Can dogs eat capers? The answer is yes, dogs can eat capers. The capers on their own are non-toxic to dogs. But, if you’re not careful, these processed flower buds can still make your furry friend fall sick quickly.
So, in this post, we’ll take an in-depth look to figure out whether or not dogs can eat capers.
What Are Capers?
Capers or Capparis spinose are pickled flower buds that we often use in cooking. They are usually green, but they can also be brown or yellow. They have a tangy and salty taste.
Moreover, these buds often function as ingredients in Mediterranean cuisine, salads, and meat dishes.
Using brine, vinegar, salt, or wine is ideal for preserving and bringing out the flavor of capers.
The best quality capers are usually from a small island called Pantelleria, Italy.
Can Dogs Eat Capers?
Most dog breeds will be able to eat a moderate amount of capers safely. It even offers several befits for your four-legged buddy.
For instance,
- It has anti-oxidants that’ll reduce anxiety, stress
- Vitamin A that’ll assist the muscle growth and protect the dog’s coat
- Vitamin B2 and B3 that’ll improve metabolism
Aside from these, the buds also offer some calcium and copper. These minerals will ensure that your furry friend grows strong with healthier bones and a stabler heart rate!
On the other hand, pickled capers are rich in salt and vinegar. After all, the flower buds are not that flavorful without this seasoning.
So, in a 100g serving of capers, there’s about 2,769 mg of sodium.
If you give these processed capers to your pup, chances are, they’ll suffer from sodium poisoning.
It’s ok to give a couple of these buds to a full-grown dog from time to time since they can tolerate it, but if they eat a large amount, it’ll make them sick.
What To Do If Your Dog Eat Capers?
It is not uncommon for dogs to eat the occasional human food. In addition, many dogs enjoy eating vegetables and fruits that are not on their regular diet.
Therefore, if your dog ends up eating more caper than it can handle, it is essential to know what to do to minimize the risk of dehydration and poisoning.
So, if your canine buddy is showing symptoms like limping, increased thirst, unusual laziness, or if you’re sure that they have eaten a jarful of capers, contact the vet as soon as possible.
In the meantime, give the dog enough water to combat dehydration.
Also, if you want to feed your furry buddy some capers, you can mix them up into other dog food in small amounts. This way, you won’t have to worry about the dog’s blood sugar level.
Can Puppies Eat Capers?
In general, the dog’s height, weight, and size determine how much sodium it can take without becoming sick. But, since we often soak the dark green caper buds in brine, it has more than twice the sodium that a puppy can safely ingest.
As such, the smaller breeds and puppies should not eat pickled capers.
Still, if they eat a couple of non-processed capers, don’t be alarmed and keep an eye on the pup for a while.
Bottom Line
In a nutshell, dogs can eat capers, but you should only feed them these capers in moderation.
Also, it might be a good idea to give them tiny amounts of capers at first. This way, they’ll have a better chance of adapting to the taste, and you will be able to see if they are sensitive to capers or not.