Can Dogs Eat Soy Sauce?
Soy sauce is a popular addition to Japanese and Chinese foods! It is used to add flavor, provide seasoning, and food coloring. In addition, it is the base of your favorite Japanese sauce—the teriyaki sauce! While it is an excellent addition to your food, soy sauce might not be ideal for your pet. Here are a few insights you need to keep in mind.
What Is Soy Sauce, and What Are Its Ingredients?
Soy sauce is a liquid condiment that adds flavor, texture, and coloring to Asian food. Its main ingredients are soybeans, sodium, wheat, and fermenting products, and most of these components are toxic to your dog.
For instance, yeast can cause life-threatening health complications, including bloating and alcohol poisoning. Since this element will likely rise in warm and moist environments, expect your dog’s stomach to expand after ingestion.
Soybeans are an excellent source of proteins for a growing dog. However, they must be heat treated to guarantee maximum health rewards.
On the other hand, continued exposure to wheat can be harmful to your dog. It contributes to allergic reactions, including skin irritation, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Is Soy Sauce Good For My Dog?
No. Soy sauce is packed with sodium, which causes sodium poisoning in dogs. One serving of soy sauce contains approximately 902 mg of salt, almost five times the amount a 33-pound dog should consume in a day.
Ingesting too much salt exposes your pet to excessive thirst, diarrhea, vomiting, lethargy, and incoordination. In severe cases, your dog will likely suffer seizures, coma, tremors, neurological concerns, and fatality.
Soy sauce could also contain garlic and onions, which are toxic to dogs when consumed in large quantities. These ingredients trigger abdominal pain, drooling, lethargy, weakness, and diarrhea in dogs. Besides, in extreme cases, garlic and onions could encourage anemia as they destroy red blood cells.
Health Implications Of Soy Sauce
Immediate medical attention is necessary once your dog eats soy sauce. Ingesting this liquid condiment triggers the following symptoms:
- Increased thirst
- Frequent and unusual urination
- Tremors, seizures, and muscle weakness
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Spasms in the muscles
- Respiratory complications and convulsions
- Incoordination
In extreme cases, soy sauce can cause kidney failure. This health issue has the following symptoms:
- Blood-stained urine
- A significant decrease in appetite
- Stumbling and incoordination
- Restlessness
- Mouth ulcers
Regardless of how mild the symptoms seem, consult your local vet for further advice. This professional will provide insights into how to help avoid fatality.
What Should I Do After My Dog Eats Soy Sauce?
Monitor your dog to establish the symptoms mentioned above. Whether mild or extreme, reach out for immediate medical assistance to help avert fatality. Meanwhile, you can give your dog enough water to help flush out the toxins.
Final Thoughts
While soy sauce is a perfect addition to your Japanese or Chinese food, it is unsuitable for your dog. This condiment can trigger sodium poisoning, kidney failure, and anemia in dogs. Avoiding it altogether will help. However, if this does not suffice, consider immediate medical help.