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Can Dogs Eat Teriyaki Sauce? Vet-Approved Facts & FAQ

Rachel Giordano

By Rachel Giordano

Can Dogs Eat Teriyaki Sauce

Vet approved

Dr. Lauren Demos  Photo

Reviewed & Fact-Checked By

Dr. Lauren Demos

DVM (Veterinarian)

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

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Teriyaki sauce is a yummy addition to many dishes, such as chicken, ribs, salmon, and fish. Teriyaki sauce includes various ingredients that give the sauce its unique flavor, and you can either make it yourself or buy it in a store. However, for dog owners, you may wonder if you can give your dog a bit of something that has teriyaki sauce in it.

Unfortunately, you should avoid giving your dog anything with teriyaki sauce due to its ingredients, many of which are harmful to dogs. Let’s delve deeper into this topic to learn more, as well as tips for a healthy diet for your canine fur baby.

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What Ingredients Are in Teriyaki Sauce?

If you love teriyaki sauce, you know it’s a flavor explosion when eaten. Dogs would undoubtedly love to share this delicious sauce with you and even may look on in disappointment when you don’t share! However, the fact is teriyaki sauce has too many harmful ingredients 1 for dogs to enjoy safely. Let’s take a look at the harmful ingredients the sauce has to give you some insight into just how unsafe the sauce is for dogs.

  • Garlic
  • Onion
  • Sodium
  • Seasonings
  • Sugar
  • Salt
  • Xylitol 2
Teriyaki Sauce
Photo Credit: zoryanchik, Shutterstock

Why Should Teriyaki Sauce Be Avoided?

Given the potentially toxic ingredients in teriyaki sauce, we cannot recommend you give your dog any of it, even in a small amount. A very small amount may not cause any problems in larger, healthy dogs, but the risk is not worth the try—this is especially important if the sauce contains xylitol. Xylitol is a sugar substitute found in many products and is extremely toxic to dogs 3. Other toxic ingredients most often found in teriyaki sauce are garlic and onion which should always be avoided.

Even if your dog laps up a tiny bit of sauce, you should monitor for signs of toxicity. If the sauce has xylitol, it’s imperative to contact your veterinarian ASAP for treatment. Dogs with health issues, such as underlying health problems or gastrointestinal issues, may develop more problems from just a little of the sauce as opposed to a healthy dog. In short, it’s best to avoid this sauce altogether for the safety of your dog.

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Tips for a Healthy Diet for Your Dog

Feeding your dog a complete and balanced diet is essential for their overall health. As you can see, giving your dog teriyaki sauce has no nutritional value and can even make your dog sick—if the sauce has xylitol and they eat enough of it, it can be fatal. Always aim to provide high-quality dog food with quality ingredients, and limit treats to account for 10% of your dog’s daily diet.

labrador dog eating from the feeding bowl
Photo Credit: Monkey Business Images, Shutterstock

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Final Thoughts

Teriyaki sauce is a delicious addition to many dishes, but unfortunately, it’s not something you can share safely with your canine. Instead, it’s better to put a bit of bone broth in their food for extra flavor, and your dog will appreciate the added flavor boost.

It’s always wise to check the ingredients of any human food you want to share with your dog to ensure all ingredients are safe for canine consumption.

 

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