Do Dogs Taste Spicy Food?
Dogs have an incredibly heightened sense of smell compared to us humans, and they’re always using their nose to find their way to whatever is on our plates! But when it comes to taste, our furry friends aren’t quite as sophisticated. Humans have around 9,000 taste buds in their mouths, but dogs have only 1,700, which means they don’t experience a huge range of flavors!
Dogs can differentiate between sweet, sour, bitter, and salty, but they usually use their sense of smell to decide whether or not they should eat something. Dogs love the smell and taste of meat, for example, but they probably can’t taste the difference between chicken and beef!
Just like us, dogs don’t like bitter tastes, so if you’re wondering whether your pup would enjoy a spoonful of curry, the answer is they probably won’t! Spicy food can be potentially dangerous for your pup for a number of reasons, so if you’re wondering what to do if your dog at spicy food, read on to learn more!
Other Risks of Spicy Food for Dogs
It’s not just the chili you need to worry about. Most spicy foods contain onion and garlic, both of which are toxic to dogs and can be life threatening if not treated quickly at the vets. Onion contains a toxin that damages red blood cells, causing a potentially life-threatening anemia if not treated fast.
Other ingredients in spicy food may not be directly unpleasant or toxic for your pup, but the veg and sauce could be very rich for them, and our dog’s digestive systems just aren’t able to process this kind of food in the same way we are. Spicy food is likely to give your pup an upset tummy, and it often causes vomiting and diarrhea, which — although not usually serious — can be very unpleasant for both you and your pet. An upset tummy could make your pup feel a rather rubbish for a few days, especially if they already suffer from a sensitive gut.
Generally, although many human foods can make a safe and tasty occasional treat for your pet, it’s really important that you feed your dog a complete and balanced diet designed for dogs. This will make sure that your pup is getting all the right nutrients to stay healthy, as well as being appropriate for their digestive systems. Treats should only make up 10% of their daily calory intake, but spicy food shouldn’t be featuring on their menu any time soon!
What Should You Do If Your Dog Consumes Spicy Food?
Suppose your dog has consumed a chili pepper, a spicy sauce, or any other type of spicy food. Then, it’s critical to act quickly if you notice any unusual symptoms. Here is a list of things that you can do to help alleviate your pup’s discomfort:
