It can be hard to say no when your little Shih Tzu is staring up at you while you’re eating some delicious lo mein. You want to give your pup a treat but should you? The dish is full of soy sauce and you’re not sure how your dog’s digestive system will deal with it. So, the question is, is soy sauce bad for Shih Tzus? Let’s find out…
Is Soy Sauce Bad for Shih Tzus
The truth is, soy sauce isn’t the greatest thing to give your Shih Tzu.
There are a number of reasons for that including the following…
1. It is High in Sodium
Chances are you already know that soy sauce has a lot and I mean a lot of salt in it.
Even low sodium soy sauce still has a lot of sodium in it.
As humans we go ahead and make the decision to eat it as we love dishes that have soy sauce in them, so we’ll go ahead and make it and eat it.
The problem is that salt is really bad for your Shih Tzu.
Honestly, it’s not great for you either but having food with soy sauce in it once in a while might be okay for you, but for your dog, it’s never okay.
2. Soy Sauce Can Cause Salt Poisoning
High sodium foods such as soy sauce can cause salt poisoning in your dog.
Dogs have a much lower tolerance for salt than humans do.
That means having too much salt can cause them serious health issues.
One of those health issues is salt poisoning
It only takes a teaspoon of soy sauce to cause your dog serious health issues.
This is especially true if they do not have access to water.
The additional salt can also cause kidney damage in your pooch.
Salt poisoning is related to neurological issues and even death.
When it comes to any human food and especially soy sauce you want to pay close attention to the salt content of the food that you’re giving your Shih Tzu.
If the sodium content is high don’t share.
That goes doubly for dogs that are older.
As your Shih Tzu ages, their health becomes fragile.
You don’t want to give them anything that could hurt their digestive tract or neurological systems, or may cause abdominal pain or distress.
Your best course of action is to stick to high-quality dog food and high-quality dog treats.
Don’t give in to their big eyes and sad faces no matter how much they may beg.
Signs of Salt Poisoning
If your Shih Tzu has gotten ahold of a good quantity of soy sauce you want to watch for signs of salt poisoning.
This is what you need to watch out for…
- Frequent urination
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Increased thirst
- Tremors and seizures
3. Soy Sauce Raises Your Dog’s Blood Pressure
Just like with humans, having too much salt or sodium can raise your and your dog’s blood pressure.
This in turn can lead to imbalances in their electrolytes which can lead to other serious issues and even death.
If your Shih Tzu has ingested soy sauce or other high-salt foods you will want to contact your veterinarian.
Chances are your dog needs to be looked at to make sure that they’re okay and the additional salt has not had any adverse effects on them.
4. Soybeans are Exposed to Pesticides
Soy sauce like any soy product is made from soybeans.
Farmers who grow soybeans use a lot of pesticides and herbicides on their crops.
They do this to make sure that the bugs and weeds don’t take over and destroy their soybean fields.
Unfortunately, though this means that soy in general has a lot of these chemicals on them.
A certain amount of these chemicals are going to stay in the soybeans as they are processed into food products including soy sauce.
It’s just best not to give your Shih Tzu foods that are exposed to a lot of pesticides.
Even a small amount of pesticides can cause serious issues for your dog’s health.
5. Allergies
Again just like humans dogs have allergies as well.
Some of the most common allergies in Shih Tzus are wheat and soy which are two of the main ingredients in soy sauce.
When you think of allergies you may think of sneezing and runny eyes, but they can be a lot more serious than that for your pooch.
Your Shih Tzu can experience gastrointestinal issues, diarrhea, and abdominal pain.
6. Soy is the Wrong Kind of Protein for Shih Tzus
Dogs love protein and it’s good for them.
In fact, protein is one of the major parts of a healthy diet for Shih Tzus.
While soy sauce and soy products have a high protein content it is not the right kind of protein for dogs.
The issue with soybeans and soy sauce is that the protein they contain does not have all of the amino acids that protein from animals does.
That means your Shih Tzu’s diet needs to contain animal protein and not soy protein to stay healthy.
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Can Dogs Have Soy Sauce – In General
What is true for Shih Tzus is true for all dogs regardless of their breed.
Soy sauce and any high salt food should not be given to your dog.
Keep the lo mein for yourself and let your dog enjoy a nice dog bone.
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Can Shih Tzus Eat Strawberries?
To Sum it All Up:
Soy sauce has way too much salt for your Shih Tzu. You need to be sure they don’t ingest any. The additional sodium can lead to salt poisoning which in turn can lead to death. So, keep the salty treats for yourself and find a healthier treat for your dog.
Please Note:
This article is informational only and does not substitute for veterinary advice. Always check with your veterinarian if you are concerned about your Shih Tzu’s nutritional needs and issues. This article should not be considered in any way as veterinarian advice.
