As a carnivore, dogs should eat mostly meat. However, a healthy and balanced dog diet also includes various types of vegetables. Does the pepper, which is rich in vitamins and minerals, also belong to this?

In a nutshell

  • Peppers contain slightly toxic solanine
  • causes vomiting, diarrhea and problems and digestive tract
  • Fully ripe, red peppers have only a low solanine content
  • cooked peppers are also well tolerated
  • However, do not feed green and yellow peppers

Toxic solanine

Like potatoes, tomatoes and aubergines, the sweet pepper belongs to the nightshade family. Characteristic of these plants is the content of solanine, a toxic chemical compound. This is to keep predators from eating the plants. Thus, solanine is a natural pesticide.

  • generally contain more solanine in unripe and ripening fruits
  • therefore only feed strong red peppers to dogs
  • 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

Your dog should not eat yellow or even green peppers raw - these are unripe and have a significantly higher solanine content.

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

Tolerable 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 (avoidance of pesticides)
  • Do not feed Strunk, contains a lot of solanine
  • Cut into bite-sized pieces or strips before serving
  • give a maximum of a few narrow stripes

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

Peppers cooked at best

You are on the safe side if you only give your darling the peppers that have been cooked. The raw vegetables contain more solanine, while the toxin dissolves during cooking and passes into the cooking water. Therefore, when cooking nightshade plants - including potatoes! - Always pour away the cooking water and never use it for pureeing or making sauces.

Notice: Note, however, that while cooking makes the peppers more digestible - it also destroys valuable vitamins such as heat-sensitive vitamin C.

Prohibited: chili and hot peppers

Hot peppers that are so popular with humans, such as chili or pepperoni, are absolutely forbidden for dogs. The substance capsaicin contained in these fruits and responsible for the sharpness has a strong irritating effect on the skin and mucous membranes, it can cause severe pain and health problems such as

  • circulatory problems and dizziness
  • vomiting and diarrhea
  • irritation of the gastric mucosa
  • as well as inflammation

to lead.

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

Possible signs of poisoning

Basically, poisoning by paprika - whether raw or cooked - is only possible in dogs with a very sensitive gastrointestinal tract, in small dogs (depending on the amount eaten) or in large amounts eaten. Possible signs of poisoning 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, however, is a pale to white coloration.

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. Within the first hour after eating, go to the veterinarian and have the animal injected with an anti-vomiting drug. However, the veterinarian will examine the dog beforehand and determine whether this measure is actually necessary or not.
  3. Administration of activated charcoal, which binds toxins in the body. However, you should have discussed the correct dosage in the event of poisoning with your vet beforehand.

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

frequently asked Questions

My dog likes to eat and lots of peppers. Does that hurt him in the long run?

Some dogs love peppers and will eat large amounts of them, leaving their owners wondering at our advice. Dogs, like us humans, are very different and have different sensitive digestive systems. Some animals tolerate a lot of peppers very well, while others show discomfort after just a little bit. This is individually different. However, even the seemingly unproblematic eaters can suffer long-term damage after large amounts over a long period of time. For example, solanine is suspected of causing cancer in dogs.

Which vegetables are particularly good for dogs?

You can feed your dog raw carrots, celery, cucumber or salad without hesitation, cooked potatoes, broccoli, pumpkin or zucchini are also good. Make sure you chop hard vegetables well, grate or puree them. This way your dog cannot choke while eating. The vegetables should also not be seasoned, especially not with salt, hot spices, onions or garlic. Many types of fruit such as apples, pears, cherries and plums (without seeds!) and edible berries of all kinds are also good.

Which vegetables should dogs absolutely not eat?

Under no circumstances should you feed your dog these vegetables, which are poisonous for him: raw or green potatoes, tomatoes, raw onions, garlic and avocados. At worst, onions and garlic can destroy your dog's red blood cells, while tomatoes are harmful to the kidneys, nervous system and digestive tract. Dogs are not allowed to eat rhubarb or grapes on fruit, as these are kidney-damaging.

Category:

Animals in the garden