Can dogs eat spicy food?

Capsaicin triggers the same heat sensation in dogs that it does in people. Dogs that eat something spicy may drool, lick their lips, paw at their mouth, drink a lot of water, and sneeze. Stomach upset, gas, and diarrhea often follow within hours.

Some dogs will eat spicy food eagerly the first time, simply because it smells of meat.

Chili con carne, spicy curries, hot wings, salsa, hot sauce, spicy crisps, and pepperoni are common examples. Many of these also contain onion, garlic, salt, and fat. Chili plants in gardens or pots are sometimes chewed by curious puppies.

Spicy wings also come with cooked bones.

Extremely hot chilies and concentrated extracts used in some hot sauces can cause intense discomfort, heavy drooling, and vomiting. Keep bottles of hot sauce closed and out of reach, since dogs sometimes chew through plastic bottles.

Pepper sprays and chili-based deterrents are also strong irritants.

Offer fresh water and let your dog drink normally. Wipe its face with a damp cloth if any sauce is on the fur. Most mild reactions settle within a few hours. Keep an eye out for signs of onion or garlic effects over the next few days if the dish contained them. Dogs that repeatedly steal spicy food may be telling you they are hungry or bored, so review meal sizes and enrichment. Puzzle feeders and scatter feeding can reduce counter-surfing.