Can Dogs Have Caper? Can Dogs Eat Caper?

With their signature tangy and salty profile, capers are a popular ingredient in many dishes. These salty, dark green buds also make a great snack, and most people keep a jar of capers in their kitchen for occasional enjoyment.

People treasure capers for their great taste and nutritional offerings—they’re packed with vitamins, essential minerals, and antioxidants.

As such, it’s only natural that you’d wish to share some of their healthy goodness with your pooch. Unfortunately, capers have a darker side, making them slippery for your furry companions.

Can Dogs Eat Caper?

Dogs shouldn’t eat capers. ¹ While the buds aren’t toxic to dogs, the capers are traditionally pickled or preserved in brine. The preservation process adds a dangerous amount of salt to the flower buds, making capers dangerous for dogs to eat. ²

Dogs that consume too much salt stand the risk of salt toxicity. ³ Also known as hypernatremia, salt toxicity is a life-threatening condition caused by too much salt in a dog’s bloodstream. An abnormal increase in a dog’s sodium levels creates an electrolyte imbalance, triggering a diverse range of health issues. ⁴

To combat the high salt levels, the body starts releasing the water from the cells, leading to brain cell damage. Brain cell destruction creates neurological symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, and seizures. ⁴ Additionally, moisture loss causes muscles to shrivel and stiffen, causing the body to jerk and shake. Severe symptoms of salt toxicity include convulsions, coma, and death.

Are Capers Bad For Dogs

Capers aren’t inherently bad for dogs—the processing and preservation methods make them dangerous for them. ⁴ Brined or pickled capers are hazardous for dogs because they contain excessive salt. Too much salt harms dogs and can have far-reaching health repercussions for them.

You’ll need to proceed with caution when adding these flower buds to your dog’s menu. Offering a bud or two as an occasional snack may not endanger your dog’s health, but it best not to take chances. There are plenty of dog treats and toppings without a potentially fatal downside. 

Are Capers Toxic To Dogs

Capers are unripe flower buds of the caper plant and have no known toxic properties. ⁵ If anything, these flower buds are highly nutritious. They’re rich in essential vitamins A and C and minerals such as magnesium and potassium. The buds are also rich in flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids, and tocopherols, antioxidants that help dogs fight inflammations. ⁶

The processing technique is what makes capers dangerous for dogs. Unprocessed caper buds have a short lifespan and a bitter, unpalatable taste. Curing in salt and vinegar is the most common way to improve palatability and extend the lifespan of the caper buds.  

Why Dogs Can’t Eat Caper

Dogs can’t eat capers because they contain a dangerous amount of salt. Most commercially available caper is brined, salt-cured, or pickled with salt and vinegar. ⁷ That means even a few capers can trigger health issues in your dog.

Research shows a 33-pound dog shouldn’t exceed 100 mg of salt daily. A tablespoon of pickled caper can contain at least 250 mg of salt. ⁴ That’s about 2.5 times the safe salt intake for an adult dog. Salt toxicity can happen if a dog consumes 2 to 3 grams of salt for every kilogram of body weight.

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What Do I Do If My Dog Eats Caper?

What to do after your dog eats caper depends on the amount ingested and if they were brined. There’s no cause for concern if your dog eats unsalted capers because they’re not toxic for dogs.

You shouldn’t be worried if your pup sneaks a few pieces of brined capers. Offer a drink of water to counteract the effect of the salt, and keep an eye on them. Your pooch is unlikely to develop adverse reactions from sneaking a few salty capers.

Danger signs to watch out for include vomiting, diarrhea, excessive thirst, and restlessness. ⁸ Call a vet for advice if you notice any of these symptoms.

Conversely, call the vet immediately for guidance if you suspect your pooch has eaten many brined capers. Sodium toxicity can set in within two hours after a dog consumes an unhealthy amount of salt.

If your dog starts showing signs of sodium poisoning, don’t let them drink an excessive amount of water. ⁹ It may seem counterintuitive, but it’s the best course of action. If your dog drinks too much water, it may start throwing up, leading to further dehydration.

Your vet can help you manage this delicate situation, especially if your dog has exhibited elevated sodium levels for over 12 hours. ⁹ Elevated sodium levels must be lowered gradually to avoid triggering dangerous health complications such as brain swelling and coma.

Medical intervention to combat salt toxicity may include running blood tests, medication, and IV fluids. In severe cases, hospitalization may be necessary to manage neurological symptoms.

What Can I Feed My Dog Instead of Caper?

Adding capers to your dog’s menu can prove tricky and challenging despite the potential health benefits. One wrong move can endanger your dog’s health and have you staring at an astronomical bill from the vet.

Luckily, you’re spoiled for choice when it comes to healthy and nutritious dog treats that don’t endanger your pooch or raid your pocket. Healthier and safer alternatives to capers include:

• Bananas
• Apples
• Strawberries
• Blueberries
• Peanut butter
• Green beans
• Raspberries
• Plain yoghurt

You can offer these dog-safe foods as a standalone treat or as meal toppings to improve the taste and nutritional content. They’re rich in minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants—just like capers—sans the risk of sending your pup to the ER.

Are There Any Safe Capers for Dogs?

Raw buds are bitter, unpalatable, and perishable. Processing the flower buds the flower buds mellows the taste and makes them edible. There are four methods of processing capers: brining, pickling, preserving in olive oil, and dehydrating. ⁷

Oil-packed and dehydrated packers are safe for dogs because they don’t contain a dangerous amount of salt. But these varieties are rare and more expensive than the brined and pickled ones.

Rinsing salt-cured capers thoroughly and soaking them in water can help minimize the health risk. Soak the flower buds in water for at least 15 minutes and wash them thoroughly to remove as much salt as possible. ⁵ Washing away the high salt content reduces the health risk that brined or pickled capers pose to your pooch.  

So, Can Dogs Eat Capers? What’s The Verdict?

Feeding capers to dogs is not recommended because they often contain dangerous amounts of salt. Feeding them to your dog poses a health risk and could lead to salt poisoning, a life-threatening condition for dogs. While capers have potential health benefits for dogs, the risks outweigh the benefits.

Despite the potential benefits, you’re of striking capers from your dog’s menu. You may offer your dog better and safer alternatives that won’t endanger your life. Strawberries, raspberries, plain yoghurt, apples, bananas, and huckleberries make excellent dog snacks.

Source

1. https://www.masterclass.com/articles/can-dogs-eat-capers
2. https://www.hepper.com/can-dogs-eat-capers/
3. https://wagwalking.com/condition/salt-poisoning
4. https://dogfoodcare.com/can-dogs-eat/capers
5. https://welovedoodles.com/can-dogs-eat-capers/
6. https://healthyhomemadedogtreats.com/can-dogs-eat-capers/
7. https://www.epicurious.com/shopping/what-are-capers-a-guide-to-the-punchy-briny-ingredient-every-pantry-needs
8. https://animalemergencyservice.com.au/blog/understanding-salt-toxicity-in-dogs/
9. https://animalemergencyservice.com.au/blog/understanding-salt-toxicity-in-dogs/

If you’re looking for more nutritional advice for your pet, The American Canine Club is a great starting point for all things canine health.

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