An occasional bite from hot food at a picnic is unlikely to cause major issues for your pup, but for added peace of mind bring along a small bowl of lean cooked meat for him or her instead.
Hot or spicy food can be dangerously damaging to dogs. Extreme heat or spice levels may lead to pancreatitis in canines, which is both painful and potentially lethal.
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Warm Foods
As summer barbecues heat up and the aroma of sizzling hot dogs fills the air, many pet parents are faced with their dog begging them for one. Though a small, plain hot dog might be suitable as an occasional treat for your pup, be wary about making this an everyday part of their diet.
Spicy foods may cause dogs’ stomachs to become upset, leading to diarrhea, dehydration and intense thirst. Tremors or hyperthermia could also result.
Even though dogs can taste all of the same basic flavors as people do, their tastebuds tend to have less affinity for salt compared to our own and may explain why they’re less likely to crave table scraps with an excess of sodium content.
Hot Foods
Dogs can identify several different flavors such as salty, sweet, sour and bitter tastes; their favorite are cheese, butter and cream. Though they experience spicy foods sometimes, their noses help them avoid anything dangerous to their health.
Warming food will enhance its aroma and flavor, but make sure not to exceed safe temperatures as too-hot food could result in burns to your dog’s mouth, tongue, or throat.
Hot dogs are safe for your pup if they are plain, fully cooked and do not contain onion and mustard – both can be toxic to dogs – which should not be added as garnish. Due to the large size, you should serve hot dogs bite by bite to reduce choking hazards for dogs. As an alternative, try feeding grilled chicken or turkey dogs instead as these proteins have cooling properties which help soothe inflammation while soothing allergic reactions.
Excessive Heat
Dogs can consume slightly warm foods as long as they don’t reach dangerous temperatures, which may help convince picky eaters to eat what’s on their plate or simply add flavor and aroma.
Spicy foods should never be fed to dogs as these peppery meals can cause digestive distress and even be harmful in large doses if overindulged in.
Salty foods should also be avoided by dogs as too much sodium can alter their fluid balance, leading to weakness and seizures. This is especially dangerous if their diet includes rock salt, homemade play dough or potato chips which contain high levels of sodium.
People food that’s ideal for consumption should be plain and fully cooked, such as poultry, beef, turkey and pork (which can be high in fat), salmon or sardines (but only when they have been fully prepared with no shell or head/tail intact).
Safety
Hot dogs and other grilled foods can make an appearance at barbecues, tempting pet owners to share these food items with their furry family members. But before giving Fido that beggar-look, keep in mind that many ingredients in these “people” foods may be harmful or toxic for Fido’s wellbeing.
Your dog could become seriously ill from eating too much salt, forcing the body to work overtime to expel it out. This may cause vomiting, diarrhea and kidney failure in severe cases. Consumption of too much Xylitol sweetener could result in dangerous hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), seizures or liver failure for your pup.
Additional foods to avoid including garlic and onions of any form as these can cause pancreatitis in dogs; corn on the cob should also not be given because it may lead to choking or intestinal blockage in canines.
