A favorite condiment for humans, horseradish gives everything from steak to deviled eggs an extra kick and boasts some potential benefits for people. The root vegetable may protect against cancer, improve respiratory health and possess antibacterial properties.
We want our pups to live long and healthy lives, so it’s only natural to wonder if giving them a bit of horseradish with their regular diet could help them.
Can dogs eat horseradish?
Technically, yes, dogs can have horseradish, but you’ll want to file giving it to them under, “just because you can doesn’t mean you should.”
“I do not recommend giving your dog horseradish,” says Dr. Rachel Barrack, DVM, CVA, CVCH of Animal Acupuncture. “Most dogs don’t enjoy spicy foods, and it can cause gastrointestinal upset and irritation of the mouth, nose, throat and digestive system.”
Vets don’t use horseradish to treat anything either, but if you want a second opinion on whether or not it’s OK to intentionally give your pup any, consult with them first.
What happens if my dog eats horseradish?
If you accidentally drop a piece of steak with horseradish on it on the floor, chances are, your dog will be fine. It’s not toxic like other foods that dogs might help themselves to, such as chocolate or grapes. But lookout for signs of gastrointestinal discomforts, such as diarrhea, as well as allergic reactions.
“Keep an eye on your pet after they consume horseradish,” Dr. Barrack warns. Stomach issues and allergic reactions could happen shortly after consumption. “Allergic reaction signs could include diarrhea, vomiting, hives, itchiness, swelling of the face, ears, lips, eyelids or earflaps and sneezing.”
If you think something is wrong, call your veterinarian to schedule a check-up to rule anything out. Should you want to feed your dog some of your favorite foods, opt for something like pumpkin, avocado or oranges instead.
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My Dog eats everything he sits next to me when we eating and I give him some food from my plate…
True for us as well, and probably if they were honest, many vets:-)
I have always read that avocado is poisonous for dogs.
The flesh itself is ok, the skin and the pit are the problems. There is even a brand of commercial dog food that has avocado as one of the primary ingredients.
The avocado pit is toxic, poisonous to dogs. A small amount of the avocado is fine for dogs, and a good source of fat! I include it regularly with my dogs raw meals. Look up the video Dr Karen Becker made with Rodney Habib about this very subject, you’ll love it. 🙂 There is evidence that shows sauerkraut juice can bind to and eliminate the toxin glyphosate from the gut. Kraut is included in meals from time to time.
So… I made a really good steak and I make my own sauce which is 1 part A1, 1 part 57 sauce, 1 part Worcestershire sauce, and a half teaspoon of hot horse radish.. I gave my dog the plate with some meat scraps and the remnant of the steak blood/sauce mix. My dog is a Heeler Beagle mix, she hogged it down and when she started licking the plate made these terrible barfing/gagging sounds. Then she started licking the corners of the floor, trying to eat whatever filth and dog hair had collected there… So I let her out and she started eating grass until she barfed it all up… WTF?… The gagging reflexes started within seconds of her gobbling down her steak.
Dollars to donuts it was that concoction of sauces that upset your pups stomach, not the steak.
I agree with you. It was probably the spicy sauce concoction that is responsible for the dog’s discomfort and the throwing up and not the meat (unless the meat was rancid or tainted with something like salmonella).
I must be a dog at heart (or stomach). I don’t enjoy horseradish–way too spicy and “hot” for me. I’ve never eaten enough of it to figure out if it upsets my stomach.