Can I give my dog pickles?

Video: Mr Pickles BACKWARDS!!!

Pickles seem like a harmless enough treat for a dog. But could there be reasons not to give your pet a taste? As you know, many people foods are inappropriate for canines.

Pickled cucumbers range from spicy to sour to sweet. If you provide your dog with a pickle then a mild kind is best. This will minimize the possibility of an upset stomach.

That said, giving a dog a fermented pickle doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. It’s essentially a strange new food, which is usually high in salt, and may disrupt their digestive system.

Can I Give My Dog Pickles? Answer: Yes, but cucumbers are better

There’s more nutrition, and much less sodium, in a cucumber compared to a pickle.

Giving your dog fermented foods is questionable, though not necessarily harmful. To answer the question directly, you can most likely give your best buddy a jarred pickle without incident. Just keep it to a minimum and cut it up so there’s no way they can choke on it.

It’s funny but our younger pup plays with his treat dispensing pickle toy and he loves it. He doesn’t get the real thing!

Pickles are Cucumbers

Pickles come from cucumbers which are soaked in a briny solution of vinegar, salt and assorted spices like Dill. Most people would rather eat a pickle than a raw cucumber. Luckily, your dog isn’t so fussy. Treat them to a cucumber minus the pickling process.

That said, you don’t need to be overly concerned if four-legged Fido snatches a pickle off of your plate. They’ll be just fine so don’t worry so much!

Pets & Pickle Processes

If you’re keen on a crunchy pickle for your dog, consider how the pickle process works. There are two methods which could factor into your decisions, even for your own consumption! Basically, there’s fermentation and quick pickling. Which kind of pickles do you have sitting in the jar you’ve purchased?

Perhaps you have cucumbers that were soaked in vinegar with added spices and other seasonings. This is the quick pickling way. The other style involves fermentation, without vinegar, which could offer probiotic-like benefits due to the presence of micro-organisms. However, this gut health perk is likely of no use to your dog.

Interestingly, you can pickle other vegetables besides cucumbers!

Preparation for a Pooch

If you aren’t so strict and enjoy providing the occasional pickle to your pet dog, always prepare them. While rare, it’s possible for a canine to choke on a whole pickle.

Video: Indian Pariah dog "Pickles" cruising

After all, they tend to be quite big as you look at them through the glass jar. So don’t forget to slice the pickles up before letting your dog chow down. That’s how everyone likes to be served this fermented food, right!

What About Pickle Juice

The leftover pickle juice that sits in the jar should never be given to your dog. This oily, salty and vinegary liquid is quite honestly very nasty. Just pour it down the drain and forget about this idea.

Good Nutrition & Habits

However your pickles were made, they generally aren’t healthy for the family dog. Most of the nutrition in a cucumber is gone by the time it’s transformed into a pickle. At that point, it’s of no great benefit besides the calories.

Instead, the idea could backfire. Your dog may come to expect this snack whenever they see you eating it which is yet another reason to choose foods wisely.

Conclusion on Pickles

You can give your dog a pickle but consider better options for a treat. Cucumbers are the same food but with significantly more nutritional benefits. Establish a quality daily diet for your dog and that probably shouldn’t include processed sodium-laced pickles. Don’t complicate Fido’s digestive health. Stressing, if you came here after one was accidentally, isn’t necessary since pickles aren’t toxic.

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