Every owner loves to give treats to their dogs, to reward them for something good they have done, or sometimes just purely out of love.
But there are some food you should avoid giving to dogs simply because they are unhealthy, and some foods can even cause serious health issues.
One such food is a tasty, tangy, crispy orange chicken, and when your dog looks at you having a bite of it, you surely wanna give it to them.
One or two bites won’t do harm, but a moderate or high amount of orange chicken can really be harmful to your dog.
In this article, we will learn about orange chicken and what ingredients are used in them that make orange chicken harmful to dogs, and the effects of eating orange chicken on dogs.
Let us start by knowing what is an orange chicken.
What is Orange Chicken?
Orange chicken is basically an Asian fast food that is available in many fast food corners and even delivered by panda express.
Orange chicken is battered meat that is prepared by deep frying, making it crispy, and then layering it with spicy orange and chili sauces, giving it the name orange chicken.
Orange chicken is made with many different ingredients, such as:
- Skinless Chicken (thighs)
- Pepper (black and white)
- Salt
- Wheat flour
- Cornstarch
- Egg
- Oil (around 6 cups)
- Sugar (brown)
- White distilled vinegar
- Sesame oil
There are some other ingredients that are used in making the spicy tang orange sauce, such as orange juice, soy sauce, and garlic. Many people also use ginger and chili flakes to make the sauce.
What Ingredients in Orange Chicken are not Good for Dogs?
Orange chicken is harmful to dogs as it contains several ingredients that can cause health issues if consumed.
Let us have a look at some of the harmful ingredients of orange chicken.
1. Onions and Garlic
Every pet owner knows the side effects caused in dogs by the consumption of garlic and onion. These two allium family members are usually used in orange chicken to provide flavor.
But when dogs eat them, it causes anemia and other serious health issues in them, making orange chicken a health risk.
Small amounts of onion and garlic can be very toxic to dogs, and it is best to avoid feeding them with any of these.
2. Sugar
Not only for dogs, but sugar is also very harmful to humans as well. However, human consumption of sugar can be biologically metabolized, but it is hard for dogs to metabolize sugar the same way we do.
Hence, sugar remains in the body, causing serious health issues in dogs like obesity, weight gain, and dental issues.
3. Oils
The crisp orange chicken comes from deep frying the chicken in oil. Oils used in cooking, irrespective of the variety, result in fat.
Frequent consumption of oily foods can rapidly increase a dog’s weight which is not a good sign as weight gain invites lots of health issues in dogs, including arthritis.
Can Dogs have Orange Chicken?
Ideally, no. A dog should eat orange chicken, neither in a high amount nor in a moderate amount.
Small amounts of orange chicken can be harmful as the presence of spices like chili flakes and the usage of garlic and onions can instantly damage the regular bowel function of a dog.
Orange chicken contains a high amount of salt, sugar, and sodium, along with other harmful ingredients, which if consumed, can cause gastrointestinal issues, obesity, diabetes, and digestive disorders.
Do Dogs get any Health Benefits from Eating Orange Chicken?
Not really, as the benefit it has is all washed by the harm eating an orange chicken does to dogs.
Orange chicken has some potential to provide nutrients to dogs, but giving them in moderate or large amounts can be harmful.
Instead of giving your dog orange chicken, which has the potential to cause harm to your dog, try giving them good boneless chicken, be it boiled or cooked, and serve it with rice or chicken, and unsweetened apple sauce is a good choice.
This will fulfill their nutrient needs and will be safe rather than feeding them orange chicken.
My Dog Ate Orange Chicken, What Should I do?
If your dog has eaten orange chicken, it is important for you to observe them for any irregularities in their behavior to determine the effects.
Side effects of orange chicken will also depend on the amount they have eaten, where just a piece or two will not have a very adverse effect on dogs, but still, you need to monitor for signs.
Some signs that a dog will show as the after-effect of eating an orange chicken are:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal pain
- Loss of appetite
- Lethargic
If they start having diarrhea more than once or is not feeling well after eating orange chicken, you should contact your veterinarian.
Do not try to induce vomiting or try to get them to throw what they have eaten or chewed. A veterinarian will advise you on what should be done.
They will probably run some tests to check the issue and provide medication accordingly. Let them know the amount of orange chicken the dog has eaten, it will help the vet to provide a proper diagnosis.
FAQ’s
Unfortunately, yes. Orange chicken has some ingredients that are very harmful to dogs, and if eaten in large quantities, it may lead to serious health issues that can be fatal.
Your dogs can eat oranges but in small quantities and not very frequently, as it can upset the stomach and may cause abdominal pain.
Orange chicken is made with many different ingredients, such as Skinless Chicken, Black and white pepper, Salt, Flour, Cornstarch, Egg, almost half a dozen cups of Oil, Sugar (brown), and White distilled vinegar—sesame oil along with orange juice and spices like chili flakes.
Conclusion
If you are thinking about giving your dog a treat of orange chicken, then don’t. Orange chicken can be harmful to dogs, and in this article, you will find the ingredients that make an orange chicken harmful.
We hope this article was informative for you in terms of what to do if your dog has eaten an orange chicken and what alternative treat for dogs you can make at home. Be kind to them and provide extra care always.
Dr. Lillian is a D.V.M. passionate about promoting awareness of dogs. She shares her expertise through her blogs on canineweekly.com and provides animal care services, including internal medicine, dermatology, and emergency care. Dr. Lillian is committed to contributing to animal welfare.