Can dogs eat sweet and sour chicken? Many dog parents are still not aware that sweet and sour chicken, even though rich in protein, is not a good option for dogs, and this article will help you understand why.
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As a dog owner, it is your responsibility to keep your furry friends happy and healthy. For this reason, it is also important to be aware of all the foods that your dog should and should not eat.
While most dog owners know that chicken is good for dogs’ health, not many know that deeply-fried chicken will cause more damage than good to your dog’s system.
So, when sweet and sour chicken is in question; the answer is no. You shouldn’t feed it to your dog. The main ingredients of sweet and sour chicken are sauces, garlic, onions, sugar, fat, etc. All of these can be quite harmful to your dog’s health and should be avoided.
If you are looking for more reasons on whether dogs can eat sweet and sour chicken, read on.
What is Sweet and Sour Chicken?
Originated in China during the 18th century, sweet and sour chicken has become one of the most popular dishes across the world. It is known by different names worldwide, and in the US, it is commonly prepared with boneless chicken breasts or thighs.
The balance of sweet and sour in the dish is generally the result of adding sauce, sugar, fruit, and syrup to green and leafy vegetables and citrus fruits like lemon or oranges.
Is It a Healthy Food for Dogs?
On the surface, it might look like that, but it is not.
Sweet and sour chicken is full of Vitamin C, protein, and leafy vegetables, which ensure healthy healing – for humans. In the case of dogs, sweet and sour chicken is not recommended and shouldn’t be given to them.
It is not healthy for dogs for many reasons, but mainly because sweet and sour chicken is generally covered with various sauces, none fit for your furry friend.
Moreover, sweet and sour chicken is full of salt, fat, and sugar. A typical sweet and sour chicken comprises bell peppers, garlic, onions, pineapples, capsaicin, etc. None of those above ingredients is healthy for dogs; all we know, these tend to make dogs sick and ill.
Can Dogs Eat Sweet and Sour Chicken?
The simple answer is no; dogs shouldn’t eat sweet and sour chicken.
Sweet and sour chicken can contain many ingredients that are harmful to dogs. Let’s learn about the main components of sweet and sour chicken and why they are not a good fit for the furry animal’s stomach.
Why Is Sauce Not Healthy for Dogs?
To begin with, the sauce has high amounts of salt and sugar content and has ingredients like garlic and onions in their making, and such elements are quite toxic for dogs. The sauce can also be quite spicy for dogs, so you shouldn’t feed them with it, even with chicken.
So, no, you shouldn’t feed any flavor of the sauce to your dog, even if it is spread on chicken, which is a source of high protein for these adorable animals.
Garlic and onions
Garlic, onions, and scallions are allium family members heavily used in Chinese cooking. Allium ingredients are quite toxic for dogs, and even a small portion can make them sick.
Salt
The RDA of sodium for most dogs is around 200 mg daily. Sweet and sour chicken, on the other hand, has more than ten times the amount of salt needed by a dog. Dogs, thus, do not have a tolerance level for this much sodium.
Capsaicin
Capsaicin is a chemical that makes spices hot and tangy! The traditional sweet and sour chicken is full of it and can cause much inflammation in dogs. It can lead to several stomach problems, including diarrhea.
Sugar
The sauce, syrups, and solid sugar added to the dish also cause many health problems for the dog. A typical sweet and sour chicken recipe has a quarter cup of sugar, and you can only imagine how damaging it must be to your dog’s health.
Fat
The chicken is deep-fried in vegetable oil before it is poured into gravy made of vegetables, sauce, and other ingredients. If dogs eat fried chicken, it can cause a lot of inflammation to their intestines, and thus, the dish should be avoided by them.
Sauce
Last but not least, the sauce added to this dish is toxic to your dog’s intestines and, thus, the entire system. It can lead to vomiting, lethargy, mood swings, diarrhea, and more problems in your dog.
What Sweets Are Toxic to Dogs?
While sugar is not immediately toxic, many sweet alternatives are.
Even though sugar itself isn’t toxic to dogs (if given in considerable quantity), several sweet ingredients are highly unhealthy, including Caffeine, raisins, grapes, chocolate, artificial sweeteners like Xylitol, etc.
However, dogs need some sugar for functioning, so you can feed them peanut butter and veggies that taste sweet, like bananas, apples, and watermelons.
Can I Give My Dog Sour Food?
Yes, but only in small amounts.
Dogs can eat sour food in small amounts. If you are feeding acidic food, let’s say, sour cream, to your dog once in a while, it is alright for their system.
However, if you give it to him regularly, it will eventually crash his system and make him sick. So, if your dog vomits or poops a lot after having sour food, it is best to stop letting them eat it.
What Other Food Can Dogs Not Eat?
Dogs cannot eat many foods that are fit for the human digestive system. Spices, deep-fried chicken, chocolate, milk, chewing gum, cat food, cooked bones, avocado, grapes, chives, garlic, onions, coffee, or anything with caffeine, tea, tomato leaves, etc.
You should consult your vet about curating a diet that suits your dog before deciding on the food that your pup should eat.
Can Dogs Eat Doritos?
Doritos aren’t toxic to dogs, and thus, you can occasionally feed them to your furry friend. However, please do not make a habit out of it since many ingredients of Doritos are toxic to your dog’s digestive system.
The good thing is that if you are feeding Doritos to your dog occasionally, the quantity of these ingredients cannot harm your pup. Overall, we recommend you give your dogs something that they can chew rather than swallow since it can choke them.
A Few Final Words
Sweet and sour chicken is not healthy for dogs. If you still want to feed this dish to your friend, do it occasionally. However, if you notice your dog acting funny, like vomiting or pooping a lot after having this dish, it is best to avoid giving it to them at all!
Thank you for reading the article! We hope we have been able to dissuade you from feeding sweet and sour chicken to your dog. If you have more questions about this or any other dish, feel free to leave us a comment and we will get back to you.
We hope that your dog will stay safe, stay healthy and keep loving you for years to come!