Ask Dr Claire

My dog has eaten a piece of chilli off the pizza and she’s licking her lips and coughing. What should I do?

Toxicity would not be expected from a chilli from a pizza. I would expect your pup would mostly be dealing with the oral discomfort. The licking of the lips suggests this is the case for her.

If she will not drink water, you can try milk (or other dairy- a small amount, diluted with water as dogs are not lactose tolerant). Milk is supposed to be the best ‘cure’ for the burn of chilli so worth a try!

If she is increasing in her discomfort, or showing signs of nausea – such as vomiting, take her straight to your local vet for a hands-on examination and appropriate treatment.

If you’d like to chat in person, you can book a live video call or start a chat to discuss in more detail, as soon as possible.

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Chat soon,
Dr Claire