As a general rule, dogs should not be given people food, because it is simply not compatible with their digestive systems. However, any dog owner knows that keeping a dog away from the garden, the trashcan, and the kitchen counter during food preparation can be quite a challenge. Dog owners have to be especially cautious of their dogs ingesting something that is potentially dangerous. Though many plants are toxic to dogs, jalapenos are not.

There are a limited number of ways in which a dog could be tempted with jalapenos. You may be growing the pepper in your garden, you may have ordered pizza delivered with complimentary jalapenos in the box and threw the box out where the dog can reach it, or you may deliberately feed a jalapeno to your dog. In any case, most dogs shy away from jalapenos altogether or briefly taste them and spit them out.

If a dog happens to ingest an entire jalapeno pepper, he is likely not in any immediate danger, but he will be affected by its compounds just like a person. He might begin to sneeze, desperately lick his chops, and frantically search for water. If your dog has eaten jalapenos, make sure he has plenty of water to drink.

Depending on the tolerance of your dog’s digestive system, she may vomit subsequent to ingesting jalapenos. You may want to keep an eye out to protect your carpet or furniture. Dogs often eat grass if their stomachs are upset, so look for that sign as well. Be sure to continually keep a plentiful supply of water in your dog's dish.

Though jalapenos are not toxic to dogs, dogs should not be encouraged to eat them. Even if your dog seems to enjoy them, jalapenos are not treats. For the overall health of your dog, you should feed her only dog food and offer only dog treats. Too much people food promotes weight gain that can become unhealthy for your dog’s heart and other organs, and the pancreas can also be affected. For the health of your dog and to increase his longevity as your loyal friend, always stick to dog food.