It’s common for dogs and their owners to share food.
While some foods for humans are good for dogs, others are capable of causing them serious discomfort or even harming them.
Where do jalapenos fall on this scale?
What to Do if Your Dog Ate Jalapeno?
If your dog ate jalapeno start by giving them goat milk or water. Evaluate how many jalapenos your dog has eaten. Call the vet if you are concerned or if your dog is showing symptoms of stomach upset. OTC medications can also be helpful.
After your dog eats a jalapeno, there are steps you should be taking.
Keep in mind that even if your dog seems ok, you should still follow steps one through three.
Step 1: Remove Access to Jalapenos
The first thing to do is prevent your dog from eating more jalapenos.
Remove any jalapeno remaining. The more they eat, the higher the risk of serious stomach upset.
Step 2: Give Them Some Milk
Then, give your dog some milk. Preferably goat’s milk, because it’s easier for dogs to digest. Just a few tablespoons of milk is enough.
A dog’s system isn’t designed to process milk once they are adults. However, small amounts of milk can cool the burn and coat their stomach, which is helpful.
Step 3: Feed Them Bland Foods
Next, give them some bland food. This will further dilute the jalapeno, and help your dog’s stomach settle.
It also makes the pepper easier to pass and reduces the risk of irritation when pooping.
Suitable foods are rice and boiled chicken. In fact, you can feed your dog two parts rice to one part chicken for their meals until their system recovers from the pepper.
Step 4: Monitor and Assess Their Condition
Once you’ve fed your pooch, you’ll need to keep an eye on them. If they begin showing signs of stomach upset, including vomiting and diarrhea, it’s a good idea to give your vet a call.
If the symptoms are mild, you can do some in-home first-aid measures.
However, if your dog has repeated vomiting, bloody diarrhea, or diarrhea that continues for more than 24 hours, it should be evaluated by the vet.
What Happens if My Dog Eats a Jalapeno
The good news is that, unlike some human foods, jalapenos are not toxic to dogs. However, this doesn’t mean it’s good food for them.
Dogs have different taste buds than humans.
Their sense of taste is less sensitive than ours, which they make up for with an excellent sense of smell. Evolution usually helps animals avoid eating things that can hurt them, but this doesn’t always work.
Sometimes, they will eat foods that aren’t good for them. Jalapenos certainly fall into this category.
The problem with jalapenos is capsaicin. These aren’t the hottest peppers around, but they do contain a high amount of capsaicin.
Capsaicin is what causes the burn when you eat spicy peppers. This chemical is also a stomach irritant.
You’ve probably noticed that some people can enjoy jalapenos, while others can get severe gastrointestinal upset from consuming them. You can expect the same for dogs.
Mild Irritation
If your dog only ate a small amount or is less sensitive to capsaicin, it may only experience mild stomach irritation.
They may have a little gas or bloating, but appear to be fine.
Keep in mind that dogs can hide their discomfort, so the lack of symptoms doesn’t mean your pooch is fine after the spicy snack.
Gastrointestinal Upset
The main issue that occurs when dogs eat jalapenos is stomach upset. The capsaicin causes irritation, which can lead to vomiting or diarrhea.
The body is designed to expel irritants. This is why vomiting and diarrhea are common with stomach viruses or food poisoning.
The stomach is trying to rid itself of the offending substance.
Burning Sensation
Another concern for your dog is passing the jalepeno. The capsaicin will eventually come out in their poop, which can cause an intense burning sensation.
Some humans state that peppers are hotter coming out than going in for this reason.
Treating Stomach Upset After Your Dog Eats Jalapenos
There are a few human over-the-counter medications that can treat upset stomachs in dogs.
Ask your vet first before giving your pooch any human medication.
Pepto Bismol
Pepto Bismol is often considered a cure-all for human stomach issues, including indigestion, nausea, and diarrhea. It’s particularly effective for stomach upset caused by foods.
Pepto Bismol is considered safe for dogs. It can help settle stomach upset caused by eating jalapenos.
You can give your dog 1 teaspoon per 10 lbs of body weight. The dosage can be repeated in 6 to 8 hours if needed.
Antacids
Antacids can help settle your dog’s stomach, and allow them to recover faster. Cimetidine, also known as Tagamet, and Famotidine, also known as Pepcid are safe for dogs.
The dosage for Tagament is 3 to 5 mg per lb of body weight. It can be given twice daily. Famotidine is given at .5 mg per lb of body weight, twice a day.
You may need to give your pooch this medicine for a few days to help its digestive tract recover from the pepper.
Loperamide (Immodium)
Loperamide, or Immodium, is an anti-diarrheal medication. If your pooch has diarrhea, loperamide should relieve it.
There are some caveats. Herding breeds may not be able to process immodium because of a gene mutation. This is known as MDR1.
You should also consult your vet if your dog has any serious health issues, like liver or kidney disease.
The dosage is .04 mg per lb of body weight. A 20-pound dog would take .8 mg. Tablets are typically 2 mg.
Read about can dogs eat kohlrabi next.
Frequently Asked Questions about What to Do If your Dog Ate Jalapeno
Can a jalapeno cause harm to my dog?
Eating a jalapeno can cause temporary harm because it irritates the stomach lining. It can also cause cramping because it irritates the intestines as well. However, it’s very rare that any serious or lasting harm occurs.
Can I give my dog water after eating a jalapeno?
Goats’ milk is the best thing for them to drink immediately after eating a jalepeno. However, water can be helpful as well. Give your pooch access to water, and allow them to drink as much as they like.
Are other spicy foods dangerous for dogs?
Any food that contains capsaicin can cause stomach problems for your dog, so it should be avoided. As long as the food isn’t toxic, you can follow the advice listed in this article to treat your pooch.
Conclusion on What to Do if Your Dog Ate Jalapeno
If your dog ate jalapeno take these steps:
- Give goats milk or water
- Give them bland foods
- Contact your vet if concerned
- Give over-the-counter medication