Can Dogs Eat Shrimp

Can Dogs Eat Shrimp? What Should You Know

Want to feed salivating shrimps to your dog?

Do you even know if it’s safe for your beloved pet dog or not?

Well, don’t worry a bit because we are here to help you.

We understand your urge of feeding your pet everything you eat. However, even when you can digest almost all food items, your dong can’t.

In this article, we have talked about everything about dog and treating them with shrimps so that you can decide whether it’s a good idea to feed your pet this seafood.

So, without any further delay, let’s dig in.

Can Dogs Eat Shrimp?

Shrimp is tasty seafood. And as like as you, your dogs can also eat shrimps. This tasty seafood is loaded with proteins, minerals and other nutrients that might improve your pet’s health by several notches. Moreover, as they are non-toxic, these aquatic critters won’t cause deadly hazards to your pup.

However, you must give them as an occasional treat to your favorite furry friend because of obvious reasons [which we have discussed later on].

Are Shrimps Healthy For Dogs? What are some Health Benefits?

When you clean and prepare the shrimp perfectly and serve them to your dog, then it is healthy for the pet. This seas food is not only tasty but also is rich in nutrients. And therefore, they can bring some healthy changes to your beloved furry friend.

For starters, shrimps are loaded with omega-3 fatty acids. These special acids are extremely good for the pup’s heart and can make it more active and healthy.

Moreover, this seafood is also rich in healthy proteins, which not only boost the metabolism but also improves health.

Shrimps are a great source of vitamin B12, vitamin B3, vitamin E, and vitamin A, which aids the pup’s health greatly.

They also contain astaxanthin, which is an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory nutrient to help the stomach and digestive system a l

But then again, even though shrimps are loaded with vitamins, minerals and other nutrients, you must make sure that you do not treat your furry friend with this seafood more often. Serve it on occasions so that it doesn’t result in any health hazards.

How Much Shrimp Can Your Dogs Eat?

Now that you know that you can feed shrimp to your pet dog on an occasional basis, let’s find out how much of this seafood you can give your beloved pup so that it doesn’t feel sick while enjoying the treat.

As a general rule, you must give a very small amount of cooked shrimp to your furry friend. Moderation is the best way to choose when serving this seafood to your precious little pup. But then again, the question still remains, how much shrimp is safe for your dog?

If you have a puppy, then a partial shrimp [obviously cooked] every now and then would be just perfect. On the other hand, for a full-grown dog, you can always serve 1-2 well-cooked shrimps and make it happy.

However, even after having such a small amount of shrimp your pup shows signs of discomfort and illness, you must not wait to take it to the vet immediately.

Are Shrimps Bad For Your Dog?

Shrimp can be both good and bad for your furry friend. And how is that? Well, if you clean and cook this seafood properly and serve it in a moderate amount on rarer occasions to your dog, it can bring some healthy changes to the pet. As it is rich in vitamins, minerals and other nutrients, it has the potential to make your pet healthy.

On the other hand, shrimps can be really dangerous for your little puppy. If you treat your precious dog with raw or undercooked shrimps, they can upset the stomach and might result in some really serious health hazards.

Raw shrimps are loaded with harmful microorganisms and bacteria [like Salmonella and Listeria] and cause severe reactions in your dog. From upset stomach to gastrointestinal distress and even seizures, raw shrimps can really do harm to your little pup.

But then again, even when this seafood is properly cooked, it still can be bad for your dog if you serve it on regular basis. As shrimps are high in fat content, the fat can directly affect the heart and blood circulation system and cause your pet severe harm.

Can Dogs Eat Raw Shrimp?

We have said time and again that cooked shrimp is the best for your dog. This means that raw shrimps are a big NO, NO for your pet. Even though dogs can eat many raw items including some fishes and meats, raw shrimps are out of bound because raw or even undercooked shrimps are loaded with bacteria like dreaded salmonella and listeria. They impose a number of health concerns and have the potential to make your beloved pet sick.

If, by any chance, your precious pet eats raw or undercooked shrimps, don’t wait to take it to the veterinarian immediately.

Can Dogs Eat Cooked Shrimp?

When you cleaned and cooked the shrimp properly, it is safe for your dog. But then again, even when this seafood is safe when cooked, you shouldn’t treat your pet with it regularly to avoid several health hazards.

Moreover, while cooking, make sure that you don’t add any seasoning, garlic, horseradish or any other toxic veggies with the shrimp. All these might enhance the taste but will surely call upon danger on your dog.

Can Dogs Eat Boiled Shrimp?

If you want to treat your beloved doggo with some boiled shrimp, then don’t hesitate. This is because boiled shrimps are good for your pup when there are perfectly cleaned and shelled. Also, make sure that you don’t under-boil them. “Not perfectly boiled” shrimps can transfer bacterial to the dog’s stomach and result in a number of health issues.

Can Dogs Eat Shrimp Shells?

Shrimp shells are as bad for your dog as raw shrimps are. And therefore, you must peel them off completely before even cooking and serving to your favorite pet.

Shrimp shells are dangerous for your pet because they are hard and not the easiest to digest. If your precious little puppy eats it in one way or the other, the shell might block its intestine and cause severe digestive system problems. A blocked intestine can cause seizures in some extreme cases.

How To Prepare Shrimp For Dogs

Preparing tasty shrimp treats for your dog is super easy and fuss-free. You just need to know the right process before preparing and serving it to your dogs. Let’s learn how to make this seafood ready properly so that it doesn’t impose any health risk on your pet.

But first, you must know a very important thing. You must always use fresh shrimp to make treats for your pup. Frozen shrimps often have rips, tears, and frost, which are not the best for your dog.

Moreover, don’t forget to remove the shell and the intestinal tract of the shrimps before you even think of feeding them to the dog.

To prepare them rightly, clean your fresh shrimp properly and then boil them on the heat for a few minutes. When the shrimps turn opaque and pearly white, remove them from the heat and let them cool down. Don’t serve hot shrimps to the pet. Once they are cooled down, you can sprinkle a bit of seaweed paper, or a drop of lemon juice to enhance the flavor.

Moreover, always remember to not use any types of seasoning for your furry friend. While seasoning increases the taste of the food, they also impose a high health risk for the puppy.

Alternatives To Shrimp For Dogs

If you don’t want to take any risk with your pup’s health and well-being, then you can always avoid shrimp and try out other foods instead to treat your dogs with.

Some of the closest alternatives to shrimp that you can feed your dogs are:

Sardines

Sardines are tiny fishes that would make your pet happy. They are rich in protein, omega-3 fatty acids, and other nutrients to help with your pet’s health. These small fishes can be an excellent treat for your pet because they are not only easy to swallow but also non-toxic. Sardines won’t cause any harm to your pet.

Salmon

Another great alternative to shrimp can be salmon. This bright red fish is appealing to your dog. Also, as it is rich in nutrients, salmon is super healthy for the pup. However, make sure to remove the bones and cook them well before serving them.

Green Lipped Mussels

Canine experts love the New Zealand mussels. This is because, aside from being loaded with essential fatty acids and other nutrients, this seafood also has pain-relieving properties. Because of the pain-relieving properties, these mussels are particularly good for dogs with arthritis.

Seaweed

Seaweed is a superfood for your beloved dog. Rich in vitamins and minerals, this seafood can provide more benefits than causing and hazards for your little puppy. Just sprinkle a little seaweed powder on any regular dog food and input all the benefits in your furry friend.

Wrapping Up

After going through this article carefully, we now know a lot about shrimp and how they affect the dogs’ diet. Even though this seafood is not toxic for the pet, it’s best to avoid serving it to your favorite furry friend for the sake of its good health. There are many other “not so dangerous” shellfish and kinds of seafood available in the market. Treat your pet with those so that you can make it happy without hampering its health.