Dogs have a specific diet with feed as the main food and a series of products that complement their diet as fruits and vegetables usual in the diet of the human being. The pepper is one of them, since it is a vegetable rich in vitamins and fiber very beneficial for the human body and that is usually also given to dogs.
However, many people with dogs in their care may not have paid attention to what the intake of pepper in the canine organism entails. Is it good or bad? To find out if dogs can eat pepper, what are the varieties suitable for dogs, the benefits and how to give it to your little furry, in we recommend that you continue reading this article.
Can dogs eat pepper or not?
Dogs can eat pepper without any problem because this vegetable does not contain substances that are toxic to the canine body, so it is a suitable food for them. In addition, consuming pepper benefits from its nutritional contribution, since it is a great source of vitamins A and C and fiber.
However, dogs cannot eat any type of pepper. Sweet table peppers are right for your diet. Within this variety, there are peppers of different morphologies (Lamuyo, California and Italian) and of different colors (green, red and yellow).
Instead, you should avoid giving your dog the hot table peppers. In fact, they cannot eat any variety of hot pepper: peppers from Padrón, Gernika, chillies and chilies, for example, contain capsaicin, a spicy compound that, despite containing beneficial health effects, generates an itching sensation and unpleasant irritation for your little furry. The intake of hot peppers or varieties of pepper to make paprika can cause gastrointestinal disorders in dogs. In addition, it is also necessary to keep them away from their smell, as it can cause irritation in the respiratory tract, itchy nose and sneezing.
What benefits does pepper have for dogs?
As we mentioned before, eating pepper provides important benefits to dogs due to the nutritional values contained in the vegetable. These are the main benefits of giving bell pepper to your dog:
- They are a great source of fiber, especially in the case of red peppers. Although the canine digestive system is not able to digest it, it is a basic nutrient in their diet because it creates a feeling of satiety, gives volume to the food ration, helps regulate intestinal transit, promotes the development of an adequate intestinal microbiota very beneficial and gives consistency to the feces.
- It is a vegetable of few calories and fats, so it is highly recommended for dogs that need a low energy diet such as the elderly or obese.
- They have a high content of vitamin A in the form of beta-carotene, especially in red peppers (higher than in green ones). Vitamin A is involved in various functions of the body, such as vision, the preservation of good skin condition, keratinization, the maintenance of mucous membranes and the proper functioning of reproduction and the immune system.
- It is a good source of vitamin C, especially in the case of green peppers. It is a protein that helps reduce oxidative stress, collaborates in the formation and maintenance of bones and contributes to the production of collagen. For green peppers to provide a significant amount of vitamin C to your dog, you must give them raw because a large part is lost during cooking.
- Peppers provide varieties of minerals such as potassium, phosphorus, iron and magnesium.
- Red peppers are more nutritious than the rest and yellow peppers have the worst nutritional balance. Therefore, try to give red and green peppers to your furry so that the benefits of their intake are greater.
How to give my dog pepper
To give pepper to your dog correctly, in OneHowTo we recommend that you follow these steps:
- Wash the pepper and remove the seeds from inside the vegetable.
- Chop the pepper to offer the raw pieces. There is no risk to the health of your little furry, since it does not contain toxic substances for your body. It is true that peppers that are not fully ripe contain solanine, that is, a toxic substance in both animals and people, but this compound disappears completely in ripe fruits. Therefore, it is convenient that you give ripe and raw peppers so that your body benefits from all the nutrients of the vegetable.
- You can also steam or cook the pimento before giving it to your dog, but it will lose some of the nutritional benefits it contains.
Regardless of whether you give your dog raw or cooked pepper, you should offer it sporadically or as a treat, since their main meal is based on animal protein. Also, give it in moderation and paying attention to your subsequent reaction, especially if it is the first time you eat pepper, to know if it feels good.
Now that you know that dogs can eat peppers and how it is better to give them, we encourage you to continue discovering what you can offer to eat your furry. Dare to read these other posts about Can dogs eat potatoes? and can dogs eat artichokes?
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