Can I give my dog Chinese food

Can Dogs Eat Chinese Food? Vet-Reviewed Facts & FAQ

The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research.

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Dogs and Chinese food can be a tricky combination, but the short answer will be a big No, dogs cannot eat Chinese food. While dogs may love the savory flavors of Chinese food, it is important to remember that most of these dishes are not suitable for them. This article will discuss the safety concerns associated with feeding dogs Chinese food, as well as some tips for ensuring your pup stays healthy and happy when enjoying human food.

Is Chinese Food Safe for Dogs?

Unfortunately, the answer is No. Many of the ingredients in Chinese dishes are not safe for dogs and can even be poisonous. Even if your dog isnt going to die, they could still get sick, and thats no fun for anyone.

Common ingredients such as garlic and onions can cause toxic reactions in your pup if ingested. Flavorings like soy sauce or MSG can cause an upset stomach or even salt toxicity, which can be fatal in some cases. Additionally, dishes that contain uncooked meat can raise the risk of foodborne illnesses in your pet.

Can Dogs Eat Chinese Egg Rolls?

No. Egg rolls are typically fried in oil, making them high in fat and calories, which can lead to digestive issues or weight gain. Additionally, egg rolls often contain garlic and onion, both of which are toxic for dogs. Stick to safe treats like cooked chicken or turkey instead!

Can Dogs Eat Fried Rice?

Again, no. Fried rice is high in fat and sodium and can cause digestive issues or weight gain if eaten in large quantities. Additionally, fried rice often contains garlic and onion, both of which are toxic for dogs. If you want to give your pup a taste of rice, try plain, cooked white rice instead!

Can Dogs Eat Sushi, Shellfish, or Seafood?

No. Dogs should not eat sushi, shellfish, or seafood of any kind. These foods are high in mercury and other toxins that can be dangerous for your pup. Additionally, fish bones can get stuck in the throat or cause internal damage if swallowed.

Can Dogs Eat Baby Corn?

Yes, baby corn is safe for dogs to eat as long as it is cooked. Baby corn should not be eaten raw or with high-sodium sauces like soy sauce.

What If My Dog Eats a Fortune Cookie?

Fortune cookies are generally safe for dogs, but they contain high amounts of sugar which can cause an upset stomach and other health problems. So, its best to avoid giving your pup any at all.

Is It Deadly if My Dog Accidentally Eats a Bit of Chinese Food?

That depends on the ingredients and how much your dog ate. You should call your vet immediately if they ate: garlic, onions, uncooked meats, MSG, or soy sauce. These ingredients are particularly toxic and can cause serious health issues in dogs if not treated quickly.

Youre likely fine if your dog had a small nibble of something like chicken or broccoli. But watch for any signs of illness in your dog even if they only consumed a small amount of Chinese food. And as always, its better to err on the side of caution and call your vet if youre ever unsure.

What to Watch For

If your pup ever does sneak a taste of Chinese food, its important to look out for any signs that they may not be feeling well. Common signs of food poisoning or toxicity include vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, loss of appetite, and changes in behavior. If your dog experiences any of these signs, or anything else that seems unusual after eating Chinese food or any other human food, contact your vet immediately.

Why Cant Dogs Have Soy Sauce?

Soy sauce is high in sodium, which can be dangerous for dogs if ingested in large amounts. It can also cause an upset stomach and other digestive issues. As a result, soy sauce should be avoided when feeding your pup human foods.

Why Cant Dogs Have Undercooked Meats?

Undercooked meats can contain bacteria, parasites, and other pathogens that can cause foodborne illnesses in your pup. Whenever youre feeding your dog human foods, make sure to cook the meat thoroughly before serving it to them.

Why Cant Dogs Eat Onions and Garlic?

Both onions and garlic contain compounds that are toxic to dogs. Ingesting even small amounts of these ingredients can cause severe digestive issues and other health problems in your pup. Its true that some dogs tolerate onions and garlic well on occasion. In fact, there are even natural products for dogs that contain these ingredients. That doesnt mean theyre safe. Theres really no way to make sure your dog isnt the one who gets sick or dies when they eat onions and garlic, so its best to avoid giving them any at all.

What Should I Feed My Dog Instead?

If you want to give your pup a special treat, there are plenty of human-safe foods they can enjoy! A few safe and healthy options include cooked, plain white meat such as chicken or turkey, cooked vegetables like carrots and green beans, rice, applesauce, and peanut butter. Just make sure to avoid seasoning any human food that you give to your dog, and only give it to them as an occasional treat. You can also look for specially formulated savory dog treats that are designed to provide a delicious savory snack without the risk.

Conclusion

The takeaway here is to always be mindful when feeding your pup Chinese food. Dont give into those puppy eyes, and only feed them treats that are safe and healthy. Chinese food is definitely not one of these! Feeding dogs Chinese food is not safe and can even be toxic for them. Keep an eye out for any signs of toxicity or food poisoning and call your vet if youre unsure. Its better to be safe than sorry when it comes to our furry friends!

If you want to give your pup a special treat, there are plenty of human-safe foods they can enjoy. Be sure to check ingredients before giving your pup any human food and monitor them for any signs of distress if they do consume something from the table. Remember to always err on the side of caution if you think your dog has eaten something potentially dangerous and contact a vet as soon as possible. With these tips in mind, your pup can continue to stay healthy and happy!

See also:

Can Dogs Eat Chinese Food? What Science Tells Us!

The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research.

Learn more

No matter what we have on our plates, we have a set of doe eyes silently pleading for just a taste. With something as yummy as Chinese food, its no wonder your dog wants to partake. With aromatic meats and veggies, it is sure to spark any pups appetite.

But is your dog really able to eat Chinese food? Like most human foods, the general answer is no. It isnt a good idea for your dog to have certain items. But lets break it down even further.

Chinese Food Is a Broad Spectrum

Chinese food is a blanket term for all the ethnic dishes in the category. You have everything from Szechuan chicken to vegetable delight.

Each one comes with its special seasonings, sauces, and flavors. So while there are a ton of goodies, Chinese food is typically only great for dogs if the contents are plain, unseasoned, and unflavored.

Dangerous Ingredients in Chinese Food for Dogs

Even though Chinese food has its fair share of doggy-friendly ingredients, like rice, animal, protein, and veggies, it has some potentially irritating and toxic ingredients, too.

Here are some of the most common:

Garlic

Garlic, part of the allium family, is highly toxic to dogs. The small amount they would get in Chinese food might not be enough to cause a vet visit, but it can cause gastrointestinal upset and discomfort.

Onion

Like garlic, onions are also part of the allium family. If your dog eats onions, it can cause nausea, vomiting, and an upset stomach. Often, Chinese food has diced onions in the recipe.

Spices

Dogs can be incredibly sensitive to certain spices and peppers. Often, Chinese food has a little kick to it. Sometimes there are whole cayenne peppers in dishes such as Szechuan chicken. Spices and peppers can really upset your dogs gastrointestinal tract.

Sodium

The sodium in a Chinese food dish will not be enough to kill your dog, but its not good for them either. Your dogs have an adequate amount of salt in their diet from their standard commercial recipes.

MSG

In small amounts, MSG is perfectly fine. It is a type of salt found in many Chinese dishes. However, it can cause gastritis and contribute to ulcers if consumed in large quantities.

What Dogs Can Eat

You can toss your dog a thing or two if you have Chinese takeout. We highly recommend feeding your dog only plain items with no additional seasonings or sauces.

Plain Rice

Plain rice is an ingredient found in many fresh and commercial dog foods. It is an excellent carbohydrate source and makes for a filling snack. So, if you have some white rice on hand, you can let your dog have a bite or two.

Plain Veggies

If you have a dish of veggies with no additional sauces or seasonings, you can give them a piece, permitting it is not something upsetting to the system.

Plain Meat

If you offer your dog any Chinese food dish that has plain meat, you need to make sure its not breaded, and it isnt drenched in sauce.

Will Chinese Food Hurt Your Dog?

If you choose to give your dog a helping of Chinese food, you probably wont have to go to the vet. However, it can cause some unsavory symptoms like nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting.

Some people choose to give their dogs leftovers regardless of the potential downfalls. So if you are aware that your dog could be uncomfortable and even sick after consuming it, that is your call as a pet parent.

Here, we recommend something other than feeding your dog table food if you can help it.

Conclusion

While there might be some pretty terrific ingredients in Chinese food, you should steer clear of giving it to your dog. Chinese food has a lot of additives that could potentially upset your dogs gastrointestinal tract and cause bad reactions.

However, if you do allow your dog to sample your takeout, its best to feed them only plain items to avoid a negative experience.

See also:

Featured Image Credit: JumpStory

What to Do if Your Dog Has Eaten Chinese Food (Chinese Food Poisoning Symptoms)

Even though Chinese food usually contains some ingredients that are good for dogs, like chicken and vegetables, you should never let your pup eat your leftover takeout. If your dog just wolfed down a big plate of Chinese food, keep reading to find out what you should do

Why Chinese Food Is Bad for Dogs

The simple explanation for why Chinese food is bad for dogs is its way too salty and spicy for them. Even though the noodles, rice, meat, veggies, etcetera probably pose no risk, the spices and sauces can make your dog sick, and could even be potentially fatal.

Garlic and Onions

Garlic, onions, and other members of the allium family, such as leeks and scallions, are common ingredients in Chinese cooking. Not only are these ingredients used in many dishes, Chinese restaurants tend to use a lot in their recipes.

Alliums are toxic to dogs, with garlic being the most potent of the family. Although most dogs would have to consume a massive amount to actually kill them, a small portion can still make them sick.

Salt and MSG

Most Chinese dishes contain a lot of sodium. Dogs do not have the same tolerance for high salt intake like humans do. The RDA of sodium for small to medium sized dogs dogs around 30 lb is about 200mg. To put that in perspective, the vast majority of Chinese food contains 2 to 3g of salt per dish 10 times the amount!

Sugar

Believe it or not, some Chinese dishes are just as sugary as they are salty, and sugar is also bad for dogs. For example, a typical recipe for brown garlic sauce contains almost a quarter cup of sugar.

Fat

Many Chinese dishes are deep fried or stir-fried in vegetable oil. Vets advise against feeding dogs fried foods because it can inflame their intestines.

Capsaicin

Lots of Chinese dishes contain spicy peppers, which contain capsaicin, the chemical that makes them hot. Capsaicin effects dogs the same way it effects people, and it can cause them a great deal of discomfort and inflammation.

When you combine all these harmful ingredients in one dish, it can be a real recipe for canine illness.

Dont Panic

Before you begin hyperventilating, you should know your dog is probably going to be fine, so you should remain calm. In fact, theres a good chance your dog will vomit the Chinese food theyve just consumed before they even digest it. If your dog does throw up the undigested food, you have nothing to worry about.

Monitor Your Dogs Water Intake

After your dog has consumed a large amount of Chinese food, its important that you pay close attention to how much water they are drinking. The salt from the Chinese food can make them dehydrated and thirsty, but if your dog drinks too much water too quickly, it can cause bloat, which is potentially fatal.

As a general rule of thumb, dont allow your dog to drink more than a few ounces of water per hour after ingesting Chinese food, or any other salty food for that matter.

Symptoms of Toxicity

To determine whether or not you need to take your dog to a vet, you need to observe them closely for the symptoms of toxicity. Primarily, youll be looking for the symptoms of allium toxicity, which would be the greatest threat in this scenario.

• Lethargy
• Rapid heart rate
• Rapid breathing
• Pale gums and mucus
• Dehydration
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea

Size Matters

Large dogs can tolerate foods that are bad for them much better than small dogs. If you have a small dog, and they ate a large quantity of Chinese food a human-size serving or more your safest bet is to take them to a vet. A large dog, like a German Shepherd could eat an entire head of garlic, and they probably would be fine; but a small dog, like a Chihuahua, could get very ill from that same amount or less.

References:

Dana Dovey (March 15, 2018). Some Chinese-food Meals Have More Salt than Five Big Macs. Retrieved from https://www.newsweek.com/high-salt-uk-chinese-food-beef-noodles-847025

Connie K. All-Purpose Stir-Fry Sauce (Brown Garlic Sauce). Retrieved from https://www.food.com/recipe/all-purpose-stir-fry-sauce-brown-garlic-sauce-87748

Wag!. Can Dogs Feel Heat from Peppers? Retrieved from https://wagwalking.com/sense/can-dogs-feel-heat-from-peppers

Jason Jensen is the founder of idreamofdoggies.com. He is a professional writer, experienced doggy-daddy, and longtime animal rights advocate.

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