A life without your dog is also a kitchen without soy sauce.
Soy sauce has been one of the finest condiments the world has ever known.
Alongside the sweetness of ketchup, soy sauce is a clear frontrunner for dishes that need a little extra flavor added to them.
For instance, soy sauce adds more life to the barbecue sauce and makes a great dipping sauce for egg rolls.
More importantly, soy sauce is also a great complement to beef and other meat dishes.
But have you ever wondered about having this food as a treat or meal for your dogs? Or having this food fed and be part of your dog’s diet?
So, it’s time to reinvent things and put them into place. This article allows you to discover the suitability of soy sauce as your dog’s meal by checking its nature, food family, benefits, and health hazards.
Not just that, we crafted ways for you on how to prepare soy sauce in the safest, best practices for feeding!
What is Soy Sauce?
Soy Sauce is a widely known condiment made from a fermented paste of boiled soybeans, roasted grain, brine, and yeast.
Soy Sauce is recognized as a staple in Japanese cooking due to its rich umami flavor. In addition, it contains naturally occurring sodium which will add some saltiness to food while providing carbohydrates for energy.
Though the label might not list it on the back label, you will notice a small amount of alcohol in the product.
Moreover, soy sauce helps enhance dishes, including meat, poultry, seafood, and vegetable dishes.
Food family of Soy Sauce
Soy sauce belongs to the food family of Fermented Foods.
Fermentation is the process of decomposing organic substances by bacteria, yeasts, or other biological agents which produce various products like alcohols and acid.
The fermentation process not only breaks down complex food molecules into simpler ones but also makes bacteria easier for your digestive system to absorb into your body.
As a result, you will start to absorb more nutrients from the food you eat.
According to the USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference SR-21, one tablespoon of Soy Sauce contains 170 mg of sodium.
It also provides an additional 70 calories from the carbohydrate content.
Furthermore, current research has shown many benefits to human soy sauce when consumed in moderation and as part of a well-balanced diet.
Can dogs eat Soy Sauce?
Your dog can eat soy sauce. However, your dogs don’t need to eat soy sauce.
As mentioned earlier in the article, soy sauce contains sodium, which adds saltiness to your dog’s food while providing carbohydrates for energy.
As a result, there are no benefits of feeding soy sauce to your dogs.
Despite the lack of benefits, giving your dog soy sauce in moderation will not cause any harm to their health.
It is always best to refrain from adding extra salt and carbohydrates into their diet to avoid the formation of obesity or diabetes later on in life if given too much.
Additionally, a small amount of soy sauce will not cause your dog to get drunk after consumption.
However, a large amount can make your dog become intoxicated and experience alcohol poisoning.
To achieve your dog’s memorable eating experience, we listed the best ways to feed your dog with soy sauce:
Best Ways to Feed your Dogs with Soy Sauce
Mix soy sauce with cooked rice
Mixing some soy sauce with cooked rice and serving them as a side dish will provide you with great satisfaction while giving your dogs an unforgettable treat.
You may add some chicken meat or beef meat to the mixture while cooking.
Mix soy sauce with dog-friendly vegetables
Adding some soy sauce on top of cooked carrots, green beans, or broccoli will provide your dogs with an unforgettable treat and make their veggies more palatable.
You may also add some meats for additional flavor while enjoying a healthy side dish at the same time.
Hence, you’re not only giving your dogs a healthy meal but also a delicious treat.
Mix soy sauce with dog-friendly fruits and meatballs
You may mix some soy sauce in cooked apples or bananas together with ground beef to form small balls for your dogs as an extra delight.
Your dogs will surely love this creative way of feeding them! Mixing the fruit’s sweetness while adding soy sauce will provide your dogs with a memorable treat.
Mix soy sauce with dog-friendly meats
Giving your dogs some meat dishes marinated in soy sauce will provide them with an unforgettable treat.
You may add vegetables like carrots, potatoes, or green beans to the mixture for better nutrition and added taste while enjoying a healthy side dish at the same time.
Reasons Why Dogs Can Eat Soy Sauce
Do you ever wonder how soy sauce can shape your dog’s health? Well, we asked, too. We may see soy sauce as a spice, but this food can also spice up your dog’s status.
Furthermore, below are some health benefits that your dog acquire from eating soy sauce:
Soy sauce is rich in nutrients that can promote better bone health.
As mentioned earlier, soy sauce contains minerals like manganese and calcium. They are essential for the formation of healthy bones.
Hence, it is essential to include soy sauce in your dog’s diet if you wish them to have strong bones when they grow older.
It boosts the immune system.
Soy sauce contains zinc, copper, and selenium. They are essential minerals that support your dog’s immune system when they get exposed to bacteria or other harmful substances in their surroundings.
Hence, giving them soy sauce will help fight off any infections, so you don’t have to worry about diseases affecting the rest of their lives.
Soy sauce can help them maintain their ideal weight.
Just like us, our dogs need to stay in good shape even when they are getting older. The best way for this is through a healthy diet with low intakes of carbohydrates and fats.
Adding soy sauce into your dog’s food adds some saltiness while providing carbohydrates that will promote energy.
The combination will not cause any harm to their health when given in small amounts.
It can reduce the chances of having cancer.
The antioxidants in soy sauce play a vital role in preventing cancers by fighting off free radicals responsible for causing degenerative diseases like cancer.
Hence, it is essential to include this food in your dog’s daily meals.
Possible Concerns When Eating Soy Sauce
The best food may become the worst nightmare for your dogs. And it’s always the bitter truth for dog owners to be aware that soy sauce also has adverse effects on our dogs.
If you have no idea where to begin, we list down some possible health concerns when eating soy sauce:
It may increase the chances of having high blood pressure.
Soy sauce contains salt. And too much intake can cause your dog to develop hypertension and affect your dog’s kidneys in the long run.
Hence, it is vital that you give them soy sauce only in small amounts or not at all if possible!
Excessive ingestion of soy sauce may lead to obesity.
As mentioned earlier, soy sauce contains carbohydrates. And too much intake of such substances may lead to your dog becoming obese and developing diabetes in the long run.
Hence, you must limit their carbohydrate intake by feeding them low-calorie foods that will not cause further harm to them if they already have this condition!
It may cause gastrointestinal problems.
Aside from salt, soy sauce also contains garlic and onion. However, it is essential to note that both components are toxic and come from natural or artificial sources.
Hence, it will be best to give your dogs food marinated with soy sauce only on special occasions.
Signs your dog is sick from eating Soy Sauce
Before more extensive problems exist like high blood pressure, gastrointestinal issues, and weight issues, the signs of sickness may manifest first.
Here, your dog may act unusually, which could confuse whether or not they’re playful to you. But, if you spot symptoms listed below, it implies an emergency:
Increased thirst and urination
Soy sauce is rich in sodium. And too much intake of such a substance will cause your dog to lose more water than your dog’s average intake, thus creating an imbalance that may lead to increased thirst and frequent urination.
This symptom means it’s time for you to give your dog a lot of freshwaters so they can flush the sodium out of their system!
Throwing up
The salt in soy sauce may not be suitable for your dog. It has a high chance of causing vomiting after they eat it.
If you notice them throwing up, take note that it must have been due to overeating soy sauce and nothing else!
Hence, stop giving them this food for now and consult your vet soon.
Skin lesions
Soy sauce contains garlic and onion in its ingredients. And when your dog ingests too much of these components, it might develop skin issues like rashes, inflammation, or redness on the surface of its skin.
It is best to give them food without adding soy sauce anymore!
What to do if your dog is sick from eating Soy Sauce?
We advise you to bring your dog to the nearest vet clinic if your dog suffers from signs of sickness.
Don’t just overlook it; beware that the more you suppress your dog from getting a vet consultation, the more extensive, crucial problems arise.
So, when you have delivered your dog to the vet clinic, tell the medical professional everything you observe from your dog.
In addition, give them detailed information about their daily meals and make sure to relay all signs of sickness they have shown.
Here, your dog undergoes some tests to identify the underlying cause of their sickness. And usually, your vet will give you some prescriptions that might ease up their condition, like giving them water with electrolytes or IV fluids in case they’re dehydrated!
As for the food intake, if it is found out that soy sauce was indeed what caused this illness, most probably, switching to low-sodium food will be the only solution your vet proposes.
Just remember to stick with your vet’s advice to have your dog fully recover from this sickness!
Avoid similar foods from this family.
Oyster Sauce
Oyster sauces trigger similar effects to soy sauce. It also contains high concentrations of carbohydrates and salt that can be harmful to your dog’s health if consumed in large quantities.
Hence, it is best not to give them this food as well!
Fish Sauce
This one is just like soy sauce minus the garlic and onion components. Still, you don’t want your dog to have too much intake of salt from fish sauce.
So, it is best if you avoid feeding them this ingredient in their meals as well!
Sugar
Dogs can also develop health issues when they eat sugar by itself or with other components like coffee and tea that contain high amounts of caffeine.
It will cause your dog to become hyperactive that may lead to diarrhea, loss of appetite, seizures, and even death.
And since sugar is addictive, your dog will likely want more so they can get the ‘high’ feeling again!
How to Make Soy Sauce Safe To Eat
It is in your hands that we shape your dog’s health. Therefore, your actions matter, and it begins by being aware and conscious of the food you feed your dog.
Your dog may not demand what they want, but you, as a dog owner, can understand what to avoid.
For efficient feed practices, here are recommended ways in making soy sauce safe to eat for your dogs:
Switch to a low-sodium food
Instead of giving them soy sauce, you can switch to low sodium dog food. It is the safest option for your furry friend!
Or, if they want some saltiness in their meals, give them fish or oyster sauce since it has lower concentrations than soy sauce and doesn’t contain any garlic and onion.
Feed them in moderation
Even if you have chosen healthy options for your dog, it does not mean that you can feed them with soy sauce often!
The more they consume this food, the higher the risk of getting sick, so monitor their intake correctly and let it turn into an addiction.
Give them fresh ingredients instead.
If you want to make their food tastier, give them some fresh fruits and vegetables! It will improve the taste of your dog’s meal and aid in their digestion process.
Plus, points for giving them something healthier than soy sauce!
Soy Sauce should be avoided in large amounts.
Due to the highly salty composition of soy sauce, pet owners should avoid giving their dogs a considerable amount.
Since most pets have a low tolerance for salt in general, they will get sick if given too much at once!
In addition, since this food has been known to contribute significantly to damaging the kidneys and liver through its high concentration of sodium, it is best to avoid giving large doses regularly.
Key Takeaways
We couldn’t even imagine how condiments could take part in our dog’s diet. But, aside from ketchup, the great discovery of soy sauce has changed the kitchen’s face.
Soy sauce adds more life to every other sauce. And, of course, this condiment can be part of your dog’s diet, too!
Can dogs eat soy sauce? Definitely, yes! Soy sauce is best mixed with cooked rice, dog-friendly vegetables, fruits, meatballs, and mats.
Suppose you may wonder how this condiment shapes your dog’s health. In that case, soy sauce is rich in nutrients promoting better bone health, essential minerals that support your dog’s immune system, carbohydrates keeping your dog’s ideal weight, and free radicals to suppress the formation of cancer cells.
Soy sauce could be your dog’s nightmare. When you overfeed this food to your dog, possible health concerns may arise like high blood pressure, obesity, and gastrointestinal problems.
With this, you may catch your dogs having increased thirst and urination, throwing up, and suffering from skin lesions.
So, we always advise you not to overlook any health problems and bring your dog immediately to a vet as much as possible.
Nevertheless, you may feed this food safely by switching to low-sodium food, providing soy sauce in moderation, giving your fresh dog ingredients instead, and avoiding feeding in large amounts.
We hope this article helps you! Love your dogs more!