Pickles are great for us humans. They taste perfect and you can add them to any hamburger or any meal and enjoy them even more. They are loaded with vitamins and minerals which makes them even better. Are pickles bad for dogs or can they get the same perks? Vets do not recommend giving pickles to your pet. They are not extremely dangerous or harmful but they should be avoided. Let’s see why.
Are Pickles Bad For Dogs?
Pickles are not toxic, however, dogs should not eat pickles. The main issue here is sodium. Pickles are loaded with sodium and it can cause a variety of issues and complications. First of all, dogs do need sodium. An average, medium-sized dog will need 100 mg of sodium per day. It is essential for growth and proper health. But, too much sodium will have a negative effect and as such must be eliminated from the diet of your pet.
This problem is especially severe in dogs who already have a health-related issue that is unknown at the moment or wasn’t cured. These are all cases where your dog can end up badly. If your pet doesn’t have any health-related issues there is still a risk. Too much sodium can cause hypernatremia. Symptoms are:
- High level of thirst
- Confusion
- Seizures
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Water loss
- Lower intake of water
- Disorientation
There are even more severe symptoms such as coma. This usually happens when the sodium levels are too high and as you can see it is a huge problem for all dogs. Some of the symptoms are not extremely severe but they will affect the life of your dog. You will need to take him to a vet immediately and find a solution. Decreasing the sodium level in the blood is mandatory in most situations.
There is another issue here. Pickles usually contain spices such as garlic or some herbs. These can be toxic for your pet as well and they can cause gastrointestinal issues which are severe and complicated to solve. If you know that the pickles do not contain any herbs or any spices, giving a small number of pickles is possible. Keep in mind that the sodium issue is still present and as such large amounts of pickles must be avoided at all cost.
What To Do If Your Pet Ate Some Pickles?
The first thing to know here is that a pickle or two is harmless. There won’t be any issues. Just make sure he doesn’t get any more pickles on the same day or tomorrow. This is a common issue and usually harmless.
There is a different side to the story. If your dog eats a lot of pickles (they will if they like the taste) you must take him to a vet immediately. As you should know by now, sodium levels will spike significantly over a short period of time. This will cause all sorts of issues and complications as we have stated. A vet can help your pet and lower down the sodium levels which will make your dog feel better.
We must add that all of the facts we have revealed affect all dog breeds. Don’t think that just because your dog is strong and big he is immune to pickles and sodium levels of the spics and herms inside the pickle jar.
Pickle Juice Is Even Worse
We know that all dog owners want to know the answer to the question: are pickles bad for dogs? Now you know the answer so you can adapt the approach carefully. But, we also know some people have recommended using pickle juice as a medium to help your dog with dehydration. This is a rare mistake that can be fatal.
Pickle juice is actually an even worse option than pickles themselves. It contains all the vinegar, sodium, and all the traces of herbs that are in the pickles. On the other hand, this doesn’t contain any minerals or vitamins. You should see the main problem here.
Pickle juice will make your dog ill almost instantly and this will cause a severe reaction due to all the bad things found in pickles. In other words, your dog will get only the worst. This is the time when you will want to take your pet to a vet immediately and help him recover. Even a small amount of pickle juice can be fatal and cause severe symptoms like the ones we have covered at the beginning.
It is advised to keep a pickle jar at the top of a cabinet or somewhere where your pet can’t reach it. If he can, he can eat the pickles and drink the pickle juice which is something you must avoid at all costs. Not all dogs like the taste and smell of pickles but most will eat this treat and this makes the risk even greater.
The Ideal Amount of Pickles For My Dog
We also know that some dog owners like pickles so much that they will want to give them to a dog occasionally. This is fine and there is no massive risk here. But, you must feed your dog with the smallest amount possible. Ideally, you will give just one slice or two per day. This is more than enough and it is known that most dogs won’t develop any problems when fed with this amount.
The next thing to know is that never give a whole pickle to your pet. He can choke with it and this is especially common with dogs who like to eat and swallow large pieces of food. If your dog does this, a whole pickle is even more dangerous than you thought.
At this point, we can also see that pickles are not a great idea if you give your pet a sandwich or something similar. It is best to remove the pickles first and give that food to your friend. Yes, the amount of pickles is small but pickles are bad for dogs. It is still something you need to avoid and give in small amounts.
Best Alternatives
As you were able to see, pickles are bad for dogs and not something you should feed them with. But, are there any healthy alternatives? As a matter of fact, yes. Pickles are actually a fruit and not a vegetable but most of us treat them as a vegetable. Anyway, we have a few alternatives you will want to feed your dog with just because they are much safer, more appealing, and much healthier.
1. Kale
Kale is probably the best alternative and the one your pet will appreciate. It is loaded with vitamins A and K and also iron. Overall, kale helps your dog with bone health, a stronger immune system, and also energy metabolism. Additional benefits include fetal development and proper or healthy vision.
2. Carrot
Carrots are also a great treat for your pet. These have been one of the best and the most appealing treats for a long period of time and one that has a huge, positive effect. Carrots are loaded with vitamin A and also contain vitamins B6 and K. They also have biotin. All of these will help your pet live a healthier life.
3. Spinach
Spinach has a lot of vitamins such as B6 and B9 and also E. It contains folic acid, calcium, and iron. It is essential as a super-food in the diet of your pet. This is just a small part of the minerals and vitamins spinach contains.
4. Green Bean
This treat may be ideal if you want to help your pet lose weight. It contains a low amount of protein and a high amount of fiber. This makes a dog feel full for a long period of time and also eats less. In addition, green beans contain calcium, iron, vitamins K, C, A, and B6, and also a lot of minerals.
5. Beets
Beets contain manganese, vitamin C, potassium, folate, and also fiber. They are essential if you want to help your pet have healthy and nice-looking fur and skin. These also help him with his immune system.
6. Broccoli
Broccoli is rich in vitamins C, K, and also potassium. It is essential for proper bone health and decreases the risk of heart complications and issues in dogs. Broccoli actually increases or improves bone density which is an essential thing for most dogs.
The Final Word
Are pickles bad for dogs or should you use them as a treat all the time? Now you know the answer and to summarize, they are bad. Giving pickles occasionally won’t be a huge issue but it still carries a risk. Feeding your pet with these all the time is a huge problem and something that can be fatal for your furry friend. As such, it is best to eliminate these from the diet of your pet completely. There are much better options as we have mentioned above.
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