Can dogs eat shrimp? Look out for these potential issues!

Can dogs eat shrimp? It’s no surprise that many dog owners are curious about whether or not their furry friends can eat shrimp. After all, shrimp is a popular seafood choice, and dogs seem to love the taste of it.

Feeding your dog cooked shrimp is fine, but you should avoid doing so either way. There are a few risks and benefits of giving your dog shrimp, so you have to be careful before adding these sea critters to your puppy’s diet.

In this blog post, we’ll discuss the pros and cons of feeding shrimp to dogs, and give you some tips on how to do it safely.

Can dogs eat shrimp?

Many people love to share their meals with their furry friends, but it can be difficult to know what foods are safe for dogs. When it comes to seafood, can dogs eat shrimp?

The short answer is yes, but it’s a bit more complicated than that as there are a lot of positives and a few more negatives in giving your puppy shrimp. So you should first get to know all the details about giving your dog shrimp before you can definitely answer the question: can dogs eat shrimp?

According to veterinarians, shrimp isn’t always dangerous for dogs, but how you prepare it, how much you feed it to your dog, and your dog’s health may all have an impact.

First of all, shrimp should always be cooked before feeding it to your dog. Raw shrimp can contain bacteria that can make your dog sick. Additionally, shrimp should be removed from the shell and you should also cut the tails off before giving them to your dog. The shrimp shell and tail are a huge choking hazard, and they can also cause digestive difficulties.

Health benefits of feeding shrimp to your dog

Biologically dogs should be able to eat cooked shrimp without any issues as it’s not toxic to dogs. Shrimp has a lot of benefits as well:

• It’s full of protein
• It’s a great source of vitamin B12, vitamin D, selenium, and phosphorus
• It contains key minerals, like magnesium, phosphorus, iron, zinc, copper, and manganese
• Shrimp is full of Omega-3 acids, which have been linked to a lower risk of heart disease, cancer, and inflammation.

So it should be a healthy treat right? Well yes and no.

• Shrimp contains a lot of cholesterol because it’s often fried in oil. That means that shrimp loses out to other healthy seafood because of this and you should never feed them to overweight dogs, or if your vet diagnosed your dog with heart disease or hyperlipidemia.
• Most shrimp also contain a lot of sodium! The salt content of farm-raised shrimp may range from 700 mg to 300 mg per 100 g, whereas wild-caught frozen shrimp has only 100 mg. So if your puppy has heart or kidney issues, or even hypertension you should only feed them wild-caught shrimp.
• Shrimp can also cause an allergic reaction or obstruct your dog’s intestines.

Some dogs will never have a problem with eating shrimp. However, there were way more than the necessary cases when dogs suffered either by choking on shrimp or by having digestive issues after adding this seafood to their diet.

Considering all the pros and cons I’d say it’s best to stay away from giving your dog shrimp as there are bigger risks that outweigh the benefits. However, if you take all the necessary precautions, it could be a good addition to your dog’s diet.

Cooked shrimp vs. raw shrimp

As you see there could be a lot of issues with cooked shrimp, and you can add at least a multiplier of 10 to it when it comes to undercooked or raw shrimp.

Shrimp is high in parasites, including tapeworms and the flesh of shrimp contains dangerous strains of bacteria such as salmonella and vibrio. Lice and mosquitoes also love the taste of shrimp.

Even undercooked shrimp can make your dog sick; if you suspect he has eaten raw shrimp, contact your veterinarian immediately.

The easiest approach to destroy any hazardous germs that may be present is to cook shrimp. But it matters how you do it.

You’re best off if you steam or boil this seafood without any seasoning. Yes, that means opting out of salt as well!

Fried or breaded shrimp is not the way to go either as the breading can be hard for your dog to digest and the frying oil can cause an upset stomach. They can also mean that your dog eats a lot more fat and carbs without the additional health benefits.

Can dogs eat shrimp tails and shells?

Shrimp tails and shells can be sharp, and if consumed, they can cause cuts or scratches on your dog’s digestive tract. In addition, shrimp tails can be a choking hazard, especially for smaller breeds or puppies. An important thing is to never trust someone who said that their dog ate a shrimp tail and they are completely fine and healthy. That may just be because they got lucky, but you and your puppy may not be on the right side of luck.

Because shrimp shells and tails are a choking risk, as well as making a mess of your dog’s intestines, they should not be given to dogs. Because of the shrimp tail’s and shell’s sharp and hard texture they can easily get stuck inside your dog’s digestive system and harm it from the inside. They can even perforate the intestine wall, which would mean that your puppy would need immediate vet attention.

If you’re considering feeding your dog shrimp, it’s best to consult with your veterinarian first. They can help you to determine whether or not it’s safe for your pet, and they can also offer advice on how to prepare the shrimp in a way that minimizes the risk of injury.

In my opinion, it’s better to not try your luck with this seafood.

How much shrimp can dogs eat?

Considering all of the above if you’d still like to feed your dog shrimp the next question would be how much shrimp can, or even better: should dogs eat?

Alternatives to shrimp in your dog’s diet

Giving any seafood to your dog is always risky. Aside from allergies and illness, there is always a risk of choking and internal injuries from fish bones or shells, which makes seafood one of the most hazardous meals for dogs.

However, if you’d like to up their Omega-3 intake without pills there are many alternatives to the even riskier shrimp. For example:

• Salmon is one of the best seafood that you can give your puppy. It’s delicious and cooked salmon is a great treat for dogs! But be sure to serve it boneless and completely cooked. It’s best to cut the cooked salmon into smaller pieces to make sure there aren’t any small bones that you didn’t spot beforehand!
• Sardines are inexpensive and rich in nutrients, so they are a good choice as well.

However, there are a lot of other healthy treats that you can give your dog that they’ll love. You can safely give them bananas, pineapples, and watermelons as well alongside a long list of healthy snacks.

Can dogs eat shrimps FAQ

Conclusion

In short, the answer to “can dogs eat shrimp” is yes, but with some caveats. Cooked and shelled shrimp are the best options for your pup, as they are easier to digest. You should avoid feeding them raw shrimp, as this could lead to digestive problems. And finally, always make sure to monitor your dog while they’re eating shrimp, as there is a risk of them choking on the shells.

If you’re considering feeding your dog shrimp, it’s best to consult with your veterinarian first. They can help you to determine whether or not it’s safe for your pet, and they can also offer advice on how to prepare the shrimp in a way that minimizes the risk of injury.

But in my opinion, it’s better to not try your luck with this seafood.