.
Sugar
There is a lot of sugar in curry, and that’s bad for your dog. It’s not as immediately harmful as the others we’ve discussed, but it can have profound effects over time.
Your dog’s health could suffer if it gets too much sugar in its diet.
Alliums
Thiosulfate, a form of sodium with high concentrations in garlic, onions, and other alliums, inhibits the body’s ability to make red blood cells. A dog that eats an onion, for instance, may experience a blood sugar imbalance and hemolytic anemia.
Curry leaves
It’s possible that curry leaves could cause stomach upset and other side effects in canines. The veterinary community does not view raw curry leaves as toxic, but owners should still keep an eye out for tummy troubles in their pets if they eat them.
Is There a Healthy Curry for Dogs?
Despite curry’s many drawbacks for canines, turmeric is a welcome exception. Most curries feature turmeric, one of the most potent ingredients known to man.
It’s loaded with anti-inflammatory antioxidants that help keep your dog’s immune system strong and prevent or treat heart disease.
So, if you want to give your dog a “curry” treat, try sprinkling some turmeric on their food every so often. They won’t suffer any ill effects and will actually benefit from the added energy.
Keep Curry Out of Reach
So, it’s clear that feeding your dog curry is a bad idea. The health benefits of turmeric, if any, are quickly outweighed by the other ingredients. It’s probably best if you don’t share this tasty dish with anyone else.