Can Dogs Eat Wasabi? Is It Safe for Small Dogs? Tips + Guide

Dog owners used to share their foods with pets. If you eat ‘Sushi’, you might be thinking that can dogs eat wasabi with sushi. Wasabi is one food item that you should be careful when giving to dogs. Therefore, I hope to discuss about; whether dogs can eat wasabi or not through this post. 

So, can dogs eat wasabi? The short answer is “No.” It is not safe to let your pet eat them because they can cause various health issues like; diarrhea, vomiting, bloating, burning the mouth, etc. They are not toxic for the canines, but as extra spicy foods, they are harmful to dog’s health. Therefore, it is important to train them to avoid wasabi and keep it away from them by following various safety tips.

Accordingly, in this article, I have covered what wasabi is, can dogs eat them, how to keep your pet away from wasabi, and finally, I have provided you with some tips to follow if your pet even accidentally eats them. 

Let’s get started!

What is Wasabi? 

Before paying attention to; can dogs eat wasabi, it is important to know about this food item well. This green-colored Japanese spicy condiment is tasty but hot and spicy, enlivening and flavourful. 

The official name is wasabi japonica and is commonly found in remote areas. Wasabi sauce is directly made up of this where the root of the food item is from Japanese culture.

Also, some people use them to sprinkle throughout the salad or even bake them in the oven and take them as an alternative to chips.

This is very close to the other types of condiments that are recognized as plant-based condiments. This is similar to mustard, cabbage, and horseradish. 

Further, this is often called as; Japanese horseradish because they are very similar in taste, smell, and look as they are derived from the same family.

And, this has a good nutritional value for people as it contains various minerals and vitamins like; vitamin C, magnesium, potassium, and zinc, etc. And also, it can fight against cancers, protect cells, maintain health by preventing heart attacks, etc. 

Not only that, but the pure wasabi is also very expensive as they are rare to acquire. But, now varieties of productions are found by including wasabi and imitating their flavor as well. Also, you can eat them with many other foods. 

Can dogs eat Wasabi? 

This is the next question that comes to your mind as a good dog owner who likes to share everything you eat.

Many dog owners do not recommend this food for dogs because they are spicy in flavor. Even the people also take it in small quantities with other food items.  

Canines can’t eat very spicy foods as they are harmful to both their mouth and the stomach. So, it is the same for wasabi also. Many people use them as a spice in food.

Even their spice level can bring tears to the adult people’s eyes. Then, how can dogs bear that spiciness? If they eat more of them, dogs can even cause gastrointestinal disturbances.    

It is strongly recommended not to eat wasabi by canines. Their diet should only include favorable ingredients. Even though most human foods are safe for dogs, certain food items can be harmful to them, like wasabi. 

Also, you should know about the allergic reactions of this food for the canines as well. There is a pungent odor in this that will irritate the nose and cause allergic reactions, most often with the horseradish, dye, or gluten present in fake wasabi.

So, suppose your furry friend is allergic to various ingredients or foods that are listed here. In that case, it is better to remove all the wasabi products from the house without contacting the pet. 

You may think that this is toxic for your pet, but it is not. The thing is that they are hot and spicy for them. So, if it overreacts to them, it can cause health issues like; 

• Burning their mouth
• Vomiting
• Gas
• Diarrhea
• Troubles in the digestive system
• Excessive thirst
• Burning sensation in nose

Also, do not forget that it is responsible for the Allyl isothiocyanate compound, which is not good for dogs. 

How to keep your pet away from Wasabi? 

This is very important for all the dog owners who seek the answer to the question; can dogs eat wasabi. As you know that, they are not completely safe, or the dogs, you have to keep their contact away from them.

If not, the canines may face more dangerous consequences if they eat more of them. So, there you can follow the following steps to keep the dog away from wasabi. 

• Keep wasabi or other food products that contain them in a place where your pet dog is unable to reach. 
• Use dog-proof trash bins to confirm that your pet will not contact itself with the trashed wasabi. 
• Cleaning all the tables, plates, and floors after eating to prevent the furry friend from reaching their leftovers.

If any of the tricks mentioned above do not work, you may lock the doors until you finish eating all the foods that include wasabi. 

What can be done if your dog ate Wasabi?

Now you know the answer to the question; can dogs eat wasabi as; no. But what happens if it even accidentally eats them? Here let’s discuss the tips to follow if it eats them. 

First of all, you have to identify that your dog has eaten wasabi. How can you identify it? You should focus on its behaviors and body language. They may show the following behavioral changes;

• Rubbing the mouth, face, and snout all over the floor as if trying to remove the spicy taste from their mouth.
• Licking the lips
• Profuse sneezing
• Drinking more water
• Running here and thereby keeping the tail between the legs
• Ears dropping

So, if you see the above symptoms in your dog, for sure, it has eaten wasabi. Then, you have to take steps to comfort him because; although a small amount of wasabi does not cause harm to the dogs, it can be worsened if the amount increases.

There, you have to follow the steps like;  

• Removing the leftovers of wasabi from the mouth of the pet.
• Rinsing its mouth and snout with water.
• Giving more water to drink.
• Monitoring the behaviors of your pet dog. 
• If the situation becomes more serious, it is better to call the vet as soon as possible.

Accordingly, you have to give enough comfort to your pet. 

Conclusion – Can dogs eat Wasabi? 

We have discussed; whether dogs can eat wasabi or not with more details. I think this article will work out for all the dog owners as I have covered some important areas related to dogs and this Japanese food item as; what is wasabi, can dogs eat wasabi, how to keep your pet away from them, and finally, I have provided you with some tips to follow if your pet even accidentally eats them.

Dogs are the closest pet friends of many people because; they are lovely, playful, and even the best guardians for them. Therefore, dog owners do not forget to provide all the comforts for their furry friends.

Most of them like to share their food also. As a result, they think that they can share wasabi also. But, they are not recommended for dogs as they are hot and spicy. Canines can’t bear their spiciness, hurting the digestive system and mouth.

So, you can identify whether they have eaten it or not through their behaviors like; rubbing the mouth, face, and snout all over the floor as if trying to remove the spicy taste from their mouth, licking the lips, profuse sneezing, etc.

In such a situation, you should take steps to provide comfort for them soon by; removing the leftovers of wasabi from the pet’s mouth, rinsing its mouth and snout with water, giving more water to drink, monitoring the behaviors of your pet dog, etc.

Also, the best thing is to keep your pet away from them. There you can; keep wasabi or other food products that contain them in a place where your pet dog is unable to reach, using dog-proof trash bins to confirm that your pet will not contact itself with the trashed wasabi, cleaning all the tables, plates, and the floors after eating to avoid the furry friend from reaching to leftovers of them, etc. Then, you can have the happy pet friend that you hoped to see.

Thank you for reading this post. I hope it answered your burning questions about your dog. Stay tuned with Jack Russell Owner for more interesting posts.