My Dog Ate General Tso Chicken Will He Get Sick?

Has your dog eaten some General Tso chicken? Are you worried the General Tso chicken will make your dog sick? If so, then you’ve come to the right place. We understand it can be scary when your dog eats something he shouldn’t.

In this article, we’ll take a look at General Tso chicken and whether or not it can make your dog sick. Let’s get started!

What is General Tso Chicken?

General Tso’s chicken is a sweet and spicy deep-fried chicken dish. Many people believe this dish comes straight from China! However, the recipe was actually developed by Chinese restaurants in North America.

The dish is named after a famous general who was named Zuo Zongtang  (Tso Tsung-t’ang). He was a Qing dynasty military leader and statesman. It’s believed the dish bearing his name was developed back in North America.

This popular dish includes the following ingredients:

• Soy sauce
• Rice wine
• Hoisin sauce
• Chili peppers
• Garlic
• Egg
• Cornstarch
• Chicken meat
• Broccoli

Some versions of General Tso’s chicken also contain high amounts of sugar.

General Tso’s Chicken & Dogs

Right away, you can see there are some problems for dogs in the ingredients. The chili peppers are too spicy for dogs, and garlic is toxic to dogs. What’s more, high amounts of sugar can make dogs very sick.

So, General Tso’s chicken is not safe for dogs to eat.

Symptoms of General Tso’s Chicken Ingestion in Dogs

You may notice these symptoms if your dog has eaten some General Tso’s chicken:

• Lethargy
• Rapid heart rate
• Pale gums and mucus
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Dehydration

If your dog shows any of these symptoms, then call the vet right away. This could be an emergency.

The level of toxicity depends on the size/weight of your dog and how much of the dish he’s eaten. For instance, a small dog eating a large portion of General Tso’s chicken could become sick pretty fast. On the other hand, a large dog eating the same portion size may only develop a little diarrhea. It just depends on the dog.

As you can see, it’s not a good idea to feed your dog General Tso’s chicken. If your dog has helped himself, then monitor him for any symptoms. If he starts to get sick, don’t wait around to see how the symptoms develop over time. Call the vet right away. They will have the best advice on the next steps to take to help your dog.