Can Dogs Have Teriyaki Chicken? Here’s 8 Crazy Facts!
Your Guide To: Can Dogs Have Teriyaki Chicken?
Fact checked and reviewed by:
Dr. Joseph Menicucci, DVM, MBA
Let’s agree; teriyaki chicken is a well-spiced-up dish that is a favorite to many. The unique ingredients make it the perfect evening meal when you’re out with your friends or family.
If you haven’t tried it, you’re missing out. And if you’re a little obsessed with the yummy protein, your body is already receiving a lot of nourishment.
The savory protein has two portions. Think of it as two recipes – we have the plain chicken and the teriyaki sauce.
We call it teriyaki chicken because of the flavored sauce. At first, both are prepared differently before the sauce and chicken are cooked together.
So, since the tasty dish is highly seasoned and health-giving, can your dogs have teriyaki chicken? Is it safe for your pet? Let’s answer these questions.
Can Dogs Eat Teriyaki Chicken? Can Dogs Have Teriyaki Chicken?
As we’ve already stated why we call it teriyaki chicken, we will focus on the Japanese sauce. You already know that plain chicken is a valuable protein for your pet.
What about teriyaki? Is it appropriate for dogs? No, it’s not – which means you shouldn’t serve your dog teriyaki chicken.
The sauce contains over five ingredients, and most are harmful to dogs. Even though it can lower your dog’s appetite since it raises calorie supply, some spices are highly poisonous.
So, if you want to share some with your lovely pet, it’s not worth the risk.
Teriyaki is a sauce that’s originally from Japan. It’s now common in several parts of the world. Many people adore it for its unique flavors and appealing smell. It’s usually added to cooked foods like pork, fish, beef, chicken, or vegetables.
Can Dogs Have Teriyaki Beef Jerky?
It depends. If it’s without the tasty sauce, they can. But you’ll have to follow a few considerations. First, jerky is healthy for your pup because of the low-fat content. You can make the dried meat at home or buy it from the store.
However, before your dog starts munching, give him plain beef jerky. Most beef jerky – especially those at the store – has dangerous seasonings.
When prepared at home, the better. Cook it plain – with no salt and additives. And if you’re buying it, always check the label for harmful ingredients like sodium, onion, or garlic. Go for the one with low salt and zero spices. You can consult with your vet first to be safe.
Since one can’t make teriyaki without seasoning, you shouldn’t add it to beef jerky. In short, dogs can’t have teriyaki beef jerky.
Can Dogs Have Teriyaki Beef?
Again, they can’t. They can only consume beef without the salty sauce. Beef is a protein-rich food that might be one of your dog’s favorite meats.
It’s a high-quality protein that maintains muscles, supports growth for your pup, strengthens immunity, and keeps hunger pangs away. Marinating beef with the sauce can cause serious health complications like weakness, convulsions, or tremors.
The harm that the spicy sauce can cause to your dog’s health is not worth attempting. When serving your lovely pet, you shouldn’t add teriyaki to any food. It’s better to play safe than risking the health of your dog.
Love our article on Can Dogs Have Teriyaki Chicken? Keep reading, there’s plenty more to come!
What to Do If Your Dog Eats Teriyaki Chicken?
Different occurrences can happen once your dog consumes chicken with teriyaki. For instance, some dogs might take large amounts – others might ingest small quantities.
Also, some might consume teriyaki that contains more dangerous substances like Xylitol. So, the way you’ll handle all these situations will differ.
Some scenarios might require you to rush to the vet. So, you should know the symptoms. Before we go into detail, you must always be aware of the type of sauce your dog has taken to act accordingly.
Take your dog to the animal hospital if you aren’t sure of the ingredients. This is to be on the safe side and to protect your beloved companion from adverse complications.
If your dog has taken sauce with Xylitol, you must rush to the veterinarian. Xylitol is very dangerous to dogs, and it can cause hyperventilation, hypertension, collapse, or weakness. It does not even matter the amount your dog took.
It can lower your companion’s blood sugar to extreme levels, causing tremors, in-coordination, convulsions, or vomiting. Besides, Xylitol can eventually be fatal to dogs.
If your four-legged companion has consumed some little sauce with no Xylitol, don’t worry. But you have to monitor the symptoms. You don’t have to see your vet – your dog will likely be fine.
Can Dogs Have Teriyaki Chicken? For the symptoms, you will notice vomiting and diarrhea. But this should occur for only some hours. So, if it goes on for a period, there might be a problem.
The third scenario is when your dog ingests a large portion of teriyaki with no Xylitol. In this case, it’s best to seek emergency help instantly. The symptoms in this situation are prolonged vomiting and diarrhea – which can go beyond 24 hrs.
Why Can’t Dogs Eat Teriyaki Chicken?
The main reason is the toxic ingredients in the sweetened sauce – mirin, soy sauce, onion and garlic, ginger, or food colorings. It also contains sugar or xylitol – but one can use them alternatively.
How are these additives detrimental to dogs? Can Dogs Have Teriyaki Chicken? Let’s get into detail.
Soy Sauce
It’s poisonous to dogs because of sodium. It mainly affects puppies since they are vulnerable.
Soy sauce is a popular ingredient that has a high sodium content. Dogs shouldn’t consume foods with too much salt since it can cause sodium poisoning. They only require a small quantity to stabilize electrolytes in their bodies.
What is sodium poisoning? It’s when your pet ingests too much salt – this causes an extreme amount of sodium in the blood.
If it occurs, your dog will have weakness, tremors, confusion, fast heart rate, seizures, or excessive thirst. With such symptoms, take your dog to the veterinary clinic immediately.
Sugar
It’s damaging to dogs when consumed in a large amount. So, you can give your dog foods with very little sugar. However, teriyaki has a lot of sugar. Hence, your dog should avoid it.
Just like us, sugary foods can cause tooth decay in dogs. It also increases the chances of your dog developing hypertension, diabetes, or heart disease.
And if your dog is diabetic or overweight, high sugar can lead to serious health issues.
Garlic or Onion
They are both essential ingredients for preparing the sauce. But they can be toxic to dogs in specific quantities.
When your dog takes teriyaki, it can cause red blood cell damage due to garlic. This consequence might not occur if the garlic is small.
Garlic is poisonous to dogs in high quantities due to a substance known as thiosulfate. On the other hand, onion is also a dangerous ingredient to your pup – especially when you give too much. Since it might be hard to monitor these levels, it’s best to ensure your dog stays away from onions and garlic.
Xylitol
It’s the worst of all ingredients because it can lead to death. Yet not all teriyaki contains xylitol – some have sugar instead.The two additives can substitute each other when making the delicious sauce. Yet, the impact that both have on your pet is different. As we discussed, xylitol can initiate severe health complications in dogs.
It can cause liver failure, convulsions, or tremors after reducing your dog’s blood sugar to life-threatening levels.
Actually, your dog may die within a few hours if they consume the sugar alcohol. This is why you have to act instantly. If you notice the signs we revealed, take your dog to an animal hospital fast.
Can Dogs Have Teriyaki Chicken? Are There Any Safe Options?
No. As long as teriyaki is present in any chicken or food, it’s still unsafe for your dog. Your furry friend can benefit from the tender protein when you serve it without the sauce.
You can boil the chicken with no additives to ensure your dog gets all the vital nutrients.
What Can I Feed My Dog Instead of Teriyaki Chicken?
Try other harmless sauces. Since the Japanese marinade is the issue, look for alternatives. For instance, if you don’t want your dog to consume dry meat, you can use chicken or beef bone broth with little salt. It’s easy to make and is healthy for dogs.
Besides, making your dog’s sauce at home is more secure since you’ll only use natural ingredients that are nourishing. Other good sauces you can use include:
- Apple sauce (unsweetened)
- Carrot or celery juice
- Plain yoghurt (without added sugars or flavorings)
- Beef broth (low sodium)
- Natural peanut butter with no added sugars
Looking For Some Healthy, Homemade Dog Food Recipe Inspiration?
So, Can Dogs Have Teriyaki Chicken? What’s the Verdict?
There’s only one conclusion. Teriyaki chicken is unsafe for your dog and can expose her to danger. Even if some ingredients are okay, the other seasonings are harmful. It’s too risky.
Although you love your chicken flavorful with seasonings, your dog can suffer from the same. If you’re worried your dog won’t enjoy their plain chicken, weigh the consequences.
And this applies to other foods as well. Never pour Teriyaki over any of your pet’s food. If you’re looking for more nutritional advice for your pet, The American Canine Club is a great starting point for all things canine health.
Is Homemade Teriyaki Safe for Dogs?
If it has the usual ingredients for preparing teriyaki – soy sauce, mirin, sugar, or xylitol – it’s a no. Instead, you can make other delicious sauces that are safe for dogs. Your lovely friend will still appreciate it.
