Today’s question: can dogs eat bell peppers? Are bell peppers good or bad for dogs? Scroll down for detailed answers.
We all love our dogs. Otherwise, we would not have them in the first place. Many of us love our dogs so much we treat them as children, giving the dogs the best of everything. When this is the case, why would we want to make compromises when it comes to the food they are eating? Dog food has come a long way from traditional kibble and disgusting moist food. Packaged dog food corporations have begun to take into account the need for healthy and well balanced nutrition for dogs that mirrors the health conscious puppy parents they have.
We should focus on feeding them high-quality food and avoid any unnecessary treats. While bones, cookies, and candies are considered treats for dogs, so are fruits, veggies, and pieces of meat. Dogs eat most anything offered, so offering veggies rather than a bone or a cookie will be just fine for your dog. Not offering any treats is difficult at times, especially during food prep. Sometimes while cooking, we tend to give them a bit of our food. Maybe you’ve been wondering, can dogs eat our food? Can we offer bits of veggies and bits of bell peppers as we are chopping our food?
As we have become a healthier society focused on nutrition, we are offering our dogs the same healthy foods we ourselves have begun to eat. Using fruit and veggies as training tools is a healthier alternative to biscuits. Mixing fruit and veggies into your dog’s kibble may seem like a good idea to sneak in some extra vitamins and minerals, but is this safe? Are dogs able to eat the same food we do, are there any precautions to take? Yes, dogs are able to eat people food, but only in small amounts and if given very slowly in small amounts. Fruits and veggies should also be clean, free of toxins, seeds, pits, and pulps. In the area of bell peppers, the pepper should be clean and sliced, and free from seeds before offering to your pup.
Can dogs eat bell peppers? Let’s find out!
Can Dogs Eat Bell Peppers: Green, Red or Yellow?
Most people love the bell pepper. They make the food we cook so much tastier. Bell peppers not only offer a bit of color and flavor to your otherwise boring meal, but also a bit of a crisp crunch. Bell peppers may also be eaten on their own, perhaps cut into slices. Not only are bell peppers tasty and good looking, but peppers also have a powerful positive impact on our state of health. So, if they are so good for us, can we also feed them to our dogs? Can we add bell peppers to our dog food or just give them as treats? Sharing is caring and we care about our dogs.
Share your bell peppers with your dog and include him/her in on the sweetness and crunchy goodness of the pepper! To cut things short, the answer to the above question is yes. Dogs can eat peppers and especially red peppers but any color will be fine for them. Yellow and green bell peppers do not contain as much vitamins and nutrients as the red type. They are filled with vitamin C and vitamin E plus a lot of other nutrients. It would be good for your dog to consume peppers from time to time. If you are aiming to feed your dog peppers to improve his/her vitamin intake, aim for the red peppers. If you are simply offering a treat, or offering peppers you have on hand, yellow, orange, and green are perfectly good options to give your pet on occasion.
Vitamin C and Vitamin E have so many healthy properties within them! Vitamin E will help the skin and hair of your dog remain healthy and comfortable. Vitamin C will help boost your dog’s immunity and keep him/her healthier over time.
Bell peppers can be given to dogs at any stage of development, unless you have very young puppies that cannot digest solid foods yet. However, studies have shown that the carotemoid and vitamin C content of bell peppers tends to increase when the pepper is fully ripened. Also, bell peppers generally taste better when they are fully ripe. You may offer the peppers at any time, but if you are bale to wait until the pepper is fully ripe before giving to your dog, your pet will be able to reap the most benefits at this time. If you dog chose to eat the bell peppers from your garden without checking first to see that the peppers are ripe, fear not, the peppers will still offer good nutritional benefit no matter which stage they were eaten in.
How Many Bell Peppers are Safe for Dogs?
Just like with any food, too much vegetables and fruits are not recommended for dogs. If you are feeding your dog peppers excessively, you are most likely going to cause him diarrhea and other stomach issues. Dogs are not meant to eat human food and consume the same amounts of food their master’s do. Dogs need to have a diet based on meat, and sourced through the meat family in some way. This is usually accomplished through the eating of specially made dog food, and not from feeding your dog fruits and veggies exclusively. Very few dogs should be vegetarians, if any at all. Your vet will be able to offer you the best advice for proper feeding of your dog based on their particular characteristics. Dogs should never have a diet of bell peppers, but offering bell peppers along with a meat source can be beneficial.
Wondering why dogs digest bell peppers differently than humans? The answer to this lies in the fact that the dogs’ digestive system has been designed to process meat and not large amounts of vegetables or fruits. This surely does not mean that you should not give your dog any peppers at all. It simply means that he should eat them in moderate quantity. When first introducing bell peppers to the diet of your dog, be sure to take into account whether your dog will eat the pepper slices at all. If your dog seems to like bell peppers, offer only a small amount at first and be sure your dog does not have any digestive issues after. When your dog gives you the all clear, you are safe to offer his/her next serving a bit larger than before. Only offer bell peppers on occasion or during training exercises so your dog does not become spoiled and begin to refuse his/her dog food in favor of human food.
The Benefits of Red Bell Peppers
There are not any exact conclusions to the studies that have been conducted about the benefits of these bell peppers in relations to the health of your dog. All dogs are different, just as people are different. Some dogs may like bell peppers while others do not. Some dogs may have stomach upset after eating a certain pepper, while others do not. Gauging how your dog will be affected is tricky since your dog is unique. Your vet may offer good advice on this topic, and their advice should be taken before advice from any friends or less than reputable sources.
However, most dogs eat bell peppers without any issue given that the peppers do not contain toxins. The peppers contain a great number of nutrients and healthy substances such as vitamins, beta-carotene, carotenoids, fibers and so many other elements. These are the elements your dog needs to stay as healthy as possible. If you are wondering whether you should give your dog yellow or green bell peppers, experts say that it is okay to introduce these vegetables in his diet from time to time.
So, just to wrap it up, it is alright to give your dog red bell peppers. Just keep in mind that moderation is the key to everything. Next time when you are cooking and have some bell peppers on your counter, you can safely give your dog a bite. It won’t cause him any harm.
What About Green Bell Peppers?
Just like red peppers, they are filled with vitamin C and beta-carotene. Since this is a substance that is extremely beneficial for dogs and can be found in a variety of vegetables, there is no problem of giving your dog some green bell pepper treats. Your furry friend will surely love it.
The beta-carotene will help your dog to fight against any form of cancer and even prevent them. On the same note, your dog’s vision will be enhanced and any signs of arthritis will go away.
Green bell peppers are safe to give to your dog, but just like the red ones, these should also be given in moderate portions. Otherwise, your dog may have a hard time processing excess amount of bell peppers.
There is also the chance that the dog would be unable to break down the cell walls of these vegetables in order to soak in all the nutrients they contain. It would be better to serve these peppers in a puree form, sauteed or steamed before serving them to your dog.
Conclusion
As you can see, dogs can eat bell peppers. These are healthy and tasty treats for them. Just like we mentioned before, moderation seems to be the magical word, so pay attention to how much and how often do you feed them to your dogs.
Additionally, it’s best to introduce new foods to your dog slowly and in small amounts to prevent any digestive discomfort or diarrhea. Observe your dog for 24 hours after you have given him something new. If your dog has not shown any unusual behavior or loose stool, you can continue giving him the food.
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References:
http://aboutdoggies.net/can-dogs-eat-red-peppers/
http://www.candogseat-this.com/can-dogs-eat-green-peppers/
http://www.fightcaninecancer.com/cancerdiet4.html
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