Can Dogs Eat Orange Chicken? Vet-Verified Facts & Better Alternatives

Dogs enjoy eating sweet and savory foods, and most won’t refuse a serving of chicken. It may seem like orange chicken is an ideal food for dogs, and dogs can develop a taste for it. However, it’s not recommended to feed dogs orange chicken because it can end up doing more harm than good. The health risks involved with feeding dogs orange chicken outweigh the minimal benefits it has to offer.

A breakdown of the basic ingredients in orange chicken will show how it can actually be harmful to dogs. Fortunately, there are many other better alternatives that are much safer and more nutritious for dogs. So, your dog can still enjoy eating sweet and savory foods without compromising their health.

Why Can’t Dogs Eat Orange Chicken?

Orange chicken contains several ingredients that are unhealthy or harmful to dogs. This dish contains significant amounts of sugar, fat, and refined carbohydrates. While dogs can technically eat these things, consuming too much can cause digestive issues and health complications. For example, eating a high-sugar diet puts dogs at a higher risk of gaining weight and therefore increasing the risk of diabetes and obesity related health problems.

Orange chicken can also include ingredients that are toxic to dogs. Garlic and scallions are commonly used in orange chicken recipes, and both of these vegetables are unsafe and can cause health complications in dogs.

Although dogs are not prone to dental cavities (caries) like humans, those that eat high sugar diets would be more likely to develop dental caries.

Dangers of Feeding Orange Chicken to Dogs

A lot of ingredients go into making orange chicken. Here’s a further breakdown of common ingredients found in orange chicken that can be harmful to dogs.

1. Brown Sugar

Brown sugar is one of the main ingredients used in orange chicken. While orange chicken recipes do contain natural orange juice or pineapple juice, the amount that is used usually isn’t enough to make the dish taste sweet enough. A significant amount of sugar is often added to make the dish less bland.

As we’ve mentioned before, consuming too much sugar is unhealthy for dogs. It can cause an upset stomach and digestive issues. If dogs continue to eat too much sugar, it can contribute to weight gain and obesity related health conditions.

2. Oil

To make crispy orange chicken, you must fry the chicken in oil. While not all types of fat are bad, fried food doesn’t add any nutritional benefits to a dog’s diet. Similar to sugar, consuming oily and greasy food can cause dogs to get an upset stomach. Consistently eating a high-fat diet can result in weight gain and associated health problems. In some sensitive individuals a high fat meal can result in a dog developing the potentially life threatening condition, pancreatitis.

3. Garlic and Scallions

Some orange chicken recipes contain garlic and scallions for flavor and garnishing. Garlic, scallions, and other plants belonging to the Allium genus are toxic to dogs. All parts of allium plants can poison dogs. Fresh, dried, and powdered versions of these plants are harmful, and they remain toxic to dogs even after they’ve been cooked. This is because allium plants contain toxins that damage red blood cells, and they can’t be cooked off.

4. Red Pepper Flakes

Orange chicken sometimes contains red pepper flakes to give it a hint of spice. While bigger dogs may not get sick from the small amount of red pepper flakes used in orange chicken, smaller dogs are likely to feel the effects. Spicy foods can cause an upset stomach in dogs, and dogs can experience stomach pain, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Better Alternatives for Orange Chicken

Most dogs will enjoy eating orange chicken, so it’s best to refrain from feeding it to them so that they don’t develop a taste for it. Fortunately, your dog can still enjoy eating healthier alternatives while you eat orange chicken.

If you’re making your own orange chicken, you can set aside some plain cooked chicken for your dog. Dogs can safely eat fully cooked chicken if it’s been boiled, steamed, or cooked without oil, seasonings, or sauces. While the fleshy parts of oranges are safe for dogs to eat, oranges aren’t very popular amongst dogs. So, you can serve chicken with other fruits that dogs enjoy. Your dog will appreciate having a side of apples, berries, or bananas with their chicken.

Conclusion

Overall, orange chicken contains too many ingredients that are harmful to a dog’s health. Along with its high sugar and fat content, orange chicken sometimes uses garlic and scallions, which are both toxic to dogs.

Fortunately, your dog can still enjoy eating other chicken-based treats. Feeding them plain cooked chicken is a much safer and healthier alternative, and you can serve it with a side of dog-friendly fruits. So, the next time you make some orange chicken or order takeout, set aside a chicken-based treat for your dog so that they can enjoy a savory snack while you enjoy your meal.

Featured Image Credit: Mohamed-Kareem Mohamed, Shutterstock