Wasabi is a type of horseradish that comes from Japan and is popular in Japanese cuisine. It is known for its spicy flavour. Most people only eat wasabi in small amounts with sushi or sashimi. When you order food from your favourite Japanese place, you are likely to get wasabi included.
Although wasabi will not harm a dog, it is probably not a good idea to let dogs eat it. Wasabi is very spicy and the heat could upset your dog’s digestive system which could result in diarrhea, vomiting or other problems.
What about the health benefits of wasabi?
The health benefits of wasabi for humans are well known.
Research into wasabi use by people has shown that there can be benefits of eating wasabi and these include:
- Helps Prevent Cancer
- Works as an Anti-inflammatory
- In an Anti-microbial
- Relieves Symptoms of Respiratory Disorders
- Helps with Digestive Health
- Improves Circulation and Heart Health
- Helps Prevent Arthritis
- Allows the Body to Detox
- Fights the Signs of Ages
- Can Help Balance Gut Health
- Can Aid in Weight Loss
However there is little, if any research to support any benefits of feeding wasabi to dogs and you should not assume that because it helps humans that it might help canines.
You should always get professional veterinary advice before trying any form of health treatment on your dog.
Is wasabi poisonous to dogs?
Organic and pure wasabi is not toxic to dogs – but that does not mean that you should feed it to your pooch.
Wasabi is Japanese Horseradish a spicy root that is part of the same plant family as cabbages, cauliflowers and other brassicas.
The plant root is ground up to make a spicy paste and this pure, organic form would not poison a dog. The risk however, is that most commercially produced wasabi pastes contain artificial additives and colourings which could be harmful.
It is best not to take the risk and not feed wasabi to a dog.
Common side effects and dangers of feeding wasabi to dogs
Feeding any form of wasabi to a dog is a bad idea. The fake wasabi can contain additives that, although safe for humans, could be deadly to a dog.
Both forms of wasabi can cause problems and if you fed either then your dog could:
- Have an upset stomach that is painful or might experience abdominal discomfort.
- They could end up with diarrhea, gas, and/or vomiting.
- Your dog would likely have excessive thirst.
- They would experience a burning sensation that could cause them to have anxiety or even to be stressed enough to bite you.
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Signs that your dog hates wasabi
If you are tempted to allow your dog to try wasabi, stop, and think again. Since wasabi is spicy, it can hurt your dog’s stomach and/or mouth so never attempt to force your dog to eat it.
If your dog does get hold of some wasabi here are some signs that you can look for to show that they are not happy.
- They try rubbing their snout, nose, and/or mouth on the floor.
- You might notice that your dog has some of these physical signs: tense jaw, pacing, tail tucking, lip licking, tongue hanging, drooling, ears drop, and/or sniffing.
- Your dog might make frequent quick trips to their water bowl
- They will probably be running and/or pacing around.
- You might notice that they are sneezing and/or sniffing an unusual amount.
So, you are probably wondering how you can protect your dog from wasabi. By being proactive, you will be able to ensure that they stay healthy too.
How to train your dog not to eat your wasabi
As with all foods that you do not want your dog to eat, you should keep your wasabi where your dog cannot get to it.
There is still a chance that your dog might swipe some of your wasabi from your meal if you have to grab a drink or get up from your seat for one reason or another.
Make sure that you tell your dog no to the wasabi. The biggest tip is really to just keep wasabi out of your dog’s reach.
If they have got to your food and have consumed wasabi.
First, remove any wasabi that remains in their mouth and rinse their mouth and snout with cool water.
Make sure that you quickly take any unconsumed wasabi away from them.
Be sure to have plenty of water available for them and to refill water bowls as they finish the water that has been provided.
If you have additional concerns, check with your vet.
There are some rare cases where your dog could have a bad reaction to wasabi. Make sure that you are monitoring them and that you immediately seek medical attention if you are in fear for their health.
Conclusion – Can dogs have wasabi?
There are far better things for dogs to eat and any responsible dog owner would never feed someting like wasabi to their pet.
Apart from the spicy nature of wasabi, which would upset a dog’s stomach, there are some types of fake wasabi that can contain ingredients that could harm a dog.
So really, no. Dogs should not have wasabi and you should not feed wasabi to a dog.
