Why Are Pickles Bad For Dogs?
With the exception of plain dill pickles, many pickles, like kosher dill pickles and bread and butter pickles, include spices and herbs like garlic, which can be toxic to dogs. Other varieties, like spicy or hot pickles, can also mean trouble for your dog.
Even if the particular spices or pepper used in the pickles aren’t toxic for your dog, chances are their stomachs won’t be used to the spiciness, and your dog could experience gastrointestinal issues.
If you know that the pickles you have contain only cucumber, brine, vinegar, and dill, your dog will be okay if they eat a little bite. Dill helps freshen your pup’s breath, and cucumbers are a low calorie snack.
To be safe, consider feeding your dog cucumbers instead. Just be careful to do so in moderation, as the hydrating, crunchy treat can leave your dog with loose stools.
FAQs about feeding your dog pickles
Why exactly is salt bad for your dog in large quantities? After all, the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) that regulates the sale and distribution of pet food says that a healthy dog diet should contain some sodium. They recommend that .3 percent of a dog’s daily diet be comprised of salt for proper body maintenance, growth and development. Regardless, too much salt has the potential to cause significant health problems for your dog. More than 100 mg of dietary sodium per day is troublesome for most dogs. For small dogs and those with underlying illness, even small amounts of salt could be harmful.
Salt can draw water into your dog’s stomach, causing it to bloat. Large amounts of it can also throw off its balance with the body’s other electrolytes and lead to dehydration. After ingesting high levels of sodium, some pets may experience salt poisoning manifested by weakness, muscle tremors and seizures. If your dog eats a single pickle, it’s unlikely to be lethal. Regardless, you should contact your veterinarian and monitor your pet for symptoms of illness any time you suspect your dog has consumed a lot of salt at once.
Dogs who get into a plate of pickles or other high-salt foods may display:
If your dog develops high blood pressure or heart problems over time, a high-salt diet could be making these conditions worse. Your vet will recommend a proper diet for your dog if they have either of these problems. Also, dogs with kidney disease often have difficulty staying hydrated due to their impaired kidney function and may be particularly at risk of feeling negative effects of high salt intake.
Beyond the salt and vinegar found in pickles, some of the spices that are used to make pickles may be very toxic for your pets. For instance, many pickle-making recipes call for garlic powder, which can damage your dog’s red blood cells and lead to anemia.
Pickles may also contain onion powder. Like garlic, large amounts of onion may lead to anemia if a dog consumes them. Pickles are often soaked in red chili flakes or other spices that bring the heat. All of that spiciness can be irritating to a dog’s gastrointestinal tract and cause vomiting or diarrhea. If you do want to give your dog a small nibble of pickle, stick to a mild one without added spices.
Are pickles safe for dogs? One of the reasons this question doesn’t have a straightforward answer is that small amounts of the harmful ingredients found in pickles are unlikely to cause catastrophic illness if your dog consumes them. But that doesn’t mean you should feed your dog a pickle every day or offer them a large number of pickles all at one time. If you give your dog a bite of your pickle, make it just one bite. Offering your pet more than that could lead to health issues. And if your dog knocks over a jar of pickles and goes to town, consult your veterinarian, particularly if they show any signs of illness.
Even though your dog should skip the pickles, there are other fun treats you can mix into your pet’s life. A good rule of thumb is to keep your pet’s treat intake to no more than10 percent of their total daily calorie consumption. This includes limiting jerky and other treats made for dogs. As for people food, cucumbers are a great, safe alternative to pickles as a treat for your dog. They are crunchy, low in calories and may help satisfy your pet’s desire for you to share your meal with them.
Other good treat alternatives to pickles include small amounts of:
A bite or two of a pickle is unlikely to cause immediate, serious harm to your dog, but their nutritional value is far outweighed by their potential to cause health problems due to their high salt content. If you’re looking for a savory treat for your dog, stick to something with a lower salt level that is designed for canines. As always, check with your veterinarian before introducing any new food into your dog’s diet. Can Dogs Eat Pickles?
Will Pickles Make My Dog Sick?
Of course, any food that a dog isn’t used to eating could make them ill, and pickles are no exception. If your dog has never had pickles before, it may be that pickles don’t agree with them. The smell of the vinegar is quite strong for a dog’s sensitive nose, and some will eat the pickle and then vomit it up as the smell reaches the back of the nose. If your dog is sick immediately after eating a pickle but seems well in himself, it’s probably best to keep a close eye, and not to feed pickle again.
It’s also important to remember that not all pickled vegetables are safe. Pickled cucumbers are safe, but garlic, onions and chili peppers are not. If your dog eats these as well as the pickle they could be very ill indeed. Onions contain a toxin that destroys a dog’s red blood cells, causing a haemolytic anaemia. This is slow and progressive, meaning it’s sometimes hard to spot until your dog becomes very ill.
Eating too many pickles will also make dogs sick. Whilst excess salt is usually lost from the body in urine, very high amounts can cause problems including fatal salt poisoning. If your dog is showing any signs of illness after eating pickles you should contact your vet.
Is It Safe For Dogs To Eat Pickles?
Pickles are one of those love-hate foods. Some people love them, and some don’t. A ‘pickle’ in this case refers to miniature cucumbers preserved in white vinegar. They’re popular with humans, but what about with dogs? On the whole, pickles are safe for dogs to eat, but there are some caveats. Dog’s shouldn’t have too many pickles, and they shouldn’t eat some flavors of pickles. Pickles are safe if they’re plain and your dog is otherwise healthy.
The miniature cucumbers used to make pickles have bumpy skin and are a different variety from the much larger cucumbers bought raw in the shop. The cucumbers are placed into a jar with salt, vinegar, and flavorings. They are often flavored herbs but also spices and other vegetables like peppers and onions. They are a very popular snack in many countries of the world and are also sold in fast-food outlets.
Pickles are high in salt, so you should take care that your dog has plenty of access to water if you test them with you pup. Your dog shouldn’t eat too many of them or eat them too often. There other things to understand though, like if they have health benefits and if your pup eats too much. We dive into all of that below. Let’s jump in!