Can dogs eat peppers?

As a carnivore, the dog should eat mainly meat. However, a healthy and balanced dog diet also includes various types of vegetables. Does it include paprika, which is rich in vitamins and minerals?

Poisonous solanine

Like potatoes, tomatoes and aubergines, sweet peppers are also part of the nightshade family. Characteristic of these plants is the content of solanine, a poisonous chemical compound. This is supposed to keep predators from eating the plants. Thus, the solanine is a natural pesticide.

• generally contain more solanine in unripe and ripening fruits
• therefore only feed dogs with strong red peppers
• comparatively high sugar content in sweet, ripe peppers
• also contain little solanine
• but high content of vitamin C as well as A and B, as well as potassium, magnesium and zinc

On the other hand, your dog should not eat yellow or even green peppers raw - these are immature and have a significantly higher solanine content.

Note: The peppers available in the supermarket are only ripe when they are red. For home and hobby gardeners, however, there are also Paprika varietiesthat ripen in yellow ('Goldflame'), orange or even purple ('Mavras'). The rule that only red peppers are fed does not apply to them, of course.

Compatible amounts

If your dog can tolerate it - after all, there are many sensitive animals that are sensitive to some foods such as peppers - you can give him raw peppers as follows:

• Thoroughly cut out the stalk, white parts and seeds
• Wash the peppers under hot running water
• Use organic quality if possible (avoid pesticides)
• Do not feed stalk, contains a lot of solanine
• Before feeding, cut into bite-sized pieces or strips
• give a maximum of a few narrow strips

Tip: Give your four-legged friend fully ripe red peppers no more than once a week and prefer otherwise unproblematic, but no less healthy vegetables.

Bell peppers cooked at best

You are absolutely on the safe side if you only give your darling the peppers cooked. Raw vegetables contain more solanine, while the toxin dissolves during cooking and passes into the cooking water. That's why you should cook nightshade plants - even potatoes! - Always throw away the cooking water and never use it for pureeing or making sauces.

Note: Please note, however, that cooking the peppers makes them easier to digest - but also destroys valuable vitamins such as the heat-sensitive vitamin C.

Prohibited: chilli and hot peppers

The hot paprika varieties that are so popular with humans, such as chilli or hot peppers, are absolutely forbidden for dogs. The substance capsaicin contained in these fruits and responsible for the spiciness has a strong effect irritating to skin and mucous membranes, it can cause severe pain and is harmful to health Problems like

• Circulatory problems and dizziness
• Vomiting and diarrhea
• Irritation of the gastric mucosa
• as well as inflammation

to lead.

Tip: In general, strongly or spicy dishes are not suitable for dogs, which includes spicy vegetables as well as spices such as pepper, curry or nutmeg.

Possible signs of intoxication

Basically, poisoning by paprika - regardless of whether it is raw or cooked - is only very common in dogs sensitive gastrointestinal tract, in small dogs (depending on the amount eaten) or in large amounts eaten possible. Possible signs of intoxication can include:

• Vomit
• diarrhea
• Circulatory problems, dizziness
• heavy sweating
• Breathing problems
• fever

If you suspect poisoning, you should look at the mucous membranes on the lips. In healthy animals these are pink - a typical sign of poisoning, on the other hand, is a pale to white color.

First aid

If you suspect poisoning from (too much) eaten peppers, you have three options:

1. Wait and watch the dog for possible symptoms of poisoning.
   
2. Go to the vet within the first hour after eating and inject the animal with vomiting medication. However, the vet will examine the dog beforehand and determine whether this measure is actually necessary or not.
   
3. Give activated charcoal, which binds the toxins in the body. However, you should have spoken to your veterinarian beforehand about the correct dosage in the event of poisoning.

Basically, it always makes sense to go to the vet once too often rather than once too little.

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