No, dogs should not eat soy sauce because of its high sodium content that can be a health hazard to your dog. If your dog consumes more than a teaspoon of soy sauce, they are at risk of kidney damage or salt poisoning. Salt poisoning causes neurological issues and can be toxic if your dog has eaten an extreme amount.
Vomiting and diarrhea are common difficulties that your dog can face if they consume soy sauce. So, it is best not to serve your dog any food that contains soy sauce.
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What Is Soy Sauce?
Soy sauce is a dark brown liquid condiment of Chinese origin, made from a fermented paste of soybeans, wheat, brine, roasted grains, and Aspergillus oryzae. The mixture undergoes a yeast and saltwater fermentation process that takes six months to a year. As a result, it has a strong umami flavor. Soy sauce in its current form was invented about 2,200 years ago during the Western Han dynasty of ancient China and has also become an international staple in Asian cooking traditions in Korea, Japan, and Southeast Asia.
Is soy sauce safe for dogs?
No, soy sauce is not safe for dogs as they are toxic and salty. They can also lead to serious health issues such as kidney damage, coma, and even death.
Why Is Soy Sauce Bad For Your Dog?
Soy is not toxic for dogs. It is the ingredients of soy sauce that can affect the health of your dog negatively. Let’s take a look at the ingredients and their harmful consequences on dogs:
Sodium
Veterinarians recommend the pet parents not to feed their dogs more than 100 mg of sodium daily. A single tablespoon of soy sauce can hold about 902 mg of sodium, which is above the recommended quantity.
Dogs can experience salt poisoning or kidney failure due to ingesting high quantities of sodium. The symptoms of salt poisoning in your dog are:
Hypertension
Heart issues
Hypernatremia
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Stroke
Tremors
Seizures
Dehydration
Depression
Behavioral changes
Death in severe cases
Keep an eye out for kidney failure signs, which can include:
Blood in the urine
Mouth ulcers
Loss of appetite
Fatigue
Lethargy
Onion or Garlic
Both onion and garlic are toxic to dogs in large amounts. These vegetables can cause your dog vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, intolerance to exercise, weakness, and excessive drooling. Onion and garlic toxicity has the following effects on your pet’s health:
Organ failure
Hemolytic anemia
Heart damage
Death in severe cases
Even small amounts of garlic and onions are lethal to dogs. Hence, it is wise to keep away food from your dogs, such as soy sauce, which contains onions and garlic. Once diagnosed by a veterinarian, treatment for toxicity includes medication, monitoring, oxygen therapy, intravenous fluids, or even a blood transfusion.
Hence, soy sauce is not safe for dogs to consume, as its ingredients are too toxic.
What If My Dog Ate Soy Sauce?
Symptoms to look out for your dog has consumed soy sauce are:
Extremely lethargic
Convulsions
Muscle Spasms
Respiratory Distress
Walking like intoxicated
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Increased thirst
Frequent urination
Seizures or tremors
Convulsions
Nausea
If you notice they are thirsty and urinating a lot, this is a good sign! Drinking a lot of water will aid in flushing out all the excess salt from their body.
Also, keep in mind that kidney failure can be lethal if left untreated. So approach your vet immediately if you observe any of the symptoms mentioned earlier. Based on your dog’s severity and health condition, treatments for kidney failure vary, including medication, intravenous fluids, dialysis, a change in food or diet, and monitoring.
How Much Soy Sauce To Feed Your Dog?
Dogs do not need additional seasonings on their food at all, so it is recommended that soy sauce is not fed to your dog.
Alternatives To Soy Sauce For Your Dogs
Dogs can have soybeans if they are not allergic to them.
Dogs can have tofu only in moderation.
Dogs can drink soy milk in moderate quantities.
There are better healthy alternatives to soy sauce for your dog, which includes:
No, soy sauce is high in sodium and is made of harmful ingredients which can be detrimental to your dog. Consuming soy sauce can lead to kidney failure and salt poisoning in your dog when consumed in higher quantities. So, ensure to keep soy sauce away from your dogs.
