Can Dogs Eat Orange Chicken?

In this research you will know the answer to the query “Can Dogs Eat Orange Chicken?“.

After a long day you decided to order Orange Chicken from Panda Express. Your dogs come over and beg for some of the sweet tangy meal while you enjoy it. When they look at you they lick their noses wag their tails and give you puppy eyes. You’re about to share one with your dog but you’re wondering if Orange Chicken is safe for them to consume. Below is a brief explanation. 

Can dogs eat Orange Chicken? Since some of the ingredients in Orange Chicken sauce are toxic and harmful to dogs dogs should not consume Orange Chicken. The high amount of sugar fat salt and calories in Orange Chicken can lead to health problems such as diabetes obesity salt poisoning and pancreatitis in dogs.  

Dogs can not see color so Orange Chicken simply looks like Chicken Nuggets to them. The purpose of this research is to explain why our four-legged friends should avoid this sweet and tangy food. Lets get started! 

Can dogs have Orange Chicken?

Dogs should not consume Orange Chicken because it is made from battered dark meat Chicken and the sauce contains salt spices sugar and soy sauce. The ingredients used to make Orange Chicken are unsuitable for dogs. 

Here are the typical Orange Chicken ingredients. Lets backtrack a little bit and learn more about what this dish is about.

What is Orange Chicken?

Panda Express for example serves Orange Chicken at many of its Asian fast-food outlets. These are small pieces of dark meat Chicken (sometimes white meat Chicken) that have been battered and fried until they are crispy. 

Orange Chicken is a dish made by coating fried Chicken with a sweet tangy and sticky orange and chili sauce after it has been fried. 

Orange Chicken consists primarily of the following ingredients: 

• Whenever you make it from scratch you should use skinless dark meat chicken (or white meat chicken).
• Black pepper.
• Salt.
• Wheat flour.
• Cornstarch.
• Egg.
• Oil.
• Sugar.
• White distilled vinegar.
• Sesame oil.

The sauce for Orange Chicken is made primarily from the following ingredients:

• Soy sauce.
• Orange juice or orange extract. 
• Ginger.
• Garlic.
• Chili flakes. 

Some of the ingredients in the Orange Chicken and the sauce used to make them are not safe for dogs to consume. Check out each of these ingredients and see how they negatively affect our dogs health.

Is Orange Chicken bad for dogs?

Its true that Orange Chicken is bad for dogs and dog owners should avoid giving their pooch Orange Chicken. 

Dark meat Chicken in Orange Chicken may lead to pancreatitis in dogs

The reason dark Chicken meat is so rich and fatty for our fur babies’ stomachs is that it has a more decadent and flavorful texture than white Chicken meat.  

Veterinary professionals advise against feeding your dog dark chicken meat as it can cause your dogs pancreas to become swollen and inflamed and can cause pancreatitis. 

The condition is life-threatening painful and very serious. Some of the signs and symptoms of pancreatitis are: 

• Vomiting repeatedly (once every hour or over a few days). 
• Diarrhea.
• Loss of appetite. 
• Fever. 
• Hunched back. 
• Dehydration is due to the inability to keep water down. 
• Lethargy. 
• Muscle weakness.
• Abdominal pain.
• Bloating. 

Your dog will require immediate medical attention if pancreatitis is suspected. Call your vet immediately if you suspect pancreatitis.

Have you ever thought about the fact that there are many different types of dog vomit? You can determine why your furry friend is feeling ill based on the color and texture of the dog vomit. You can check out the Dog Vomit Color Guide for more information. Bookmark this page so you can find it later!

Orange Chicken may contain bones which can lead to choking and bowel obstruction in dogs

Orange Chicken sometimes contains bones and because it is cooked this makes it dangerous for our canine companions. Raw bones are much more appealing for dogs to chew than cooked ones. 

When your furry friends chew cooked bones they can break easily and they can also splinter easily. As your dog is chewing the cooked bones the sharp shards can pierce their lips tongues cheeks and even the roof of their mouths. 

Cooked bones can get stuck in your poochs throat and esophagus and cause him to choke if he tries to swallow them. When your puppy swallows the sharp bone pieces from the Orange Chicken he or she may experience internal bleeding since the sharp bone fragments can penetrate the soft tissues in the throat or pierce your dogs esophagus. Aww! 

Some bones can even get lodged in your dogs trachea (windpipe) which can make it difficult for him or her to breathe. 

Occasionally dogs get overly excited and forget to chew their food before swallowing. There are some Orange Chickens that contain small bones inside and when your dog tries to swallow this Orange Chicken may get stuck in their throats posing another choking hazard. 

A small bone can cause a blockage in the stomach and intestine and cause an obstruction of the bowel if it makes its way to the stomach and intestine. 

Obstruction of the intestines and stomach occurs when something (in this case bones) causes a partial or complete blockage. This prevents both solids and liquids from passing through to the gastrointestinal tract.

In the event of this blockage the following things can happen: 

• Reduce blood flow throughout the body.  
• Lead to deterioration of the bowels.
• Absorb toxic content.

It is possible in some cases of bowel obstruction to require immediate abdominal surgery or endoscopy. Obstructions of the bowel are serious medical conditions. Please contact your veterinarian if you notice any of the following signs and symptoms of bowel obstruction. This requires immediate medical attention and treatment. 

Bowel obstruction in dogs is characterized by the following signs and symptoms: 

• Repetitive vomiting. 
• Diarrhea.
• Your dog is dehydrated because he keeps throwing up food and water.
• Loss of appetite. 
• Lethargy.
• Muscle weakness.
• Stomach irritation. 
• Abdominal pain. 
• Bloating. 
• Whining.
• Hunching. 

A cooked bone can also cause stomach and intestinal obstruction as well as puncture the lining of the dogs stomach and intestinal system which can cause internal bleeding tearing and leaking. 

Food and other intestinal contents can leak into the abdomen of dogs when the walls of their stomachs or intestines are damaged. There is a fatal condition known as peritonitis which is an abdominal infection. This is a condition that may not respond to aggressive treatment. 

This is why its important to remove all bones (both large and small) from Orange Chicken and any chicken before offering it to your four-legged friends. 

High salt levels in Orange Chicken can cause sodium poisoning in dogs

Orange Chicken contains high levels of sodium which may not be evident at first glance. The average Orange Chicken dish contains more than 600 mg of sodium per serving. Despite the fact that this may not seem like a lot of salt to us this is considered a lot of salt to our precious pooch. 

Dogs need to consume approximately 0.25 to 1.5 grams of sodium per 100 grams of the food. It is imperative to remember that our puppy friends should receive their salt intake from their regular balanced diet. 

Any extra salt intake outside of their main meal such as snacks or treats would only add to their salt intake limit. 

It isnot a good idea to give your dog Orange Chicken as a snack or treat if he has already consumed enough sodium for the day. A serving of Orange Chicken (or 5.7 ounces) contains 600mg of sodium or 0.6 grams of salt. We wouldnot want our dog to consume too much salt!

Dogs can be poisoned by sodium from this. The following symptoms and signs are associated with salt poisoning in dogs:

• Swollen tongue.
• Dehydrated and extremely thirsty. 
• Frequent urination. 
• Vomiting. 
• Nausea. 
• Loose and watery diarrhea. 
• Loss of appetite. 
• Confusion.
• Headache. 
• Fluid buildup. 
• Convulsions.
• Difficulty breathing. 
• High fever. 
• Rapid heartbeat.
• Muscle spasms. 
• Muscle weakness. 
• Abdominal pain.
• Upset stomach. 
• Lethargy or lack of energy. 
• Seizures. 
• Moving and walking as if intoxicated. 
• Coma (in severe cases). 
• Death (in severe cases). 

Immediately contact your vet if you suspect your pooch has sodium poisoning. A well-checked and physical exam may be required by your veterinarian. 

The moment you bring your pooch to the veterinary office or hospital you’ll want to inform the vet how much salt he consumed and how long ago he ingested the Orange Chicken. 

Your vet will then perform a series of tests on your dogs such as checking its pulse rate temperature blood pressure reflexes respiration temperature hearing vision height and weight.   

Besides performing a urinalysis and blood count your veterinarian will also conduct blood chemistry and blood gas tests to determine whether your dog has sodium poisoning. Sometimes an electrocardiogram (EKG) is performed as part of a cardiac examination. 

The veterinarian may administer IV fluid therapy and electrolytes if your pooch is dehydrated. If your dog ingested a large amount of salt from the Orange Chicken your vet may require him to spend the night in the hospital. 

Its because the salt level needs to be brought down slowly and gradually. Your dog may suffer from a heart attack or brain swelling if its sodium level suddenly drops. 

Too much sugar in Orange Chicken can lead to diabetes in dogs

A dog who consumes too much sugar may develop a variety of health problems including diabetes upset stomach dental issues metabolic changes and obesity.

Dental disease

Too much sugar can cause cavities in our four-legged friends as well. However our dogs are at particular risk. Sugar on their teeth and gums is used by the bacteria in their mouth to make acids. 

It is these acids that cause your dogs teeth to lose their enamel. The enamel on your dogs teeth becomes more vulnerable to dental disease when it loses minerals. 

Make sure that your fur babies have regular dental appointments or teeth cleanings if they consume a lot of sugar. You should schedule an appointment as soon as possible.   

Upset stomach

Ingesting too much sugar can upset a dogs stomach since it disrupts the balance of good and bad bacteria in their gut when they consume a large amount of sugar suddenly. Dogs’ gut contains bacteria or microorganisms that aid in digestion. 

It is possible to have bloody and explosive diarrhea when the balance of microorganisms is disturbed. It is even possible for dogs to vomit when their stomachs are upset. 

If you want to read more about dog food tips read here: Dog Food Tips and Tricks.

Can Dogs Eat Orange Chicken? (Watch Video)