Many people enjoy adding a little heat to their meals with hot sauce and peppers, and they may reason that their dog would feel the same way about his or her kibble if it were spiced up a bit. But is it safe to season your dog’s food with hot sauce or another spicy condiment?
If you’re wondering if your dog can eat hot sauce, the answer is no. The risks of feeding your dog spicy foods are greater than you might think.
Eating too much heat at once can be toxic and lead to stomach issues like cramping, nausea, and gas. Additionally, they can induce vomiting due to your dog’s excessive thirst.
Dogs and humans share some similarities, but our bodies react differently to different foods. Garlic and onions are just two examples of human foods that should never be fed to a dog.
While small amounts of these foods may have health benefits for humans, they may be fatal for your dog’s red blood cells. Garlic is toxic to canines and can cause anemia.
Can dogs eat hot sauce?
The videos make it abundantly clear that the dogs do not enjoy the spicy condiment. Dogs in the videos initially appear happy to receive a treat, but their demeanor quickly changes when they take their first bite of the hot sauce. Is it dangerous to give dogs hot sauce?
Dr. Tory Waxman, Chief Veterinary Officer and co-founder of Sundays for Dogs, Inc., a company that sells human-grade dog food, says that you’d be right to think this challenge is a bad idea. Some people enjoy the flavor of hot sauce, but it is not something you should feed your dog.
Your dog probably won’t care for the flavor of the hot sauce, and he’ll certainly feel bad after consuming it.
Hot sauce can “cause irritation of the gastrointestinal tract including the mouth, esophagus, stomach, and intestines,” as Dr. Waxman puts it.
Abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting are all symptoms of a irritated gastrointestinal tract.
Why is Hot Sauce Dangerous for Dogs?
The ingredients in hot sauce are harmful to dogs. Spicy chili peppers get their kick from capsaicin. Dogs’ digestive tracts become inflamed after ingesting capsaicin.
Hot sauces often contain vinegar, another ingredient that can be harmful to dogs’ digestive systems.
More Reasons You Shouldn’t Give Your Dog Spicy Foods
The same attention to diet and exercise that is required for human health is also necessary for canine health. Dog owners who feed their pet human food run the risk of upsetting their pet’s digestive system.
When it comes to small dogs and puppies, this is a major threat. In addition, once you let your dog in the kitchen, he or she will want to beg for everything on the table. This can turn into a bad habit that’s hard to shake.
Also, keep in mind that most canines have a low tolerance for heat. It’s possible they won’t even notice the flavor. Dogs have around 1,700 taste buds, compared to humans’ 9,000.
Adding hot sauce or other spicy flavors to your dog’s food won’t make him or her any happier; they won’t be able to tell much of a difference to your pet and may cause stomach distress.
Dogs don’t mind eating the same thing every day, so feel free to experiment with different meat and other flavorings.
Think about how well your dog can smell. Though he or she may not have as keen a sense of taste as you do, they make up for it with 300 million olfactory receptors to our 6 million.
Consider how your eyes may well up at the mere mention of cumin. Visualize the magnified effect that scent will have on your dog.
What To Look For If Your Dog Eats Hot Sauce
Assuming your dog ingests some spicy food, what should you do?
Dogs that ingest even a small amount may show mild symptoms, including gastrointestinal irritation.
Dogs with a severe reaction, on the other hand, may refuse food due to vomiting, diarrhea, or abdominal pain. If your dog is exhibiting any of these signs, it is important to take them to the vet right away.
If your dog accidentally consumes hot sauce, you should seek your vet’s advice on whether or not you should keep an eye on him at home or rush him to the emergency vet.
If your dog ate hot sauce, here are the symptoms you need to watch for
Even in less severe cases, Dr. Waxman warns that if a dog eats hot sauce, it can cause irritation to the dog’s mouth, stomach, esophagus, and intestines.
However, “ulceration of the mouth, esophagus, and stomach” “could result” from eating hot sauce in moderate to severe cases.
Extreme cases may also be accompanied by abdominal pain, nausea, and/or weakness.
Veterinarians should examine and treat any dogs exhibiting these signs.
You should talk to your vet if your dog accidentally ingests hot sauce to figure out what to do next and whether or not you should take your dog to an emergency clinic.
Giving your dog hot sauce risks damaging your relationship with your dog
Do not fall for the TikTok fad and feed your dog hot sauce; doing so poses serious health risks, and this is just one of many reasons why you should not.
As a vet and dog owner, I beg you: Please don’t give your dog hot sauce.
Your dog eats what you feed them because they trust you, and you should never do anything to damage that trust, says Dr. Waxman.
Dogs place their trust in us and rely on us for comfort, protection, and nourishment. If we want our dogs to feel safe around us, we can’t risk their health or happiness for a few likes on Facebook.
Final Thoughts
Don’t give your dog any hot sauce or spicy foods, and keep giving your dog the food he or she is used to eating. If someone is sensitive to heat, then obviously no hot sauce should be used. Be cautious. Don’t let Fido near the hot sauce or spicy condiment.