Is Paprika Bad for Dogs & Puppies to Have?

Some herbs always make your food healthy and tasty. They are always affordable and beneficial to your health. One such herb is Paprika. When you add it to your dish, you are opening yourself to something capable of lowering your fat intake as well as sugar and calories. It is also effective in boosting the numerous phytonutrients available and beneficial. The question now remains if this food is healthy for your pet. To answer this, it is better to look at the basics.

What is Paprika?

Paprika is a mix of peppers of the same family (capsicum annum). Some of the peppers in this family are bell pepper, red peppers, cayenne peppers as well as Aleppo peppers. One basic work it performs is the addition of flavor and vibrant red color to any type of dish. For you to get your desired taste, you must ensure you know the types of peppers mixed to produce the spice. In other words, paprika cannot be identified by its smell or taste.

It should, however, not be mistaken for chili pepper. Despite the semblance between them, the ingredients are widely different. They both look the same and might only be easily identified by a trained eye. The peppers used for paprika are specific to certain countries like Hungary and Spain. One way to note their difference is that ground chili powder is a combination of specific ingredients which include salt, garlic, and sometimes paprika. Another thing that differentiates them is tasty feelings. Paprika is always noted for its sweetness, and chili powder always has a spicy feeling to it, alongside its earthly flavor.

Should Dogs Eat Paprika?

Paprika is allowed for dogs. Foods with paprika always cause dogs to eat gluttonously. It is healthy but should be given to them in a small quantity.

The emphasis on small quantity is a result of the way spicy or hot food makes the dog feel. Even if you want to give them, you must ensure it is not a frequent thing. The health concerns below will guide your decision.

Health Concerns

The following are some of the major factors that might prevent you from feeding Paprika to your dog.

  • Nasal Irritations

One thing you should understand is that Paprika powder is of a dusty texture and can be easily inhaled by your dog or blown into your pet’s eyes. When this happens, the dog is prone to issues regarding breathing or nasal irritation or even suffer certain eyes or sight issues. The peppers combined to make Paprika is filled with an active component known as Capsaicin. The presence of this compound is known to irritate mammals and also to cause a burning sensation on tissues of the body. Thus, when it encounters skins, eyes, or lips, it is sure to leave its presence through a burning sensation. The rate of Capsaicin a pepper contains will determine the level of irritation and burning sensation in the body. The implication of this is that even after you have avoided giving them to your dogs, you must ensure they are out of their reach.

  • Heat Sensations

Dogs’ taste buds are not as much as those of humans, and this has been one reason many people assume dogs will not suffer the heat from Paprika. This, however, doesn’t hold true because the heat from Paprika is more intense for your pets.

Thus, even a small amount of pepperish powder can cause great pain and discomfort for your canine friend. Although not in all cases, dogs are likely to suffer from different symptoms like drooling and foaming in the mouth when the pepper originates from places with a stronger version of Paprika. In fact, their eyes might become watery. Some other times, they may paw at their faces in a bid to rid themselves of pain. In other cases, your pet might be found gagging or dry having.

  • Gastrointestinal Problem

Another result of making your dog eat is Paprika is exposure to gastrointestinal issues, which include pain, diarrhea, and gas. Dogs might excessively thirst or vomit as a result of the intake of Paprika. In the case, the dogs had a large amount of this pepper is a spice, you might witness symptoms like diarrhea, vomiting, and indigestion as well as dehydration.

The spice is of the nightshade vegetable family, which is popular for containing solanine a toxic chemical compound that mostly affects dogs. A dog is more likely to suffer because it consumes an enormous quantity of solanine rich food. Some of the symptoms the dog might encounter are nervous system impairment, difficulties with breathing, as well as drowsiness. There is also a belief flying about that solanine has the capacity of aggravating inflammation and shooting out arthritis.

Although your dog will always desire to eat food containing paprika, you must play your role as a parent.

Should You Ignore the Loads of Healthy Nutrients in Paprika?

There is no doubt that Paprika has enough nutrients, referred to as phytonutrients. You should understand that even a few people are sure to give your pet the daily required amount of Vitamin A, which is effective in boosting their immune system, protecting vision, and supporting overall organ health. Paprika contains a lot of antioxidants, especially vitamin E known for protecting the human body from oxidative.

When Your Dog Accidently Consumes A Massive Amount of Paprika

As mentioned, Paprika will not poison your dog, but excessive consumption can expose your dog to different harmful ingredients. Thus, the first thing to do is to give your pet’s water or milk to relieve them of the pain or the heat sensation.

In case, your pet is having watering eyes, use cold water to wipe his face. Another thing you can do is to wipe off his paw. That way, you can easily stop spreading the burning sensation around the eyes.

When you have done this, you can simply watch them for a few hours. If you notice that any of the symptoms persist, you will need to take your pet to the local vet.

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