Have you ever fought with your dog, trying to get something harmful from them? If you have, you know how hard and heartbreaking it can be when you have to refuse your pet food. This is because not all of our food is safe for dogs to consume, but they don’t understand.
Pet owners need to know what human foods their pets can eat to prevent such incidents. Let us take a look at salsa. This delicious and filling food is a must-have in most households, but is it safe for your pet? Can dogs eat salsa?
Despite how painful it can be for you and your dog, you cannot offer them salsa. Even accidentally eating it is not acceptable.
Why Shouldn’t Dogs Eat Salsa?
Despite how good it is, salsa contains multiple ingredients that are not dog-friendly. Offering it to your dog will put them at risk and in a lot of pain.
You might think giving your pup a spoonful of salsa is harmless; it is not so. The harmful ingredients build up in their system over time, causing multiple health issues. These issues are tough to treat, and some don’t even have treatment. Not to forget, it can be very frustrating to get salsa stains out of your dog’s coat once they smear it all over themselves.
Some salsa recipes also include lots of spices and chilies. Dogs should not eat spicy foods. Besides, some don’t even like them. Don’t let your dog develop a habit of tasting salsa as they could build up a spice tolerance, urging them to eat more salsa, which opens them to the dangers of spices even more.
Because salsa is mainly made using vegetables, you might think it is safe for your furry friend. Vegetable vitamins and minerals can benefit your pet’s health, but this does not outweigh the risks of feeding them salsa.
Symptoms that your dog might exhibit after eating salsa include:
- Vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- Choking
- Diarrhea
- Lethargy
- Bad breath
- Rapid breathing
- Photosensitivity
- Dehydration
- Anemia
- Tremors
Take your furry friend to the vet as soon as they show any of these symptoms. The faster you get them help, the better their chances of recovering.
Ingredients Used to Make Salsa
Salsa recipes vary depending on cultures and family histories. However, they all have some common ingredients. Let us look at these ingredients and determine those that are safe for dogs and those that they should not eat.
Tomatoes
These are one of the primary ingredients in most salsa recipes. Tomatoes are safe for dogs as long as they are ripe. The juicy taste we love from tomatoes is just as sweet to your pup. They are also nutritious and safe for dogs.
You should, however, not let your pup eat green, unripe tomatoes. They are harmful to dogs as they contain tomatine and solanine, which can lead to severe health problems. The amount of tomatine and solanine reduces as the tomatoes ripen, which is why ripe tomatoes are safe.
Serving your dog fresh, ripe tomato slices is better than giving them salsa. Nonetheless, you still need to be careful, especially if your dog has stomach problems. Tomatoes are highly acidic and can cause problems for dogs with stomach issues. Ensure you only serve them tomatoes in small quantities to prevent this.
Onions and Garlic
You cannot have a good salsa recipe if you don’t have onions and, more importantly, garlic. These aromatics add that flavor punch to your salsa that makes it shine. Sadly though, these two are off the table for your furry friend. They contain thiosulphate, a compound known to cause blood-related illnesses in dogs. They also have N-propyl disulfide, which, together with thiosulphate, attach themselves to your dog’s red blood cells. They then cause the red blood cells to break down, which leads to hemolytic anemia.
Avoid using garlic and onions, whether fresh, raw, powdered or cooked, as all these variations pose a danger. Get medical intervention immediately if your pup eats anything with onion or garlic.
Lime Juice
You probably use lime juice in your salsa if you are a fan of sour or savory foods. As good as that tartness is, lime juice is not safe for dogs. Limes contain multiple toxic compounds, such as psoralens, that are toxic to dogs.
Your canine’s stomach cannot digest these toxic compounds, leaving them with gastrointestinal problems that can be quite painful. They might show symptoms like stomach upsets.
When ingested in large amounts, lime juice can result in symptoms like:
- Photosensitivity
- Liver failure
- Seizures
- Sudden death
These symptoms can progress from one to the other rather quickly. So, you must ensure your pooch doesn’t eat anything containing limes or lime juice. If it does, seek medical help ASAP.
Jalapeno
Adding spice to salsa is common in most recipes, and jalapenos are the most popular chilies to use. While you might love their spiciness, your furry friend definitely won’t. Dogs have lesser taste buds than us, which makes them unable to perceive some tastes.
Moreover, jalapenos are not friendly to the dog’s digestive system. Eating too many jalapenos can also cause gastrointestinal upset in your canine, especially if they have a sensitive stomach. This could lead to diarrhea, flatulence, abdominal pain, and vomiting.
Cilantro
This is one of the few salsa ingredients that are safe and non-toxic for your pup. Cilantro also contains multiple health benefits in canines, such as acting as a detoxifying agent, eliminating bad breath, providing antibacterial and antioxidant properties, and improving gut health.
On top of that, cilantro contains numerous vitamins, such as A, C, and K, and is packed with minerals such as calcium, iron, and magnesium.
This vegetable has all the components to keep your dog healthy and strong. However, feeding your dog too much cilantro is not advisable as it can result in an upset stomach.
Salt
Did you know that most dogs cannot perceive salt and don’t need it in their food? Humans might find food tasteless without salt, but your dog can do without it. Even worse, salty food like salsa can make your dog thirsty and dehydrated.
Too much salt may cause sodium poisoning, which can lead to extensive kidney damage. Sodium poisoning in smaller quantities can cause seizures and tachycardia. It is also responsible for bloating caused by excessive water intake to quench dehydration. Put as little salt into your canine’s food as possible, preferably none, to avoid causing it harm.
Tortilla Chips
These are not exactly an ingredient in salsa, but it is the most popular dipping tool and the worst accompaniment to salsa for dogs. Tortilla chips are hard and crispy, which can hurt their teeth when eating. They can also put small dogs in danger of choking.
The chips use corn, a common allergen in most dogs. You should find out if your dog can eat corn or corn products to eliminate the chances of causing an allergic attack if they eat them accidentally.
Tortilla chips also have high sodium content that, combined with the salsa, can be too much sodium for your canine.
As you can see, more harmful ingredients are used in making salsa than beneficial ones. Thus, your dog is more likely to suffer dire health consequences than it is to benefit from the food.
Related: Can Dogs Eat Corn Tortillas?
Final Verdict
So, the answer to our main question today is no. Dogs cannot and should not eat salsa. It contains multiple harmful ingredients, such as salt, tortilla chips, lime juice, jalapenos, and more. There is also the risk of choking from tortilla chips, sodium poisoning from the salt and tortilla chips, and the spiciness from jalapenos which your canine friend will most likely not enjoy.
Although salsa is made mainly of vegetables, the benefits available in the dish are overshadowed by the risks of the individual ingredients. Do not make salsa a part of your furry friend’s diet, and keep the food in places they cannot reach. Confirming that your pup doesn’t have allergic reactions to the food is also essential.