Can Dogs Eat Teriyaki Chicken? Can Dogs Eat Teriyaki Sauce?

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One of my favorite flavorings is teriyaki. I love the sweet and savory taste it gives to chicken and other meats like beef jerky.

I’m often eating some around my dog, which sparked my curiosity.

Most of us know that chicken is one of the best sources of lean protein a dog can have in their diet, but does it change things when you cook it in teriyaki sauce?

Can dogs eat teriyaki chicken? Can dogs eat teriyaki sauce?

In short, teriyaki sauce contains high levels of sugar and salt, making it bad for dogs. Many teriyaki sauces include spices like onion powder or garlic powder, which can be harmful to dogs in large quantities. Therefore, dogs should not eat foods with teriyaki sauce, including teriyaki chicken.

In this article, you’ll discover:

Let’s dive in.

What’s Teriyaki Chicken?

Teriyaki chicken is a Japanese dish that’s become popular worldwide. It’s made by marinating chicken in a mixture of soy sauce, mirin, and sugar before cooking it.

The result is juicy, flavorful chicken that’s called teriyaki chicken.

Before serving, most teriyaki chicken is slathered with a coat of teriyaki sauce.

What’s Teriyaki Sauce Made With?

Teriyaki sauce is a sweet, salty Japanese marinade, perfect for chicken, beef, and fish. There are many different ways to make teriyaki sauce, but the main ingredients are soy sauce, sugar, and mirin (a type of rice wine).

Commonly bought teriyaki sauces from the store include artificial additives, ginger, garlic powder, onion powder, and other spices.

Nutrition Facts & Ingredients

One of the most popular teriyaki sauces by Kikkoman contains the following nutrition facts and ingredients:

Serving size 1 tbsp: 15 calories, 610mg of sodium, 2g of sugar, and 1g of protein.

Ingredients: Naturally brewed soy sauce (water, wheat, soybeans, salt), wine, high fructose corn syrup, water, vinegar, salt, spices, onion powder, succinic acid, garlic powder, and sodium benzoate.

Can Dogs Eat Teriyaki Chicken?

So now that we know what teriyaki chicken is made of, can dogs eat it?

The answer is no.

While chicken is perfectly safe for dogs to eat, teriyaki chicken is not. The main reason is the teriyaki sauce.

Most commercially bought teriyaki sauces will have excessive amounts of salt for dogs. For example, just one tablespoon of teriyaki sauce can have over 600mg of sodium.

This is too much for small or big dogs and can lead to health problems like sodium ion poisoning.

The other ingredients in teriyaki sauce, like sugar and corn syrup, can also harm dogs. Dogs metabolize sugar differently than we do, and too much sugar can lead to weight gain and obesity.

The final ingredient to be aware of is the spices in some teriyaki sauces. For example, onion and garlic (fresh, powdered, dehydrated) can be poisonous to dogs which are included in many teriyaki sauces.

While a small amount may not hurt your dog, it’s best to avoid feeding them teriyaki chicken slathered in sauce.

Can Dogs Eat Teriyaki Sauce?

No, dogs should not eat teriyaki sauce. As mentioned before, the salt content in most commercially bought teriyaki sauces is too high for dogs and can lead to health problems.

Teriyaki sauces can have over 600mg of sodium which is way too much for dogs.

Other teriyaki sauce ingredients like sugar, spices, and corn syrup can also harm dogs.

Dogs metabolize sugar differently than we do, and too much sugar can lead to weight gain and obesity.

The final ingredient to be aware of is the spices that contain onion and garlic in any form (fresh, powdered, dehydrated).

These can be poisonous to dogs and should be avoided.

Can Dogs Eat Sugar-Free Teriyaki Sauce?

Sugar-free teriyaki sauce is probably worse for a dog than regular teriyaki sauce. This is because sugar-free teriyaki sauces contain Xylitol.

Xylitol is a sugar alcohol used as a sugar substitute in many sugar-free or “diet” foods.

Xylitol is very poisonous to dogs, and even a tiny amount can cause serious health problems.

Symptoms of xylitol poisoning in dogs include vomiting, lethargy, loss of coordination, seizures, and death in severe cases.

Is It Safe For Dogs To Eat Teriyaki Chicken?

No, it is not safe for dogs to eat teriyaki chicken.

Chicken by itself is safe for dogs, but the teriyaki sauce has high levels of sugar, salt, and spices (specifically onion powder and garlic powder).

All of these ingredients would be found in teriyaki chicken and are not safe for dogs to consume.

The best thing to do is either not feed them any teriyaki chicken or remove all the teriyaki sauce before giving them any chicken.

Is Teriyaki Chicken Bad For Dogs?

Chicken is great for dogs, but it becomes bad for dogs when you cook it in sauce packed with sodium, sugar, and spices.

Here are a few dangers that make teriyaki chicken terrible for dogs:

Too Much Salt

Too much salt is bad for dogs. A dog’s body cannot process the high sodium levels in Teriyaki chicken as humans can.

If they consume too much, they could get salt poisoning. For reference, one tablespoon of teriyaki sauce has 610mg of salt. The recommended daily intake for a 10lbs dog is 30 mg or less, and less than 227 mg for a 75lbs dog.

When dogs eat 2 to 3 grams of sodium per kilogram of body weight, they can develop salt toxicity. This is equivalent to about 0.35 to 0.53 teaspoons of salt for every 2.2 pounds of body weight.

The most common signs of salt poisoning include:

Extreme thirst and urination
High fever
Increased heart rate
Lack of energy, weakness
Loss of appetite
Muscle spasms
Respiratory distress
Convulsions or seizures
Stomach pains
Tongue swelling
Vomiting
Walking without balance
Watery diarrhea

Onion & Garlic Seasoning

Onion powder and garlic powder are a go-to for many seasonings.

In large amounts, these components in teriyaki chicken can be harmful to dogs and cause anemia.

Symptoms of garlic toxicity in dogs include:

Vomiting
Diarrhea
Lethargy and weakness
No appetite
Pale gums
Fainting
Increased heart rate
Difficulty breathing
Ataxia (lack of coordination)
Red or brown discolored urine
Hyper-salivation

Too Much Sugar

Mirin is a rice wine used in many Japanese dishes and an ingredient in teriyaki sauce.

This sweet wine contains about 14% sugar which can lead to weight gain and obesity in dogs.

Combine that with all the other added sugar, and you have a recipe for disaster.

When dogs consume too much sugar, it can lead to health problems such as:

Cavities
Diabetes
Weight gain
Heart disease
High blood pressure
Liver disease

Can Teriyaki Chicken Kill Dogs?

The odds of teriyaki chicken killing a dog is slim, but it could happen.

Suppose your dog ingests too much of any of the ingredients in teriyaki sauce. In that case, it can lead to health problems such as salt poisoning, anemia, weight gain, obesity, or pancreatitis.

It is best to avoid feeding your dog teriyaki chicken or removing the sauce before giving them any chicken.

Other Frequently Asked Questions

Can Dogs Eat Teriyaki Chicken Bones?

No, dogs should not eat teriyaki chicken bones as they can splinter and cause choking or internal damage.

Chicken bones, especially cooked chicken bones, are brittle and easily splinter.

These shards can puncture or get stuck in your dog’s throat, esophagus, or digestive tract, which can cause choking, bleeding, or blockages.

Related Reading: Can Dogs Eat Raw Chicken Gizzards? Benefits & Dangers

Can Dogs Eat Teriyaki Chicken Skin?

No, the skin on the chicken can be problematic for dogs to digest. It’s also the part of the chicken that soaks up most of the butter, salt, and seasoning and contains most of the chicken’s natural fat.

In addition, the teriyaki sauce that would cover the skin just makes thins worse as it contains sugar, salt, and other ingredients that can harm dogs.

For these reasons, teriyaki chicken skin should not be fed to dogs.

Can Dogs Eat Teriyaki Chicken From Buffets?

No, teriyaki chicken from buffets is not safe for dogs to eat.

Regardless of where it comes from, teriyaki chicken should not be consumed by dogs. The teriyaki sauce contains far too much sodium and sugar.

Can Dogs Eat Teriyaki Chicken Wings?

No, teriyaki chicken wings contain breading, bones, and teriyaki sauce. All of which can be harmful to dogs.

Bones can splinter and cause choking or damage to the digestive tract. In addition, the breading is often fried in unhealthy oils and can be difficult for dogs to digest. And, as mentioned before, the teriyaki sauce is high in sugar and salt.

For these reasons, it’s best to avoid feeding your dog teriyaki chicken wings.

Can Dogs Eat Teriyaki Chicken Drumsticks?

No, teriyaki chicken drumsticks are not safe for dogs to eat.

They contain bones and are often covered in a sugary and salty teriyaki glaze, which can harm dogs.

The bones can splinter and cause choking or damage to their digestive tract. In addition, the sugar and salt in the teriyaki glaze can cause an upset stomach or other health issues.

Can Dogs Eat Teriyaki Chicken Without Sauce?

The answer depends. If the chicken is cooked without any seasoning or sauce, it should be safe for dogs to eat in moderation.

However, suppose the chicken is cooked with any type of seasoning or marinade (like teriyaki sauce). In that case, it’s best to avoid feeding it to your dog as the seasonings can be harmful.

Can Dogs Eat Teriyaki Chicken With Kikkoman Sauce?

No, Kikkoman sauce is a teriyaki sauce high in sodium and sugar. It also contains other ingredients like garlic powder and onion powder that can harm dogs.

For these reasons, it’s best to avoid feeding your dog teriyaki chicken with Kikkoman sauce.

Can Dogs Eat Panda Express Teriyaki Chicken?

No, Panda Express teriyaki chicken is not safe for dogs to eat.

Panda Express chicken usually contains additives and preservatives like MSG. Their teriyaki chicken is also high in sodium and sugar.

No fast-food restaurants will have food that is healthy for dogs to eat.