Doenjang (Korean soybean paste)
CautionDoenjang is a fermented paste that runs roughly 10-14% salt. Two tablespoons can approach the salt toxicosis threshold in a small dog, and ssamjang and doenjang stew add garlic and scallion on top of that.
This food guide has not been reviewed by a veterinarian. It summarises general information from sources and should not be used to decide whether a food is suitable for an individual dog or to assess an emergency.
Check before feeding
Check the precautions before sharing
Risk depends on preparation, ingredients or amount. Read the precautions below; body weight alone cannot establish a safe portion.
Signs and health concerns
This list includes both observable signs and conditions identified through examination or testing. It cannot establish the cause or whether an exposure is safe.
- Vomiting
- Increased thirst
- Increased urine volume
- Diarrhoea
- Lethargy
- Poor coordination or balance
- Tremors
- Seizures
- Dehydration
- Pale gums or mucous membranes
- Jaundice
- Haemoglobin in urine
More about this food
There is nothing exotic in doenjang. It is soybeans, salt and fermentation. The salt is the problem.
Depending on the maker and the aging, doenjang runs roughly 10-14% salt. Merck puts salt toxicosis signs in dogs at 2-3 g/kg of sodium chloride, with an acute oral lethal dose near 4 g/kg. Run the numbers and it gets concrete: a tablespoon is about 17-18 g of paste, so one tablespoon carries roughly 2 g of salt. For a 4 lb (2 kg) dog, that single tablespoon is already 1 g/kg, half the threshold, and two tablespoons reach it. For a 10 lb (4.5 kg) dog the range is around 70-100 g of paste, which is well within reach of a dog that gets its face into a mixing bowl or licks out a container in the sink.
Salt toxicosis unfolds like this. Vomiting develops within several hours, along with heavy drinking and frequent urination, then progresses to weakness, diarrhea, an unsteady gait, muscle tremors and seizures. As serum sodium rises, water leaves brain cells; bring the sodium down too fast and water floods back in, producing cerebral edema. Merck specifies lowering serum sodium at only 0.5-1.0 mEq/L per hour. That correction is not something to attempt at home.
The second hazard is that doenjang rarely arrives alone. Ssamjang, the dipping paste on a Korean barbecue table, contains garlic. Doenjang jjigae contains garlic, onion and scallion. Merck states that allium toxicosis occurs after raw, cooked, dehydrated or granulated onion and garlic alike, reports clinical signs in dogs from 15-30 g/kg of raw onion, and notes garlic is 3-5 times more potent. Red-cell damage starts within 24 hours, but hemolysis usually shows at 3-5 days as pale gums, weakness, jaundice and dark urine.
Two things to do now. Note which form was eaten (plain paste, ssamjang, or stew), roughly how much, the time, and your dog's weight, and call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435. And do not take away the water bowl; restricting water after a salt load makes things worse. Do not induce vomiting at home, and never use salt or salt water to do it, which Pet Poison Helpline warns causes salt poisoning in its own right. If garlic was in the mix, watch gum and urine color for five days and ask about a CBC.
Frequently asked questions
- My dog licked a spoonful of doenjang. Is that dangerous?
- It depends on size. One tablespoon carries roughly 2 g of salt, which is already half the toxicosis threshold for a 4 lb dog. Leave plenty of fresh water down and call your veterinarian with the weight, the amount and the time. Do not restrict water.
- He ate some doenjang stew broth. Does cooking help?
- No. Simmering concentrates the sodium rather than removing it, and most doenjang jjigae contains garlic, onion and scallion, whose toxicity survives heat. Tell your vet, and check gum color and urine color daily for the next 3-5 days.
- Can I thin it with water and give a little as a flavoring?
- No. Diluting does not change the total salt, and doenjang offers a dog no nutrient a complete diet lacks. If you want to add something to a bowl, use plain cooked meat or vegetables with no salt or seasoning.