Admit it—you love to treat your furry friend as your child and would tend to feed them whatever you’re eating. You’re having steak for dinner? You’ll likely cut a few slices and feed them to your dog (who’s probably waiting under the table).
However, as a pet owner, you need to pay attention to what you feed your pooch. While some human foods are good and healthy for dogs, some can be dangerous. In this article, we will talk about whether your dogs can eat teriyaki chicken.
The short answer to the question is no—your dogs can’t and shouldn’t eat teriyaki chicken. Chicken is healthy for dogs as it’s a great source of protein, but the teriyaki sauce is unsafe and unhealthy for your pet because of the following ingredients:
Soy Sauce
The ingredients found in soy sauce can be dangerous to dogs, especially when taken in large amounts. Soy sauce has high levels of salt, which can cause diarrhea, vomiting, incoordination, and seizures in dogs. Excessive consumption of salt can also cause poisoning in dogs.
Additionally, soy sauce also contains a significant amount of amines, particularly tyramine and histamine. Elevated levels of amines are known to have detrimental effects on the nutrition and palatability of dogs and can also cause food poisoning.
Sugar
Generally, sugar isn’t toxic to dogs. As long as taken in moderation, sugar provides an instant energy boost to your canine friends. However, feeding your dogs with too much sugar can eventually take a toll on their health.
Just like its effect on humans, excessive consumption of sugar can result in obesity and shorten the lifespan of your dogs. Aside from these, sugar can also trigger several health conditions, such as periodontal diseases and diabetes.
Xylitol
Xylitol is used as a sugar substitute in foods and drinks. Although safe for humans, this ingredient is toxic for dogs that even small amounts can cause a severe drop in their blood sugar. Xylitol can also cause seizures, liver failure, and even death in dogs.
The most common symptoms of xylitol poisoning in dogs are vomiting, weakness, incoordination, and collapse. The higher the amount of xylitol your dog has taken, the more severe these symptoms can get.
Garlic
Garlic can make any meal smell and taste delicious, but do you know that this ingredient is toxic for your furry friends? According to studies, consuming around 15 to 30 grams of garlic is harmful enough for dogs. Dogs who are more sensitive to garlic might start showing symptoms even after consuming less.
Consuming garlic can cause hemolytic anemia in dogs. This is a life-threatening condition wherein the body destroys its own blood cells, causing your dogs to tire more easily and have pale gums. Garlic toxicity can also trigger other symptoms, such as diarrhea, abdominal pain, dehydration, and loss of appetite.
What Should You Do When Dogs Accidentally Eat Teriyaki Chicken?
As you can see, the ingredients in teriyaki sauce are harmful to your dogs. Even letting your dogs eat a bite-sized teriyaki chicken can have adverse effects on their health. This is one of the reasons why you should never feed your dog with teriyaki chicken.
If they ever ate teriyaki chicken by accident, take them to the nearest vet as soon as possible. Your vet will induce vomiting to ensure that the food is out of your dog’s system ASAP. The vet will also treat your dog with activated fluids and charcoal to prevent your dog from dehydration.
Are There Any Safer Alternatives To The Traditional Chicken Teriyaki Sauce?
Teriyaki sauce made from traditional Japanese ingredients (soy sauce, sugar, xylitol, and garlic) isn’t safe for dogs. Fortunately, there are healthier alternatives to the recipe. If you want to prepare something special for your furry friends, roll up your sleeves and follow the guide below in preparing a safe teriyaki sauce for dogs.
To create a mock teriyaki sauce for your dogs, you’ll need:
- Six tablespoons of liquid aminos: This ingredient is a healthier substitute for soy sauce. Liquid aminos are proteins in their most basic state. Liquid aminos, especially coconut aminos, are beneficial for dogs as this ingredient can keep their immune systems strong.
- Two tablespoons of honey: Instead of using sugar for creating teriyaki sauce for your dogs, use honey. This ingredient is a safer and healthier alternative as it contains many vitamins and minerals.
- Two tablespoons of rice wine vinegar: Add two tablespoons of rice wine vinegar to add more flavor to your dog-friendly teriyaki sauce. As long as diluted by other ingredients, rice wine vinegar can clean your dogs’ internal organs. The detoxifying properties of rice wine vinegar can ensure that your dogs’ internal organs function better.
- One tablespoon of toasted sesame oil: Because of its high levels of essential fatty acids, toasted sesame oil is also safe for dogs. This ingredient can help maintain your dog’s skin and boost their immune system. Sesame oil also contains heart-healthy fats that can maintain or improve your dogs’ heart health.
- One teaspoon of Arrowroot starch: To thicken the teriyaki sauce, add a teaspoon of Arrowroot starch. This fine powder is low in calories, gluten-free, grain-free, and contains vitamins and minerals essential for your dog’s overall health. Arrowroot starch also alleviates upset stomach, diarrhea, and constipation in dogs.
- One-half teaspoon of ground ginger: Ginger is safe in dogs when taken in small amounts. This ingredient contains healthy antioxidants that can treat gastrointestinal problems and promote blood circulation.
Once you have all of the ingredients listed above, mix everything in a bowl and heat it in the microwave for 30 seconds. Drizzle one teaspoon of the sauce over cooked chicken and let your furry friends enjoy their special meal.
Although all of the ingredients mentioned are safe for dogs, you should still feed them this recipe in moderation. As mentioned, you should only use a teaspoon of the sauce to create teriyaki chicken for your dogs. Giving them too much of the sauce can still harm their health.
Be A Responsible Pet Owner
It’s common for pet owners to want to share their food with their dogs. However, if you want your dogs to stay happy and healthy for years, you should be aware of the foods that may put your dogs’ health at risk. As they say, ‘prevention is better than cure.’
Instead of giving your dogs store-bought teriyaki chicken, prepare a healthier teriyaki sauce from scratch. All of the time and effort you’ll spend in the kitchen will be worth it once you see how happy your dog will be after you feed them your mock teriyaki sauce!