Curry is one common dish in several households, enjoyed by many families. Available in different variations, it is quite easy to make.
For families whose member includes pet dogs, dinner time with dishes of a curry-cooked meal may pose a tricky challenge, for you might wonder if these spicy meals are safe for dog consumption.
There are tons of human food that are unsafe for dogs, and spicy dishes fall on the long list of food to abstain from feeding to your furry companion.
Still, under the pressure of the piercing yet pleading gaze of your beloved pet dog, the question “can dogs eat curry?” lingers on your mind with no seeming reasonable answer.
This article examines everything as regards feeding curry to dogs. Read on!
What Is Curry?
Curry is a combination of spices and herbs for flavoring to make up a tasty sauce. This basic recipe originates from India and is deeply associated with South Asian cuisine.
Typical spices used in making curry include turmeric, ginger, cumin, chilies, grounded onion, and coriander.
There isn’t one recipe for making curry; rather, there are countless, yet, the process of making them remains the same.
This results in different variants of curry, with some being spicy hot and others having a distinct savory taste.
Hence, it is unsurprising for our genuine love for this dish, but can dogs eat them?
Can Dogs Eat Curry? Is Curry Bad For Dogs?
Absolutely no! Dogs can’t eat curry. It is unhealthy for their digestive tract as it contains several extremely spicy ingredients their digestive system simply can’t tolerate.
Feed curry to a dog, it would eagerly and happily wolf it down, but after eating it, it would come down with nausea, gassiness, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Dogs and spicy food are never a good combination, and curry in large quantity is detrimental to their system.
Below are the nutrition facts for 235g of curry.
- Calories: 243
- Fat: 11g
- Cholesterol: 74mg
- Sodium: 73mg
- Potassium: 374mg
- Carbohydrates: 7.5g
- Dietary Fiber: 1.5g
- Sugars: 2g
- Protein: 28g
- Vitamin A: 11%
- Vitamin C: 8.1%
- Calcium: 3%
- Iron: 11%
Depending on what other spices you may have used and the gram or quantity of curry, the percentage of the nutrient will differ from what is above on the chart.
Nonetheless, the chart above accurately reflects the quantity and nutrients present in a basic curry recipe.
It is evident from the chart that curry contains nutrients that are essential to dogs, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they are safe for dog consumption.
Let’s consider why curry is bad for dogs.
Why is Curry Bad For Dogs?
As mentioned earlier, dogs don’t do so well with spicy food, and curry being one makes it unsafe and bad for their consumption.
However, the real threat of curry lies in its ingredients. Most curries contain several ingredients that are toxic to dogs.
This section delves into some of these toxic ingredients and their adverse effects on dogs.
Turmeric
Turmeric is one of the core ingredients in many curry spices. It has a number of benefits to dogs when fed in small quantities.
It is mostly known for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties but also improves heart health in dogs.
Notwithstanding, when fed excessively, it can be damaging to a dog’s system. Stomach upset, constipation, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting are some of its short-term impacts on dogs.
Iron deficiency, infertility, and decreased blood sugar are some of its long-term effects in dogs.
Cumin
Cumin also is another ingredient present in many curries. When fed in small doses, it is not bad for dogs.
However, excessive consumption of cumin will lead to stomach upset in dogs.
Onion
Onion is often present in curry as well. However, this bulb vegetable contains disulfides and thiosulphates, which are toxic to dogs.
When consumed, onions caus a health condition known as hemolytic anemia resulting in damage to red blood cells in dogs.
Onions in whatever form, including onion powder, are unsafe for dogs to eat.
Garlic
Garlic may be safe for human consumption, but they are far from safe for dogs. Like onions, they also contain thiosulphate. But there’s more.
Garlic consumption in dogs will result in Heinz Body Anemia which also destroys the red blood cells in dogs. Curry recipes are often filled with garlic in powder form.
Salt
Salt is another unhealthy ingredient often added to curry. Although salt is safe for dogs to eat in little quantities, it can cause salt poisoning in large quantities.
Some of the symptoms of salt poisoning include dehydration, vomiting, muscle tremors, diarrhea, seizures, and incoordination.
Chilies
Chilies are safe for consumption by humans, but they can be an absolute nightmare to dogs, even if not outrightly toxic.
Chilies contain a chemical known as capsaicin that is responsible for their spiciness.
However, this chemical can be extremely irritating to dogs causing a stir of emotions and physical feelings, thus making dogs unstable.
In this state, dogs can do the unthinkable: from chasing around their water bowl to whining and whimpering at the discomfort they feel.
Either way, chilies are something to keep away from dogs.
Sugar
Sugar is another unhealthy ingredient for dogs and yet present in curry. No doubt, sugar is quite beneficial to dogs.
However, it can have long-term effects when consumed in excess, including diabetes and obesity.
Dive Deeper:
What Toxins Can Cause Seizures In Dogs? Careful!
Is Homemade Curry Safe For Dogs?
There are dog owners who prefer cooking meals for their dogs rather than opting for commercial dog food.
If you’re one, you may be curious as to whether homemade curry is safe to feed to your pet dog.
Curry is bad for dogs, but when it comes to homemade curry, you have total control over the ingredient used and thus can only make use of ingredients that cater to your dog’s dietary needs.
So, yes, homemade curry is safe for dogs to eat as long as you only incorporate safe ingredients in cooking.
Do well to remember that curry cannot substitute for regular dog food and, even when prepared in a dog-friendly way, should only be fed to dogs occasionally as a treat.
What To Do If My Dog Ate Curry?
Dogs are curious creatures, and sometimes behind our back, they may indulge in foods that are unsafe for them, such as curry.
So in the unfortunate event, your dog gulped down a large quantity of curry, what should you do?
The first course of action is to identify what exactly it must have eaten.
This means if it is a store-bought curry your dog must have eaten, go through the ingredients list on the container or packaging to see if there are any toxic ingredients in such curry.
If it is homemade curry, then you already have an idea of what ingredients such curry contains.
The next step is to observe your dog for any symptoms. Most likely, your dog will experience vomiting, nausea, and explosive diarrhea at the very least.
In the absence of any poisonous ingredients, you can decide to wait out the symptoms. If such symptoms continue over a prolonged period of time (24 hours), take your dog to the vet.
If you notice any poisonous ingredient in the curry your dog has eaten, such as onions or garlic, take such dog to the vet immediately!
There’s a difference between toxic and poisonous. Toxic ingredients are not immediately life-threatening to dogs, whereas poisonous ingredients can be fatal and result in death even within a few minutes of consumption.
Onions are poisonous to dogs.
If you’re unsure or have any uncertainty after your dog has eaten a large quantity of curry, it is best to contact your vet.
FAQs
Can I feed my dog yellow curry?
All types of curry likely contain ingredients that are toxic to dogs and may cause stomach disruption. It is best to avoid it completely.
What sauces can dogs eat?
Gravy and broths are safe for dogs to eat as long as they are prepared in dog-friendly ways, i.e., without additives.
Are all spices bad for dog consumption?
Yes, spices are bad for dogs. However, some natural spices, such as turmeric, are safe for dogs to eat in small quantities occasionally.
Bottom Line: Can Dogs Have Curry?
Absolutely not! Spicy foods are not compatible with a dog’s digestive system, and curry dishes are way too spicy to feed to your dog.
Aside from that, this powder sauce contains potentially harmful ingredients for dogs. Hence, dogs cannot eat curry.
However, if, for some reason, your dog has consumed a large amount of curry, do not hesitate to take your dog to the vet.
Hopefully, this article has enlightened you on the health hazards associated with dogs’ curry consumption; now you know better.
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