Gochujang (Korean red pepper paste)
CautionGochujang packs capsaicin, salt and syrup into one paste. Dogs do not enjoy heat; they respond with drooling, retching, vomiting, diarrhea and hard drinking. Versions containing garlic add a second, slower hazard.
This food guide has not been reviewed by a veterinarian. It summarises general information from sources and should not be used to decide whether a food is suitable for an individual dog or to assess an emergency.
Check before feeding
Check the precautions before sharing
Risk depends on preparation, ingredients or amount. Read the precautions below; body weight alone cannot establish a safe portion.
Signs and health concerns
This list includes both observable signs and conditions identified through examination or testing. It cannot establish the cause or whether an exposure is safe.
- Excessive salivation
- Gagging
- Retching
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Abdominal pain
- Increased thirst
- Increased urine volume
- Mouth irritation
- Pale gums or mucous membranes
- Haemoglobin in urine
More about this food
A dog that licks gochujang is rarely in immediate danger. That does not make it a food to watch and wait on, because a single spoonful carries three different burdens.
First, capsaicin. The compound that makes chili flake hot binds pain receptors in the mouth, esophagus and stomach lining directly. People choose to enjoy that; for a dog it is simply pain. AKC is blunt that spicy pepper varieties such as jalapenos and chili peppers should never be given to dogs. The response comes on immediately to within a few hours: heavy drooling, lip smacking, retching, frantic drinking, then vomiting and diarrhea. A dog that paws at its face spreads the irritant to its eyes.
Second, salt. Gochujang runs roughly 5-7% salt depending on the brand. Merck puts salt toxicosis in dogs at 2-3 g/kg with an acute lethal dose near 4 g/kg. A tablespoon of paste (about 18 g) holds roughly 1 g of salt, so two tablespoons puts a 4 lb (2 kg) dog at about 1 g/kg. One lick will not cause acute salt poisoning, but thirst and increased urination are likely, and any dog on a sodium-restricted cardiac or renal diet has no room for it.
Third, what is mixed in. Chogochujang (the vinegared dipping sauce), stir-fried gochujang, bibim sauce, tteokbokki sauce and Korean fried chicken glaze almost always contain garlic. Merck notes allium toxicosis follows cooked, dehydrated and granulated garlic as readily as raw, and that garlic is 3-5 times more potent than onion. That adds a second clock: red-cell damage starts within 24 hours, but hemolysis usually appears at 3-5 days as pale gums, weakness, jaundice or dark urine. Gochujang is also heavily sweetened with rice or corn syrup, so it is calorie-dense as well.
Note the type, the amount, the time and your dog's weight, then call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435. Leave plenty of fresh water down and do not restrict water after a salty ingestion. Do not induce vomiting at home; bringing capsaicin back up irritates the esophagus a second time. Wipe paste off the muzzle with running water or a damp cloth and keep your dog from rubbing its eyes. If garlic was in the sauce, check gum and urine color daily for five days even if nothing happens tonight.
Frequently asked questions
- He licked some gochujang and now he is drooling nonstop.
- That is capsaicin irritating the mouth, and it usually settles within a few hours. Let him drink freely, wipe the muzzle with a damp cloth, and keep him from rubbing his face. Call your veterinarian if vomiting repeats, diarrhea continues or he becomes lethargic.
- My dog got into tteokbokki.
- Tteokbokki sauce adds garlic to the gochujang, and the rice cakes themselves are sticky enough to lodge in the throat of a dog that gulps. Call your veterinarian with the amount, the time and your dog's weight, and if garlic was involved, watch gum and urine color for 3-5 days.
- Should I give milk to cool the burn?
- No. Dogs lack enough lactase to handle much dairy, so milk tends to add diarrhea to an already irritated gut. Fresh water is the better option, and if signs persist, call your veterinarian rather than trying remedies at home.