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Never Give Your Dog These 13 Spices & Seasonings– They’re Toxic!

When you’re deciding whether or not it is safe to feed something to your dog, it’s important to look out for “hidden ingredients.” Spices and seasonings aren’t immediately apparent to the naked eye, so it’s important never to share food with your dog unless you know how it has been seasoned. 

A large portion of popular spices and seasoning blends are potentially toxic or harmful to dogs, and if you don’t already know what foods your pup can’t eat, it can be easy to accidentally feed them something you shouldn’t. Luckily, there are several safe seasonings for your dog, and many of the toxic varieties are fairly safe in small quantities. 

13 Spices That Are Toxic To Dogs

These are the no-no spices, the ones you should never let your pet eat. If your dog has eaten one of these, particularly a large amount, reach out to your vet and tell them how much your dog has eaten and when; they’ll be able to give you further instructions. 

Spice	How Much is Toxic?	Symptoms of Toxicity	Toxic Compound(s)
Allspice	Whole berries or large amounts of powdered allspice.  Unlikely to cause toxicity when mixed into baked goods, but still not recommended.	– Vomiting – Loss of motor function	Eugenol
Bay Leaf	Whole bay leaves or large amounts of powdered bay leaf.  Unlikely to be toxic when used in cooked dishes, but still not recommended.	– Vomiting – Loss of motor function	Eugenol
Chives	0.5% or more of a dog’s body weight. For example, if your dog is 10lbs, toxicosis would become a concern if they consumed more than an ounce of chives.	– Elevated heart rate – Anemia – Lethargy – Respiratory distress	Disulfides, Thiosulphates
Cloves	Whole cloves, or large amounts of powdered cloves.  Unlikely to cause toxicity when mixed into baked goods, but still not recommended.	– Vomiting – Loss of motor function	Eugenol
Cocoa Powder	0.5 grams (or around 2 tsp) of cocoa powder for every pound of body weight. So if your dog is 10 pounds, toxicity becomes a risk after eating a little more than ⅓ c. cocoa powder.	– Vomiting – Diarrhea – Extreme thirst – Extreme urination – Respiratory distress – Elevated heart rate – Agitation	Theobromine
Garlic Powder & Garlic Salt	15 grams of garlic per kilogram of body weight. So if your dog is 10 lbs (or 4.5 kg), toxicity becomes a risk after eating around 4 cups of garlic.  Unlikely to cause harm when added to cooked dishes, but still not recommended.	– Elevated heart rate – Anemia – Lethargy – Respiratory distress	Disulfides, Thiosulphates
Mace	2.5 – 4 grams. Unlikely to cause harm when mixed into baked goods, but still not recommended.	– Vomiting – Loss of motor function – Disorientation – Hallucinations – Gastrointestinal distress	Eugenol, Myristicin
Marjoram	Large amounts of fresh or dry marjoram.  While this herb is unlikely to cause toxicity when used sparingly, it’s best to avoid it.	– Drooling – Lethargy – Vomiting – Diarrhea – Hypothermia	Linalool, Tannic Acid
Mustard Seed & Mustard Powder	Large amounts of whole or ground mustard seed.  Unlikely to cause harm when mixed into cooked foods or eaten in very small amounts.	– Vomiting – Diarrhea – Bloating/gas	Isothiocyanate
Nutmeg	1 tsp. ground nutmeg, or 3 whole nutmegs.	– Disorientation – Hallucinations – Gastrointestinal distress	Myristicin
Onion Powder	1 tbsp. per 20 lbs. of weight. So if your dog is 10 lbs, toxicity becomes a risk after 1.5 tsp. Unlikely to cause harm when added to cooked dishes, but still not suggested.	– Elevated heart rate – Anemia – Lethargy – Respiratory distress	Disulfides, Thiosulfates
Pumpkin Pie Spice	Store-bought pumpkin pie spice contains nutmeg and mace, both of which are toxic to dogs. As little as 1 tsp. may be toxic.	– Disorientation – Hallucinations – Gastrointestinal distress	Myristicin
Curry Powder	Curry powder is a blend of spices including mustard seed, cayenne, chili powder, and other spices that may be toxic or harmful to dogs. A small amount is unlikely to cause serious harm, but it can cause serious stomach issues and even toxicosis.	– Vomiting – Diarrhea – Bloating/gas – Gastrointestinal distress	Isothiocyanate, Capsaicin

Spices That Can Cause Irritation

These spices probably won’t send your dog to the vet, but they can cause serious stomach problems, abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea. Keep your pooch away from these to spare both of you from the mess. 

Spice	How Much is Harmful?	Symptoms of Irritation	Harmful Compounds
Cayenne	Any amount of cayenne can cause oral and gastrointestinal irritation. Cayenne is high in capsaicin and not good to give your dog in any amount.  Unlikely to cause physical harm in small amounts.	– Vomiting – Diarrhea – Gastrointestinal distress	Capsaicin
Chili Powder/Flakes	See Cayenne.	– Vomiting – Diarrhea – Gastrointestinal distress	Capsaicin
Paprika	See Cayenne.	– Vomiting – Diarrhea – Gastrointestinal distress	Capsaicin
Tarragon	Moderate amounts of fresh or dry tarragon. Unlikely to cause physical harm in small amounts.	– Vomiting – Nausea – Agitation – Convulsions/seizures – Elevated heart rate	Estragole

Dog-Safe Spices in Moderation

These spices are dog-safe, as long as you feed them to your pooch in moderation! Some even have some health and enrichment benefits, so you can feel good about sharing them with your pup. 

Spice	How Much is Safe?	Why Use Sparingly?
Cinnamon	1 tsp or less on occasion.	Cinnamon in large amounts can cause liver distress, low blood sugar, and gastrointestinal pain.
Parsley (leaves only)	1 tsp for every 20 lbs. So if your dog is 10 lbs, their serving of parsley should be ½ tsp or less.	Parsley contains furanocoumarin, which can be toxic in very large amounts.
Black Pepper	Very small amounts in food cooked.	Pepper is not toxic but offers dogs no benefits and can cause stomach issues.
Salt	Very small amounts in cooked food.	Dogs need salt for cellular function, but their regular diet should already give them enough sodium.
Turmeric	⅛ – ¼ tsp for every 10 lbs. So if your dog is 20 lbs, they could have between ¼ and ½ tsp turmeric.	Tumeric in large amounts can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and nausea.

Toxic Compounds Found in Spices

Interested in learning more about the compounds found in spices that can make them toxic to dogs? Here’s a quick overview of all the compounds covered in this blog. 

Capsaicin

Capsaicin is the active ingredient in chili peppers that makes them spicy and gives you that burning sensation. Difficult for dogs to digest, and highly inflammatory, capsaicin can cause serious vomiting, diarrhea, and gastrointestinal distress. Present in large amounts in peppers, capsaicin can also be found in small quantities in spices like cinnamon, which are safe for dogs in moderation. 

Disulfides

Found in the allium family, disulfides break down red blood cells, which can cause life-threatening anemia.

Estragole

Used in very small, carefully measured amounts to flavor pet food, estragole becomes unsafe once it has been consumed in large quantities, and can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and gastrointestinal distress.

Eugenol

Eugenol is a fragrant liquid extracted from essential oils. In a study published in 1950, researchers observed that eugenol could cause severe vomiting, loss of motor function in the limbs, and death at high doses. 

Furanocoumarin

Furanocoumarin compounds are used by many plants to repel insects and pests and are toxic to dogs and in some cases, humans. Known to cause cellular damage and inflammation, furanocoumarin poisoning in dogs can cause blindness and serious skin and eye lesions.

Isothiocyanate

Isothiocyanates are another system of defense for many plants that can cause gastrointestinal irritation and can potentially induce toxicosis in dogs. 

Linalool

Linalool is a natural essential oil found in fragrant, citrusy plants that acts as an insecticide. Linalool can be used in small amounts as a topical treatment for dogs, but large amounts can be extremely irritating. When ingested, linalool may cause liver damage, and in the worst cases, liver failure. 

Myristicin

Myristicin is also a natural insecticide that can cause disorientation, hallucinations, gastrointestinal distress, and even seizures when eaten in large quantities by dogs. 

Tannic Acid

Tannic acid is an astringent anti-fungal and antibacterial compound. Large amounts of tannic acid can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and renal failure. 

Theobromine

Theobromine is a bitter alkaloid known to be extremely toxic to dogs. Theobromine poisoning symptoms can range from over-excitement and vomiting to serious seizures, heart issues, and death. 

Thiosulfates

Used by plants to assist in the nutrient absorption process, thiosulfates can cause anemia in dogs. 

Learn more about capsaicin and the foods you should watch out for in our guide to dogs eating peppers!

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Chicken and rice for dogs!? Yes please, with some pumpkin on the side! 

Tummy Tamer, our classic chicken and rice recipe for dogs is getting an upgrade: We have made the decision to add pumpkin into our Tummy Tamer recipe. 

We developed Tummy Tamer to be the go-to recipe for dogs experiencing diarrhea or an upset tummy. As such, we’ve kept it simple with chicken and rice as the main ingredients, and for some extra nutrition and tummy-soothing properties, we’ve now added pumpkin into the mix.  

Is pumpkin good for dogs? Yes! And here’s why:

1. Pumpkin is good for dogs with diarrhea – or constipation.

Pumpkin can provide bulk and integrity to the stool, as it contains both soluble and insoluble fibres. Both can be highly beneficial for firming up stool, moving food through the digestive tract, regulating bowel movements, and acting as a prebiotic for the microbiome. 

Insoluble fibre moves quickly through the digestive tract and can help provide bulk to the stool. 

Soluble fibre can help firm up loose stool due to its ability to absorb water as it passes through the digestive system. 

Pumpkin provides a rich source of both fibres, which together can help with constipation or diarrhea in dogs.

Learn more about the importance of fibre in your dog’s diet here. 

2. High in Beneficial Nutrients

Vitamin E, potassium, vitamin C, and magnesium are all found in pumpkin and are beneficial for the gut. 

Vitamin E can help with digestive enzyme activity, which then increases the digestion of other nutrients! 

                                                                    Photo by Lorren & Loki

Potassium is an important electrolyte for the gut. In addition, it is involved in contractions of the muscles in the digestive system. This helps move food through the digestive system. 

Vitamin C may aid in reducing the bad bacteria in the gut and promoting good bacteria. 

Magnesium is another nutrient important for digestive enzyme function and may be beneficial for maintaining a healthy microbiome. 

3. Feeds the microbiome in your dog’s gut

Pumpkin can act as a prebiotic due to its fibre content. The soluble fibres in pumpkin reach the microbiome and supports the growth of the beneficial bacteria. This is important when there are digestive issues as most digestive problems are a result, or can cause, dysbiosis. Dysbiosis occurs when there is an imbalance in the microbiome. The prebiotic fibres may help to restore the microbiome to balance. 

                                                           Photo by Karolina Grabowska                  

4. Improves digestion

Adding pumpkin to your dog’s food can help improve the digestion of other nutrients, which is especially important for diarrhea in dogs. 

When your dog has diarrhea, it reduces the amount of digestion and absorption of nutrients because nutrients pass quickly through the digestive system and get expelled in diarrhea. 

Pumpkin is considered to be highly digestible, and the soluble fibre content slows the movement of food through the digestive tract, which can increase the amount of time for digestion. 

5. Pumpkin makes your dog’s food taste great

Pumpkin, alongside chicken and rice, is highly palatable – aka super tasty – for dogs. When your dog is experiencing diarrhea or an upset stomach, one of the top priorities is just getting them to eat something. That’s why we’ve aim to keep this recipe highly palatable to encourage eating without further perpetuating any digestive problems. 

And because this recipe is so tasty, some of our loyal companions also add it to their pups’ complete and balanced meals as a healthy meal topper or mix in — sore tummy or not.*

Our Tummy Tamer recipe continues to be a safe and great option for dogs experiencing digestive issues such as diarrhea and upset tummies. Now, with the healthy addition of pumpkin, you’ll feel good knowing that your pup is getting some extra nutrition when they’re under the weather, too. 

*Note that our Tummy Tamer recipe is designed specifically as a temporary meal to help dogs through their digestive issues (that is, it is not a complete and balanced meal that you can feed your pup on a regular basis).

Click here to learn more about our fresh recipes for dogs here. 

Written by: Hannah Godfrey
Animal Nutritionist
BSc.H. | MSc. Animal Nutrition
www.tomandsawyer.com

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