Dogs and humans have different nutritional requirements. All that humans consume, are not preferable for dogs. One of those many things is chili or peppers.
Dogs tend to have a very low spice tolerance. There are varieties of peppers available, among them the banana pepper is a popular one. These peppers are yellow in color, and have a tangy and sweet taste to them. Their unique taste is the reason behind people prefer banana peppers.
However, can dogs have banana peppers? If you are wondering that, then bear with us till the end to find the answer. Today, we will have a detailed discussion about whether dogs can eat banana peppers or not.
Can dogs eat banana peppers?
Dogs can eat banana peppers. Yet, it is recommended not to feed your dog peppers as their spice tolerance is too low. Banana peppers are not toxic or spicy enough to cause any harm to your dogs. However, they are still peppers and your dogs may find them spicy.
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Additionally, you can give your dog banana peppers in moderate amounts. Keep in mind that, although humans find it mild, dogs may not. In the worst case it can lead to food sensitivity in your dog.
Dogs can taste way better than us humans. They have around 1,700 taste buds whereas we humans roughly have 900. Even if the dogs can’t taste the pepper, the dogs may still react to the pepper.
Yes, dogs can digest peppers and some of them might even love them but that is not common in all cases.
Sweet banana peppers:
Sweet banana peppers are used in many dishes. Especially in stuffed dishes. They go well with the flavor of cheese and meat. You can feed your dog sweet banana pepper but in very small amounts. So, you can share your banana peppers with your pooch.
However, other banana peppers like Hungarian peppers must be avoided as they are considered hotter than jalapenos.
Are banana peppers bad for dogs? Will banana peppers hurt dogs?
Banana peppers are not bad for dogs. Banana peppers will not hurt dogs if fed in moderate amounts.
You can feed banana peppers to your dog once in a while. In fact, it would be a great addition to their meals. They can eat one-two peppers without any issues. It will be safe.
However, banana peppers cannot be considered a safe food for dogs.
Additionally, banana peppers are not bad for dogs. However, they are not dog food by nature, which in this case bell peppers aren’t either. This is why banana peppers should be given in small amounts.
Keep in mind that not all dogs can consume banana peppers. Consumption of banana peppers can lead to health problems like, gastric, vomiting, diarrhea etc.
Therefore, it’s good to avoid high amounts of pepper in your dog’s meals. The reaction will vary from dog to dog, as the breeds are different and they have different characteristics.
Why shouldn’t dogs eat banana peppers?
Depending on the type of breed, your dog’s health may get compromised due to the consumption of banana peppers.
Here are a few reasons behind why shouldn’t dogs eat banana peppers:
Can lead to causing a burning sensation in the to tongue:
Banana peppers may create a burning sensation in your dog’s tongue. A chemical known as capsaicin, creates the hot taste in chillies. The higher amount of capsaicin, the hotter the chili is.
Capsaicin is usually used in food to discourage dogs from consuming it. When your furry friends consume peppers that are high in capsaicin, it can cause a severe burning sensation in the tongue, throat and mouth.
Can cause irritation in mouth and stomach:
Some banana peppers can be hotter than jalapenos. Which is why they are a straight no for dogs. However, you can still feed your dogs mild banana peppers, which have a slightly sweet taste to them.
Additionally, not all breeds of dogs can tolerate that amount of spice, which can lead to irritating your dog’s mouth and stomach. And in worse cases, it can even cause diarrhea.
Every dog has different spice tolerance:
It’s vital to keep in mind that not all dogs have the same spice tolerance. This is one of the basic reasons why dogs shouldn’t be fed banana peppers.
Like humans, dogs have different tastes. Some can tolerate spice and some can’t even tolerate the mildest spice.
Can lead to damaging throat, stomach, and intestine:
If a dog consumes spicy food, the burning sensation that’s caused doesn’t only stay in its mouth. It leads to the throat and then to the stomach.
The scary part is some hot peppers can damage the inner lining of a dog’s esophagus, intestines, and stomach.
Do banana peppers provide nutritional value for your dog?
Banana peppers do provide nutritional value for dogs. Although you can feed your pooch banana peppers, it shouldn’t be a large amount. However, as for the nutritional value, they are low in carbs.
Therefore, there will be no weight gain issue. Banana peppers also contain a high amount of vitamin A and C. Vitamin A helps the growth of a healthy and shiny coat. Whereas, vitamin C helps in building a stronger immune system.
Apart from these, they are also high in calcium, and iron. Banana peppers can help in developing healthy bones as iron is very important for the growth of bones.
These peppers also have a good amount of fiber in them. Which helps improve the gut health of your dog. All these are the nutritional facts about banana peppers.
However, you must keep in mind that not all breeds of dogs can be fed banana peppers. So, do your research before giving your pooch banana pepper.
What should I do if my dog eats banana pepper?
Although banana peppers are not toxic to dogs, still some breeds may get affected. However, if the peppers affect your dog, you will see symptoms like drooling, sneezing, runny nose, and weepy eyes.
Here are a few things you can do if your dogs eat banana pepper:
Offer plenty of freshwater:
The first thing you can do is offer plenty of water to calm the heat of the pepper. If they have access already, they will run to it as soon as the spice hits them.
Offer them a spoonful of yogurt:
Milk and yogurt help in reducing the spice of peppers. So, you can offer your pooch a spoonful of yogurt if he’s not lactose intolerant. This will help your dog feel better.
Clean paws and mouth using cold water:
Using cold water, try to clean the paws and mouth of your dog. The water will help your dog feel calmer. Additionally, it will remove the leftover spice of peppers from your dog’s paws which can later transfer to their face.
Prepare for an upset stomach:
As your dog consumes anything that is out of their diet, they are bound to have an upset stomach. Capsaicin tends to affect the intestine, stomach and cause diarrhea or vomiting.
So, keep an eye on them and feed them in small amounts. You may need to monitor the symptoms and contact a veteran if required.
Give them bland food:
For a few days, feed your dog bland food if they are experiencing vomiting and diarrhea. You can offer your dog plain cooked chicken or white fish.
After a few days, when they have recovered you can again introduce them with their old diet. However, be sure to do this gradually. You may need to monitor to check if any of the symptoms of diarrhea or any other issue returns.
What peppers are toxic to dogs?
It can be hard to keep track of all the foods that are considered toxic to dogs. However, peppers are highly nutritious. The only drawback about peppers is that they can be spicy and dogs do not have a high spice tolerance.
So, here are a list of peppers that are toxic to dogs:
- Red chili peppers
- Green chili peppers
- Jalapenos
- Hungarian banana peppers
- Black pepper
- Poblano pepper
- Cubanelle pepper
- Romanian pepper
- Friarielli pepper
- Alma pepper
Final Thoughts
Dogs can eat banana peppers. However, they must be fed in moderate amounts. Banana peppers are high in vitamins, and fiber which can help in building a better immune system for your dog. Additionally, not all dog breeds can tolerate and digest banana peppers.