And what happens if my dog does eat capers?
We don't normally give nutritional advice here, but because we're a dog training company with "capers" in the name, people tend to find our webpage when they've accidentally fed their dog capers, or are maybe considering giving their dog a little taste of the bagel with all the fixin's.
So can your dog eat your bagel with capers, cream cheese, and lox, or no?
No, your dog should not eat capers.
Capers themselves aren't toxic to dogs. Capers are the edible flower buds of the Capparis spinosa plant, which isn't toxic to people or pets, but there's a reason we don't eat fresh capers. They're quite bitter. To make them delicious, we pickle them in a salty, salty brine. And that's where our dogs get in trouble.
Capers have a ton of sodium in them, which is why you shouldn't purposefully feed them to your dog. Too much salt can cause dehydration or, in extreme cases, salt poisoning.
If your dog accidentally swiped something off the coffee table and ate a few capers, there's probably not much to worry about, though you should keep an eye out for signs of an upset stomach or dehydration. If your tiny Chihuahua ate a whole jar of capers, then you might need to call a vet. According to Dogster, it would take around 3-4 ounces of capers to put a 5-pound dog at risk of dehydration or salt toxicity.
When in doubt, if your dog has eaten anything potentially dangerous, you can call the ASPCA's animal poison control hotline, which is available 24/7. It does cost money, but it's worth it for the peace of mind, if, like me, you're an anxious pet parent. One of their veterinary professional will calculate your dog's risk based on their weight, how much they ate, and other factors, and advise you on the next best step, whether that's rushing to an after-hours vet or monitoring them at home.
Your pet insurance might offer a similar service. My plan with Pet's Best does, and I have availed myself of its 24/7 veterinarian chat many times, like when my dog took a big lick of my Nutella toast when I wasn't looking.
If your dog struggles with counter surfing, street snacking, or impulse control around your food, reach out to us for a free consultation! We offer private training in-person in Brooklyn and virtually worldwide, no matter what kind of capers your dog gets up to.