Can my dog eat bell peppers?
Can dogs eat bell peppers?In moderation
Ripe bell peppers without seeds or stalk, cut small; never hot varieties.
Yes, dogs can eat bell peppers in small amounts – raw or steamed, without the seeds and stalk. Ripe red, yellow or orange peppers are best, and red ones contain the most vitamins. Hot varieties such as chillies or pepperoncini and seasoned peppers are off limits, and too much pepper can cause flatulence, vomiting or diarrhoea.
How much bell pepper can your dog eat?
Enter the weight – the amount updates straight away. You can adjust age, activity and neutering below.
How the calculator works
- Daily requirement: Resting energy requirement 70 × 15 kg^0.75 ≈ 534 kcal × factor 1.6 ≈ 855 kcal.
- Treat allowance: at most 10% of that = 86 kcal for all treats combined.
- Calorie limit: 86 kcal ÷ 26 kcal/100 g = 331 g of bell peppers.
- Guide value for dogs 10–25 kg: 4 × pepper strip (approx. 1 cm wide) at 5 g each = 20 g (cautious guide value set by our editors).
- Recommendation: the smaller of the two, rounded down to half portions → 4 × 5 g = 20 g ≈ 5 kcal.
Sources: 10% rule from the WSAVA guide to treats · kcal value: USDA FoodData Central. Daily requirement as in the dog calorie calculator.
Result · 15 kg · Adult
Up to 4
× pepper strip (approx. 1 cm wide) on a snack day
(≈ 20 g, 5 kcal)
How often: A few strips now and then as a snack or topping – not every day in larger amounts.
Treat allowance 86 kcal (10% of 855 kcal) · 1 pepper strip (approx. 1 cm wide) ≈ 5 g
Limited by: guide value
Here the guide value for dogs 10–25 kg sets the limit (cautious guide value set by our editors): at most 4 × pepper strip (approx. 1 cm wide). In terms of calories, up to 331 g would be possible.
A cautious starting value set by our editors. As an upper limit at any one time, a vet quoted by the AKC gives less than a quarter of a pepper for small dogs and less than half a pepper for large dogs.
This applies if it's the only snack that day – if your dog gets other treats too, give correspondingly less.
The app calculates recipes in grams, kcal and portions to suit your dog's weight, age, activity and allergies.Bell peppers for dogs: amount by weight
| Weight | Maximum per snack day | kcal |
|---|---|---|
| 5 kg | 2 × pepper strip (approx. 1 cm wide)≈ 10 g | ≈ 3 |
| 10 kg | 2 × pepper strip (approx. 1 cm wide)≈ 10 g | ≈ 3 |
| 20 kg | 4 × pepper strip (approx. 1 cm wide)≈ 20 g | ≈ 5 |
| 30 kg | 6 × pepper strip (approx. 1 cm wide)≈ 30 g | ≈ 8 |
| 40 kg | 6 × pepper strip (approx. 1 cm wide)≈ 30 g | ≈ 8 |
- All snacks together no more than 10% of daily calories (WSAVA recommendation). If your dog gets other treats too, give correspondingly less.
- Guide value per weight class – small up to 10 kg, medium 10–25 kg, large over 25 kg: A cautious starting value set by our editors. As an upper limit at any one time, a vet quoted by the AKC gives less than a quarter of a pepper for small dogs and less than half a pepper for large dogs.
What's in it
- Low in calories (red pepper around 26 kcal per 100 g) and rich in fibre.
- Red pepper provides plenty of vitamin C and beta-carotene, from which the body can make vitamin A – but in small snack amounts, the effect is minor.
- Bell peppers contain no capsaicin, so they are not hot.
What to watch out for
- Larger amounts can cause flatulence, vomiting or diarrhoea.
- The skin is tough and hard to chew; some dogs don't cope well with raw pepper.
- The seeds and stalk can cause digestive problems.
- Hot varieties such as chilli, jalapeño or cayenne contain capsaicin, which irritates the throat and stomach and can cause pain.
- Pan-fried peppers often contain salt, oil, butter, onion or garlic.
How to prepare bell peppers
How to do it
- Wash the bell pepper and remove the stalk and seeds
- Cut into thin strips or small cubes
- Choose ripe red, yellow or orange peppers
- If your dog has trouble chewing, steam briefly or purée to soften the skin
- The first time, give just one piece and wait to see how your dog tolerates it
Better not
- Chillies, pepperoncini or other hot varieties
- Seasoned or fried peppers, or peppers cooked with onions
- Chilli powder or hot spices in the food
- A whole pepper to nibble on
How often?
A few strips now and then as a snack or topping – not every day in larger amounts.
Frequently asked questions about bell peppers
Can my dog eat green peppers?
Green peppers aren't toxic – vet-reviewed sources such as PetMD consider all colours safe in moderation. But they are harvested unripe and contain much less vitamin C and beta-carotene than red ones. Ripe red, yellow or orange peppers are therefore the better choice.
Can my dog eat red peppers?
Yes. Red pepper is the most nutritious variety, with especially high levels of vitamin C and beta-carotene. Even so, give it only in small pieces and without the seeds.
Can my dog eat raw peppers?
Yes, if your dog can chew and digest them well. The skin is quite tough; for dogs with chewing problems, you can briefly steam or purée the pepper.
Can my dog eat peppers with the seeds?
It's better to remove the seeds and stalk beforehand. They can cause digestive problems.
Can my dog eat cooked peppers?
Yes, steamed or cooked peppers are even easier for some dogs to eat. The only important thing is that they stay plain – without salt, oil, butter, onion or garlic.
Can my dog eat chillies or hot peppers?
No. Hot varieties contain capsaicin. It burns the throat and stomach and can cause your dog pain.
Can my dog eat peppers every day?
Better not. Peppers are an occasional snack; too much at once can cause flatulence, vomiting or diarrhoea.
What should I do if my dog has eaten too much pepper?
Too much pepper can cause flatulence, vomiting or diarrhoea. If this doesn't improve within 24 hours, call your vet – straight away if there is lethargy, persistent vomiting or signs of dehydration such as dry gums.
Are peppers good for dogs that need to lose weight?
They make a good substitute for high-calorie treats: they are high in fibre and low in calories. Still count them towards the snack allowance.
Are peppers part of the nightshade family, like tomatoes?
Yes, peppers belong to the nightshade family, like tomatoes and potatoes. But the ripe fruit of the bell pepper is considered non-toxic to dogs. Remove the stalk and seeds anyway.
Similar foods
- In moderationVegetablesTomatoOnly ripe, red tomatoes without any green; never unripe fruit or plant parts.See the answer
- YesVegetablesCucumberRaw in thin slices, unseasoned; not bitter-tasting cucumbers or pickled gherkins.See the answer
- YesVegetablesCourgetteRaw or cooked, without oil or seasoning; never feed courgettes that taste bitter.See the answer
- In moderationVegetablesKohlrabiPeeled, unseasoned, ideally cooked or finely grated.See the answer
Sources
- Can Dogs Eat Bell Peppers? Can Dogs Eat Red Bell Peppers? – American Kennel Club (AKC)
- Can Dogs Eat Bell Peppers? Are They Safe? – PetMD (vet-reviewed)
- Can Dogs Eat Tomatoes? (Nachtschattengewächse) – American Kennel Club (AKC)
- Peppers, sweet, green, raw (SR Legacy, FDC 170427) – Vergleich grüne und rote Paprika – USDA FoodData Central
- Peppers, sweet, red, raw (SR Legacy, FDC 170108) – USDA FoodData Central (kcal value)
- Feeding treats to your dog – WSAVA Global Nutrition Committee (10% rule in the calculator)
Reviewed on · DoggoMeal editorial team
This page is no substitute for veterinary advice. Dogs with pre-existing conditions – for example of the kidneys, liver or pancreas, or with diabetes – and dogs with allergies often need their own rules. If your dog has symptoms or you're unsure, ask your vet.
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