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My small breed dog just ate a few pieces of teriyaki chicken with soy sauce about 30 minutes ago — should I be worried about sodium poisoning?

Dogs · Food safety

Last reviewed: 2026-09-05 · Reference ranges: ASPCA, Pet Poison Helpline & Merck Veterinary Manual

Short answer

You should monitor him closely. Soy sauce is extremely high in sodium, and even a small amount relative to a dog's size can lead to salt poisoning. The first signs often appear within a few hours and include excessive thirst, vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy. In severe cases, it can progress to tremors, seizures, or even coma. Since he's a small breed, his risk is higher. Ensure he has access to fresh water, but don't let him guzzle huge amounts at once. Watch for any of those warning signs over the next 12 hours and contact your vet immediately if they appear.

Soy sauce — Food safety facts

Feed with care · Dogs · full breakdown on the linked food page

Extremely high in salt — a real risk of sodium poisoning if a pet laps it up.

Dogs and cats carry the same rating (Feed with care), so the notes below hold for either pet.

Soy sauce is not poisonous to dogs, but it is easy to over-feed. Rich fat, salt or seasoning can bring on vomiting or diarrhoea within a day, and repeated large portions are a recognised trigger for pancreatitis.

If it ate some before you noticed, watch for vomiting, diarrhoea, loss of appetite, unusual tiredness or a painful, swollen abdomen over the next 24 hours. A one-off small amount in a healthy adult usually passes with water and rest; repeated exposure, a puppy or kitten, a senior, or a pet with an ongoing illness is a reason to call your vet the same day.

Why these cautions matter

A heavy salt load drives up thirst and urination, and in the worst cases leads to sodium ion poisoning, which is a genuine emergency.

The full verdict, portion guidance and serving notes are collected on the Soy sauce food facts page.

Open the full food page: Soy sauce food facts →