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Summary: “Can dogs have gherkins?” In this blog, we’ll learn whether gherkins are safe, bad or good for dogs…
Pickles are preserved cucumbers. Now, we know that dogs can benefit from eating cut up pieces of cucumber… But does that mean pickles are also safe for dogs to consume?
Can Dogs Eat Gherkins?
While gherkins/pickles aren’t necessarily toxic to dogs, veterinarians don’t tend to recommend feeding them to our canine friends. Gherkins are high in sodium, which isn’t great for any dog and are usually stored in salt-water brines flavoured with spices and vinegar – these can be incredibly problematic for a dog.
The spices in the brine water are what can cause an issue for your dog. The brine can include garlic, onion, sugar, chillies and other hot spices which can all make your dog very unwell, particularly garlic and onion which are known to be toxic to a dog.
These salt-water brines are also very high in salt which can lead to dehydration, vomiting, diarrhoea and difficulty balancing in dogs.
If your dog does get hold of a pickle or two, make sure they have access to clean, fresh water as the pickle will most likely make them very thirsty. Then, watch your dog for any signs of digestive discomfort or unrest.
If you know what seasonings are in the brine of the pickle your dog managed to get a hold of and if you know any of the ingredients are toxic to dogs, you may want to contact your vet before any signs start to show.
You should call your vet if your dog is a puppy or a toy/teacup breed regardless if any digestive distress is on display or not.
Sources
Author Anastasio, Alexandra “Can Dogs Eat Pickles?” American Kennel Club, Sept 01. 2022 https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/advice/can-dogs-eat-pickles
Author Dr Miller, Andrew MRCVS “Can Dogs Eat Gherkins?” Pure Pet Food https://www.purepetfood.com/help/can-dogs-eat-gherkins
