Can Dogs Eat Bell Peppers?
Can Dogs Eat Bell Peppers?
Can Dogs Eat Bell Peppers? Want to know if dogs can eat bell peppers? The good news is that, similar to other vegetables, bell peppers are safe for dogs to eat. Bell peppers are pretty vegetables full of vitamins and minerals that are healthy for you, too, and your dog.
Although sweet bell peppers are not poisonous to dogs to be consumed in moderate amounts, not all peppers are the same. There are a lot of other peppers that have an ingredient called capsaicin and will kill your dog. However, since sweet bell peppers do not have the hot capsaicin spice, it is okay for your dog to consume.

Continue to read for additional information on how bell peppers can be a nutritional benefit to your dog’s diet.
Are Bell Peppers Good for Dogs?
Can Dogs Eat Bell Peppers? Bell peppers sweeter than a treat served on top of your dog’s food can give them a vitamin and mineral boost. And they’re high in fiber but low in calories, so these are a perfect substitute treat for those dogs that are dieting to lose a little weight eating. Bell peppers also have lots of vitamins A and C, which will boost your dog’s immune system, vision, and skin/coat.
Generally, there is no color type of a bell pepper when it comes to safety levels for dogs to eat. Dogs can safely eat bell peppers of any color—green, red, yellow, or orange—in moderation, since they don’t contain capsaicin. However, this doesn’t apply to other peppers. Varieties like jalapeños, chili peppers, and cayenne peppers do contain capsaicin. Feeding your dog peppers with capsaicin will get your dog to develop digestive upset, vomiting, and diarrhea. Do not, therefore, feed your dog hot peppers or spicy food containing spices such as capsaicin, i.e., chili powder.
How to Safely Prepare Bell Peppers for Dogs
It’s not strip loin steak, but if your dog will eat a little bit of bell pepper, this is how to divide up this garden classic safely.
Can Dogs Eat Bell Peppers? Begin by de-seeding and de-stemming the pepper, and chop the pepper into smaller pieces. You can boil or steam bell peppers if you prefer so that you can make your dog’s skin softer if he has a hard time swallowing due to raw bell peppers being harder to chew or swallow for dogs. Just avoid using any other ingredients toxic to your pooch, such as garlic, onions, oil, salt, or butter.
As with any new food, do it in moderation. Begin with adding bell peppers to their diet in small amounts as a treat or a topping, and then proceed. Vegetables should not replace your dog’s regular diet and are best offered only in moderation. In introducing bell peppers to your dog, monitor their response for gastrointestinal signs or food allergy.

How Many Bell Peppers Can Dogs Eat?
Can Dogs Eat Bell Peppers? Bell peppers can be a healthy treat for your dog, but eating too many may lead to stomach issues such as vomiting, diarrhea, or discomfort.. Stop feeding your dog with bell pepper if your pet dog finds it unacceptable.
For every new food item introduced into their diet, it’s always best to consult with your vet to know how much bell pepper is safe for your dog to eat. They can guide your dog based on his/her specific nutritional needs. Here are some general serving suggestions to follow when introducing bell pepper into a healthy adult dog:
- Toy breeds (2–20 lbs): Offer just one or two small bites, equal to about a tablespoon.
Examples: Chihuahua, Yorkshire Terrier, Pomeranian, Pug - Small breeds (21–30 lbs): Limit to under a quarter of a bell pepper, roughly three to four bite-sized pieces.
Examples: Beagle, Basenji, Miniature American Shepherd - Medium breeds (31–50 lbs): Safe to give about a quarter of a bell pepper, which equals up to eight small chunks.
Examples: Border Collie, Basset Hound, Australian Cattle Dog - Large breeds (51–90 lbs): No more than half of a bell pepper.
Examples: Pit Bulls, German Shepherds, Labrador Retrievers, Australian Shepherds - Extra-large dog (91+ pounds): 3/4 bell pepper or less
Examples: Newfoundlands, Bernese Mountain Dogs, St. Bernards, Great Pyrenees
Can dogs eat bell peppers?
Can Dogs Eat Bell Peppers? Yes! Are dogs allowed to eat bell peppers? Peppers are colored in a range of colors — so may dogs eat green peppers, orange yellow peppers, red peppers? Yes, to all, though the red ones are a wee bit more nutritionally valuable and the green perhaps ever so slightly more challenging to digest (these aren’t as ripe as the others). Green peppers do have a tougher skin which doesn’t faze dogs to crunch over.
Peppers are a nutritious snack, but have to be administered sparingly. Peppers are low in calories and fat but high in nutrients with great amounts of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Vitamin K.
Do all peppers need to be kept away from dogs?
Can Dogs Eat Bell Peppers? No, dogs do not eat all peppers and thus any dog owner will know what they can and cannot be eaten by their dogs. Some peppers have something known as capsaicin in them and this is the chemical component of peppers which makes the peppers hot and the spiciness. Basically, any pepper that contains capsaicicin in it is a no; it will just be too spicy for your dog’s sensitive stomach to handle.
Those are the types of peppers that would be chili peppers, jalapenos and habaneros. You enjoy really hot, hot peppers, but your dog certainly will not like having any.
Can dogs have banana peppers? There is some minor controversy about this one. It basically just depends on the specific banana pepper; some are mild to medium, some are a bit hotter and spicier. So be cautious — it’s likely best to steer clear of banana peppers and exercise extreme caution.