Can Dogs Eat Lemon Pepper?

The Short Answer is:

The ingredients in lemon pepper are black pepper, salt, modified corn starch, citric acid, lemon peel, sugar, garlic, and onion. Garlic and onions are the only ingredients that won’t help your dog. Your dog’s gastrointestinal tracts will be irritated by these foods.

In this article you will know the answer to the query “Can Dogs Eat Lemon Pepper?“.

Most of us are so crazy about our dogs that we even think of sharing our food with them.

And I’m not just thinking mainstream here.

The foods I’m referring to are not raw broccoli cooked chicken bones or boiled eggs. 

We all know that there are many foods we eat that are also safe for our dogs to eat.

How about the flavors we add to our foods that give them a little something extra?

We use a lot of seasoning and spices. Are they dog-friendly?

In todays article I’ll discuss one particular seasoning lemon pepper.

I’m also trying to find out if adding a small amount to our dogs’ food as we do to ours is a good idea or not.

Discover more by continuing to read.

What does lemon pepper seasoning contain?

The ingredients in lemon pepper are black pepper salt modified corn starch citric acid lemon peel sugar garlic and onion.

Are any of these ingredients toxic to dogs?

Garlic and onions are the only ingredients I mentioned above that would not help your dog. Your dogs’ gastrointestinal tracts will be irritated by these foods. 

Excessive drooling abdominal pain vomiting and diarrhea are common symptoms displayed by a dog who is experiencing inflammation or irritation of the GI tract. 

Although these conditions will be miserable for your dog they are highly unlikely to be fatal.

Moreover these toxins can cause ruptured red blood cells which is a more deadly aspect of their toxicity.

When red blood cells are destroyed anemia elevated heart rate respiratory collapse and even death result.

It is also important to consider that the likelihood of this happening is highly influenced by the size of the dog. 

How might the other nontoxic ingredients affect your dog?

Fortunately the other ingredients in lemon pepper seasoning are not toxic to your dog. But hold on! 

There is no guarantee that the other ingredients are not toxic just because they’re non-toxic. While it is true that humans can eat a variety of foods there is always the risk of having too much of a good thing. 

Its all about moderation as they say. This is especially true when caring for our furry friends. Their digestive systems are extremely sensitive. 

Black Peppers

As for the other ingredients found in lemon peppers black pepper for example is generally considered safe for dogs when given in small amounts but in large quantities black pepper can cause stomach upset in dogs. 

As a result if you are eating a peppercorn-crusted steak or other food heavily seasoned with black pepper you should not feed it to your dog as it may cause complications. 

Lemon Peels

In order to illustrate this point lets use the example of lemon peels. Dogs are very susceptible to injury from lemon peels. 

In small amounts the whole lemon fruit may be safe for dogs but its peel or skin poses a serious choking hazard primarily for smaller breed dogs but not exclusively. 

It is very easy for a large peel to block the gastrointestinal tract which will lead to a whole host of problems.

Favorite lemon pepper dishes: chicken tuna salmon and wings

With the risks of using lemon peppers when feeding your dog put them in place. Now lets get to the fun part! We can cook a wide variety of delicious recipes that our dogs will enjoy as well as ourselves. While there are limitless choices we will focus on just a few of them in this article.

Lemon pepper chicken

It is true that chicken breasts often get a bad reputation for being bland but there are ways to remedy that. With layers of bright fresh flavors (like seasoning your food with lemon pepper) eating healthy can be incredibly easy and delicious.

Lemon pepper tuna

Is something fishy going on? So grab the tuna and make yourself a delicious lemon pepper tuna salad. This makes an excellent healthy non-groggy lunch which can also be paired with bread to make a tasty sandwich. Additionally tuna salad can be served for dinner as well. 

Why lemon pepper chicken wings might be dangerous

The choking hazard should also be considered when feeding your dog these delicious foods. 

Now that humans have opposable thumbs the art (yes the art) of eating around a piece of meats bones is much easier than for mammal counterparts. 

As compared to other meat-loving creatures we can pick and tear at the meat not just with our teeth but also with our hands so eating around any obstacles in our way is easy. 

In particular our dogs since they tend to gnaw on a piece of meat only with their mouths are not so skilled at maneuvering their way around a bone to get at the flesh on its surface. 

They are especially prone to choking because of this. Choking hazards are especially prevalent when dealing with small bones. Chicken wings are one example. Dogs on the other hand lack this luxury making it difficult for them to consume chicken wings. 

Therefore do not give any kind of cooked bones to your dog. 

Aside from the choking hazard they splinter into shards that can cause serious damage to the dogs mouth throat or intestines. Also cooking destroys the bones nutritional content.

It is best to give your dog raw meat bones rather than cooked ones (less likely to splinter) if you insist on giving him bones. 

As a final step put the bone in the refrigerator after it has been in your dogs mouth for 10 to 15 minutes. Do not discard a bone after three or four days as a bone that has been chewed for an extended period will not be as dense and resilient as a fresh bone. 

Whenever you give a dog a bone no matter how large or small be sure to supervise your dog especially if its a large breed such as a German Shepherd Dog Bloodhound or Mastiff.

What other spices can dogs eat?

It is important to point out the spices that are completely safe for our dogs since we have discussed so much about the dangers and pitfalls of certain foods.

The herb basil is a spice that is rich in antioxidants antiviral and antimicrobial properties. It can alleviate the symptoms of arthritis enhance mood and relieve stress and anxiety.

A good alternative is a cinnamon which contains antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It can help to counteract the effects of diabetes.

Additionally who likes the smell of dog breath? Bring on the cinnamon! Cinnamons herbal properties also counter bad breath effects. Your dog and you will benefit from it!

Parsley is another example of a spice your dog can use. This spice is packed with vitamins antioxidants and fiber. Besides improving organ function it eliminates toxins from the body and reduces bad breath just like cinnamon.

Another advantage is that it can be grown in most parts of the United States.

What is the best way for your dog to eat chicken?

You should opt for boneless skinless chicken breast and boil it until its cooked through and the fat has melted. Since bones can be a real hazard for your pup its best to cook them in water (or in a pressure cooker).

It is not advisable to feed your dog raw chicken because of the risk of your dog contracting a bacterial infection such as salmonella. You can serve the chicken on its own mix it into their dog food or even give it to them as a treat.

Can Dogs Eat Lemon Pepper?

We now know that dogs have very sensitive stomachs and that they are not good at adapting to a human diet. All dog owners should take this into consideration if they want their pets to be healthy and happy.

Our friends are only natural to want to be a part of what we love. Also its important to consider that what we love isnot always right for our friends. 

One of the things we love about our dogs is their love of flavorful rich spices. Lemon peppers which we so much enjoy are not the best thing we can give our pets.

They do not need to consume these colors as part of their diet. Some spices such as cinnamon and basil are helpful but most are not.

We should desire the best for our furry friends if we truly care about them. It may not be whats best for them but it may be whats best for us.

Amanda (Author)

With over a decade of experience, Amanda is a distinguished dog trainer. Her expertise in canine behavior has transformed countless lives, fostering harmonious human-canine connections. Through compassionate and personalized approaches, she empowers owners to understand and connect with their furry companions, creating a legacy of joyful tails and transformed lives.

Osvaldo Maciel (Content Reviewer)

Osvaldo Maciel, a stalwart in the field with 14 years of experience, is a revered dog trainer. His journey is defined by a profound understanding of canine behavior, shaping unbreakable human-canine bonds. Osvaldo guides owners to connect with their beloved pets, leaving an indelible mark of happiness and transformation. His legacy shines through the countless lives he has touched.