You’ve made some delicious saffron rice and your puppy is begging for some. Should you cave in and give it just a bit?

Absolutely not. Vets recommend not to feed saffron or saffron rice to dogs – no matter how much they beg for it. The volatile compounds and essential oils in saffron could be highly toxic to dogs. 

Don’t worry if your puppy has had a little taste of saffron rice from your plate; it probably won’t cause any serious harm. 

But ingesting a large quantity of saffron or saffron oil (0.5 grams or more) could be harmful to small dogs.

It may even result in symptoms like behavioral changes, loss of appetite, severe nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Your pet might hide or pace around. It may try retching or dry heaving. If these symptoms occur, please call the nearest poison control center, your vet, or an emergency animal clinic.

To ensure your pet will live a long and healthy life, it is always a good idea to invest in pet health insurance. Preparing for the unexpected guarantees money is never an issue in keeping you pup healthy.