Soy sauce is the most popular soy based product in the Western World, outselling soybeans, edamame, and even tofu. It’s commonly used in an abundance of international-inspired recipes! If we enjoy it so much, would our pups? Can dogs eat soy sauce? Or is soy sauce bad for dogs?
Can Dogs Eat Soy Sauce? (The Short Answer)
No, dogs cannot eat soy sauce. Soy sauce doesn’t have any real nutritional value which already makes it a not-so-great choice for your pup. In addition to nearly no health benefits, it has some big risks associated with it. The main issue with soy sauce is that it has an incredibly high level of sodium in it. Sodium can be very dangerous and cause serious problems for dogs, and can potentially even be lethal. Do your pup a favor and avoid soy sauce completely.
It’s important to remember, that even with the best of intentions, accidents happen and dogs can easily eat things they shouldn’t. Unfortunately, even if those accidents aren’t fatal, they can result in huge, unexpected veterinary expenses. That’s why we recommend all responsible dog owners get a free, online pet insurance quote from Healthy Paws.
Is Soy Sauce Good For Dogs?
We’ve already answered the question, “can dogs eat soy sauce?” Now, let’s learn about the benefits of feeding your dog this food! Is soy sauce good for dogs?
No, soy sauce is not good for our pups. There aren’t many health benefits to soy sauce and the negatives far outweigh the positives. Soy sauce isn’t even healthy for humans, but we use it anyway to add flavor to bland foods. For these reasons, it is unnecessary to add soy sauce to your dog’s food.
Is Soy Sauce Bad for Dogs?
We’ve already answered the question, “can dogs eat soy sauce?” Now, let’s learn about the dangers of feeding your dog this food! Is soy sauce bad for dogs?
Yes, soy sauce is bad for our pups! People commonly think that if humans can eat a certain type of food that it can’t be that bad for our dogs either. This isn’t a good assumption to make at all.
The most concerning issue with soy sauce is the sodium content. In just one tablespoon of soy sauce there are just under 900mg of sodium! The recommended daily intake of sodium for a healthy adult human is less than 2,300 mg per day. So just 2.5 tablespoons of soy sauce would push a full grown adult over their recommended sodium intake for the day. Most Americans eat an average of 3,400 mg of sodium per day, despite the recommended value. Dogs are a lot smaller than most fully grown humans and therefore need a significantly lower quantity of salt in their diet. For example, the average 30 pound dog only needs around 100mg of sodium per day. That means that just one small tablespoon of soy sauce would be nine times over the healthy limit! That is in addition to their normal dog food which also contains sodium.
You may think this is not big deal, as many humans eat more salt than recommended. However, this is not the case. Too much sodium can have very serious effects on dogs. It can easily cause sodium ion poisoning. Sodium ion poisoning is very dangerous. It occurs when dogs eat too much salt and not enough water. It can cause symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and weakness while progressing to more serious symptoms such as tachycardia, respiratory distress, seizures, coma, and even death. For these reasons, it’s best to keep soy sauce far away from your pup.
Other Varieties & Related Foods:
Can Dogs Eat Food With Soy Sauce?
No, dogs should not eat any food with soy sauce. No matter what the food is, soy sauce adds an unhealthy amount of sodium. Additionally, dogs do not need additional flavoring to enhance most food.
Can Dogs Eat White Rice With Soy Sauce?
No, our four-legged friends cannot eat white rice with soy sauce. Plain, cooked white rice (or even quinoa) is okay for your dog to eat, and may even help them if they’re experiencing digestive issues. The addition of soy sauce to white rice makes it wildly unhealthy for our pups and can cause serious health problems.
In Conclusion: Can Dogs Have Soy Sauce?
No, our pups should not have soy sauce. No matter how small of an amount, there is still a large portion of sodium in it which can be incredibly detrimental to your dog’s health. Sometimes the pros outweigh the cons, but in the case of soy sauce this is not true. The negatives can have severe effects and outweigh any potential health benefits of soy sauce. To keep your pup safe, you should avoid giving them any soy sauce. If they happen to eat some on accident, you should seek veterinary advice promptly.
Want to Learn More?
Check out these related articles from our “Read Before You Feed” series for more advice on safe foods for dogs!
- Can Dogs Eat Candy Canes?
- Can Dogs Have Licorice?
- Can Dogs Eat Pretzels?
- Can Dogs Eat Lobster?
- Can Dogs Have Pepperoni?
Disclaimer: We are not veterinarians and this article should not be taken as medical or veterinary advice. If you have any questions about your pet’s health or dietary needs, please contact your local veterinarian.
