Green peppers are tasty vegetables – they add a certain flavor to every meal! Green peppers are amazing – we agree. The health benefits alone should be the reason why you implement green peppers in your diet.
However, if that’s not enough – the crunch of green pepper in your mouth can easily replace the crunch of potato chips. This food can help you with your weight loss journey, too. So, you’ve decided to cook some green peppers for lunch.
The smell is mouthwatering to all household members, which all take turns to take a peek in the kitchen – what are you making? The dog seems to be interested as well.
You would’ve stuffed some lunch in the food bowl, but can dogs eat bell peppers? Can this food be a snack or a treat for your pup? Can eating green peppers kill a dog? Read our article to find out!
Can Dogs Eat Green Peppers?
First of all, yes, dogs can eat green peppers. Green peppers can make a tasty treat for your puppy – and they’re packed with some health benefits too!
Just make sure to introduce the food first. Dogs can be put off by some foods, and they can have food allergies and hypersensitivity, just like humans.
Whenever you’re giving the dog something new, watch their reaction closely. If you see some unusual, or lethargic behavior, discontinue the use immediately.
Introducing Green Peppers To Your Dog’s Diet
When you decide to give your dog green peppers, introducing the peppers is the crucial part. Introducing food is a method when you give your dog a small quantity of new food. Each time, you gradually increase the amount until you reach a full portion.
This method is good if your dog tends to be put off by something unfamiliar. That’s not unusual – it’s in the dog’s nature – dogs tend to avoid food that doesn’t resemble meat. Dogs may be omnivores, but they need much more meat than vegetables in their diet.
The story’s the same with green peppers. Start small, and increase the amount next time, until you reach the allowed amount (we’ll talk about that later in this article).
Serving Green Peppers To Your Dog
There are a few things to keep in mind when you prepare a green pepper for your dog. It’s not hard but you should always abide by this.
The first thing is – to wash the green peppers thoroughly. Washing will remove any dirt or residual pesticide, which can be harmful to your dog.
Next step, use a knife to remove the stem and cut open the pepper. Remove the seeds too – they can be difficult for your dog to pass.
Should You Serve The Green Peppers Whole Or Sliced?
Well, we certainly advise you to slice or dice the green peppers before your pup eats them. Large chunks of food can get stuck in your pet’s mouth or somewhere in the digestive system. This can result in choking, spitting, or vomiting.
Dogs can get excited about food and forget to chew. So you should always cut the peppers into tiny pieces to make it easier for your dog to eat. Sprinkle the peppers on top of the dog’s regular meal or mix them in!
Raw Or Cooked Green Peppers?
Are green peppers better for your dog cooked or raw? To be fair, it doesn’t matter – but you can cook the peppers if you feel like it.
If you do opt for cooking the peppers, do it with as little oil as possible. Oils and fats can be hard on your dog’s tummy. Don’t add salt or spices – some spices can upset the dog’s tummy or even put her in grave danger!
So, no leftovers from dinner either – too much salt (sodium) in the diet can make your dog seriously ill.
Can Dogs Eat Hot Peppers?
The answer is no! Hot peppers can make them ill and even kill the dog. If your dog ate some jalapenos, take her to the emergency vet immediately!
The vet will probably induce vomiting and save your pet from suffering. Make sure that you keep all hot peppers away from your dog to be safe. Also, if you’re growing hot peppers in the garden, a little fence could be useful to keep your dog away from them.
How Much Green Peppers Can A Dog Eat?
Thankfully, your dog doesn’t need a lot of green peppers in their diet to really feel the benefits. In this question, more is less. The dogs need a lot of meat in their diet, and a few vegetables to be happy and healthy.
So, what is the optimal amount of green peppers for your dog (according to size)?
| Small dog breeds | Medium dog breeds | Large dog breeds |
|---|---|---|
| Two to three small slices | Four to five small slices | Up to half of a green pepper |
So, dogs cannot eat a lot of green peppers at a time – but they don’t even need to. Regular dog food is balanced out for their dietary needs. Commercial food contains all nutrients, vitamins, and minerals your pet requires to lead a perfectly healthy life.
Don’t overdo it, as the dog won’t benefit from it and it may give her some tummy woes. Remember to give your doggie green peppers up to three times a week, and no more!
Benefits Of Dogs Eating Green Peppers
As we’ve mentioned before, green peppers can be highly beneficial to your pet. Green peppers have powerful antioxidants, and they’re full of vitamins.
In just a few weeks of your pet eating green peppers on the regular, you will see how great she’s doing. She’ll be wagging her tail and be playful all the time!
Let’s see the nutritional value of 1 cup of sliced green peppers:
| Calories | 18.4 |
| Protein | 0.8g |
| Total Carbohydrates | 4.3g |
| Dietary Fiber | 1.6g |
| Sugars | 2.2g |
| Total Fat | 0.2g |
| Vitamin A | 340IU |
| Vitamin C | 74mg |
| Vitamin K | 6.8mcg |
| Vitamin B6 | 0.2mg |
| Folate | 9.2mcg |
| Thiamin (Vitamin B1) | 0.1mg |
| Niacin (Vitamin B3) | 0.4mg |
| Calcium | 9.2mg |
| Iron | 0.3g |
| Magnesium | 9.2mg |
| Phosphorus | 18.4mg |
| Potassium | 161mg |
| Sodium | 2.8mg |
| Copper | 0.1mg |
| Manganese | 0.1mg |
We can see here that dogs can get a nutritional boost from eating green peppers. A large number of vitamins and minerals in peppers will nourish your pup and help her live a better life.
But how do green peppers exactly affect your pet?
| Preserve good vision: | Vitamin A in green peppers keep the eye and eye muscles in good condition |
| Boosts immunity: | Vitamins help fight off diseases and infections |
| Protects from cancer: | Antioxidants in green peppers protect the skin from free radicals – they’re important for cancer prevention |
| Maintaining a healthy nervous system: | Vitamin B6 is important for a functional nervous system |
Green peppers may pack a lot of vitamin C, but your dog won’t get any advantages from it. Why? Dogs produce the vitamin C they need, all on their own!
What If Your Dog Eats Too Much Green Pepper?
Sometimes, things happen and you don’t pay attention to what your dog is doing. This time, she found the produce bag and ate a lot of green peppers. Can this be dangerous for your pup?
Well, not trying to scare you, but eating a lot of green peppers can harm your dog – some vomiting or diarrhea is to be expected. Give your pet a lot of water to prevent dehydration and give them some pureed pumpkin to soothe their stomach.
If the problems persist for longer than three days, see a veterinarian. The vet will prescribe something to help out the poor puppy.
Conclusion
Lastly, dogs can eat green peppers and they can eat them without any harm. There are a few things to keep in mind, though.
Remove the stem and the seeds, because they can be difficult on the stomach. Cooked or raw, dogs can enjoy green peppers either way!
Green peppers can preserve your pet’s vision, protect their nervous system and prevent cancer – when eaten in moderation. Don’t let your pup eat too many peppers – that can result in an upset stomach!
On the other hand, a few slices a week will give your pet a shiny fur coat and a longer life span – which is enough of a reason to start giving your dog green peppers!
Learn More: What Can Dogs Eat? A Comprehensive List Of Dog-safe Foods
