Chinese food has gained popularity worldwide. This particular cuisine is conveniently available almost anywhere and is very flavorful. Making Chinese food from scratch is also easy as you can access how-to articles and tutorial videos online.
But even though Chinese food is flavorful and satisfying for humans, you should think twice before giving any to your dogs. Not all human foods are meant to be shared with your furry friends — some are harmful and can even cause several health conditions and even death.
Chinese food should never be included in your dogs’ diets. The main ingredients of Chinese food are generally safe for dogs, but their additions and preparation methods aren’t. Chinese food is a no-go for your dogs because it contains the following additives:
Sodium Chloride or Salt
If you have ever eaten Chinese food before, you likely noticed how salty it is. And while the human body can easily digest and cope with the amount of salt Chinese food contains, your dogs can’t. Your canine friends have a lower tolerance for salt and only require about 100 milligrams of salt for every 100 calories of food.
On average, Chinese food contains around two to three grams of salt — an amount that’s way over your dogs’ capacity. The high salt content of Chinese food can become the reason why your dogs will experience salt intoxication. This is a life-threatening situation in dogs that cause several symptoms, such as diarrhea, weakness, and seizures.
Monosodium Glutamate or MSG
Also known as Chinese salt, monosodium glutamate is popularly used as an additive in Chinese specials. This ingredient is added to enhance the taste of many Chinese dishes.
Monosodium glutamate contains excitotoxin, a neurotransmitter that tricks the brain by thinking that the consumed food is tasty and filling. This response is often accompanied by dopamine release in the body, creating an overall state of satisfaction and happiness.
MSG also contains an addictive component that blocks the rain from receiving signals from leptin (a hormone that signals the feeling of satiation). Simply put, eating foods that contain MSG will trigger dogs to eat more foods that have MSG.
Also known as the “taste that kills,” MSG is known to cause several health issues in dogs, namely brain damage, liver inflammation, and dysplasia.
Garlic And Onions
Garlic and onions make Chinese food more flavorful and aromatic. However, both of these ingredients are highly toxic to dogs. Garlic and onion both belong to the Allium family and create the same effects in your dogs’ bodies — they damage the red blood cells of your furry friends, which can eventually trigger anemia.
Dogs with anemia will often show signs of fatigue, whitish or pale pink gums, and bruising on the skin (caused by the loss of platelets in their bodies). Anemia can also cause your dogs to vomit blood or have bloody stools.
Sugar
Do you know that Chinese food contains more sugar than salt? For instance, one brown garlic sauce portion has about one-quarter cup of sugar. Although sugar isn’t toxic in dogs, feeding them food with high sugar content can lead to obesity and diabetes.
Spices
Your dogs’ digestive system is highly sensitive and fragile and can’t tolerate as many foods as humans do. For example, humans won’t have any problems digesting spices, but dogs can experience many health problems.
When consumed in small quantities, spices can trigger gastrointestinal upset in dogs, which can cause several symptoms, such as diarrhea, vomiting, lack of appetite, abdominal pain, dehydration, and lethargy. However, in large quantities, spices can irritate the digestive lining of your dogs, causing their ulcers to bleed.
Oils (Used For Deep Frying)
Chinese food is often prepared by soaking it in tons of oils or fats. This ingredient group is harmful to dogs because they trigger short- and long-term consequences.
Giving your dogs food that is high in fats can trigger pancreatitis or gastrointestinal upset. These health conditions can worsen over time and might have lethal consequences when left untreated. Eating high-fat foods can also cause excessive weight gain and obesity in dogs.
Can Dogs Eat Chinese Fried Rice?
No, your dogs can’t eat Chinese fried rice. Plain rice is safe and healthy for your furry friends, but fried rice isn’t because its preparation method includes adding too much oil and deep-frying.
Can Dogs Eat Soy Sauce?
No, your dogs can’t eat soy sauce. One of the biggest reasons why soy sauce is bad for your dogs is because it contains excessive amounts of salt. Aside from this, some dogs are highly sensitive and will likely develop severe allergies when they consume soy. Some non traditional soy sauce recipes also contain toxic ingredients for dogs, like garlic and onions.
How About Teriyaki Chicken?
No, you should never feed teriyaki chicken to your dogs. The sauce of this dish is usually made from soy sauce, garlic, and rice wine, which can trigger stomach upset in your dogs.
Can Dogs Eat Wonton Soup?
No, you should never offer wonton soup to your furry friends. The filling of the Wonton dumpling contains mushroom, soy sauce, cornstarch, seasoning, and pork. Except for pork, all of the ingredients mentioned can be deadly for dogs.
Can Dogs Eat Orange Chicken?
No, your dogs can’t eat orange chicken. The sugar content of oranges can pose a serious danger to dogs, especially diabetic dogs. Consuming orange chicken in large quantities can adversely affect the blood sugar levels of dogs and cause digestive upsets.
Call A Vet For Help ASAP
If you suspect that your dog consumed Chinese food in large quantities, reach out to a vet fast. Depending on the size of your dogs and the amount of Chinese food they ate, one incident is enough for your dog to experience health problems or even death.
Time is of the essence in situations like these, so remain calm and ask help from your vet right away. They’ll provide solutions to ensure that your dogs survive after consuming Chinese food.