Shrimps are great for dogs on a diet because they’re low in calories, carbohydrates, and fat. However, they’re high in cholesterol which means that while an occasional shrimp snack is perfectly fine – having them often can pose serious health risks. It’s definitely one of the things our dogs can eat – but in moderation.
Article Summary
Shrimp: Can You Feed It To Your Dog?
When shrimp is cooked properly, it’s generally safe for dogs. One of the only risks of shrimp is food-borne illnesses like vibriosis and salmonella, but your dog is unlikely to encounter any of these illnesses unless the shrimp hasn’t been cooked properly. Can dogs eat raw shrimp? Absolutely not. Avoid giving your dog raw shrimp.
What Are The Nutritional Benefits Of Shrimp?
Because this shellfish contains many nutrients, it’s actually good for your pup to eat shrimp. Here are the nutritional benefits of shrimp for dogs.
Antioxidants: The many antioxidants in shrimp can protect your dog from developing a chronic condition like heart disease and cancer. The antioxidants can also delay premature aging in dogs.
Taurine: Shrimp contains taurine, which is a key nutrient that can protect your dog’s brain, heart, and eyes. If your dog doesn’t get enough taurine in its diet, your furry friend could be at risk of blindness and seizures.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Shrimp carries many good fats that can enhance your dog’s health. Omega-3 fatty acids may be able to enhance your dog’s coat quality, relieve itchiness, and improve brain health [1].
Selenium: When your dogs eat shrimp, they will be getting a dose of selenium. Selenium has been shown to support the immune system. The mineral can also reduce inflammation and protect the cells from damage.
Choline: Shrimp has an abundance of choline. Choline is primarily responsible for the proper functioning of the heart, liver, brain, and muscles.
Glucosamine: Like the best joint supplement for dogs, shrimp is a good source of glucosamine, so your dog could experience optimal joint health by consuming this shellfish. Over time, your dog’s mobility will greatly improve after eating shrimp on a regular basis.
Vitamins & Minerals: Shrimp is full of key dog vitamins and minerals like B3, B12, and D3. By incorporating shrimp into your dog’s diet, you could be improving its enzyme function, stomach health, and energy levels.
How To Tell If Your Dog’s Allergic To Shrimp?
Similar to humans, many dogs are allergic to shrimp. After dogs eat shrimp, you’ll definitely be able to tell if they are allergic to this shellfish. The most common signs that your dog may be allergic to shrimp include
- Swelling of the face
- Red, irritated, and inflamed skin
- Excessive itching
- Labored breathing
- Severe stomach discomfort
In order to prevent your dog from possibly experiencing an adverse reaction to shrimp, talk with a vet before giving your dog shrimp on a regular basis. If your best pal shows any signs of an allergic reaction, you should stop feeding it shrimp immediately.
Which Dogs Should Not Eat Shrimp?
Should all dogs consume shrimp? Probably not.
While most dogs eat shrimp without any problems, some dogs shouldn’t eat it at all.
Since shrimp contains a high level of phosphorous, you shouldn’t serve this shellfish to your dog if it has kidney or liver issues. Shrimp also shouldn’t be given to dogs with heart problems because this shellfish has a high cholesterol content.
A few good alternatives to shrimp include salmon, sardines, and certain mussels. Apples and carrots are also great substitutes for shrimp. Ask an experienced vet about incorporating these great alternatives into your dog’s daily diet.
How Can You Safely Prepare Shrimp For Dogs?
If you want to start incorporating shrimp into your dog’s diet, you should know how to safely prepare it.
Cook The Shrimp: What kind of shrimp can dogs eat? Be sure to cook the shrimp before serving it to your furry friend because dogs should only eat cooked shrimp. Steaming the shrimp is highly recommended, and grilling the shrimp is okay as long as you don’t use butter. Never serve your dog raw shrimp, please. Can dogs eat fried shrimp, though? The answer is also no.
Don’t Use Seasoning: The shrimp shouldn’t be seasoned because seasoning of any kind could upset your furry friend’s stomach.
Toss The Shells And Tails: Can dogs eat shrimp tails? They really shouldn’t. Shrimp shells and tails should be removed because your dog could choke on them. If they get lodged in your best pal’s teeth and gums, severe irritation and pain could occur. The shells and tails can even give your dog an upset stomach if they rub against its stomach wall.
Keep The Shrimp Safe: When shrimp isn’t handled properly, it could cause foodborne illnesses such as salmonella. For these reasons, you’ll want to adhere to safe food handling practices while preparing this shellfish.
Talk With Your Vet: Ask a vet if your best pal has any medical conditions that could be exacerbated with cooked shrimp.
The Bottom Line
Let’s review, shall we? Can dogs eat shrimp safely? As long as dogs aren’t allergic to shrimp, they can eat this shellfish when it’s cooked properly.
A few things to keep in mind: Always toss shrimp shells and tails when preparing shrimp and avoid serving raw shrimp to your best pal. A shrimp cocktail isn’t good for dogs, so think twice before serving it to your pup.
Do not continue to serve your dog cooked shrimp if you notice it’s experiencing an adverse reaction. The telltale symptoms of shrimp allergies in dogs include gastrointestinal upset, itchy skin, difficulty breathing, facial swelling, and frequent urination. A dog could even experience anaphylactic shock, though it’s extremely rare.
Consult with a vet before serving shrimp to your dog.
FAQ
1. Is shrimp poisonous to dogs?
Shrimp isn’t usually considered dangerous or poisonous to dogs unless it’s improperly cooked or served to a dog that’s allergic to shrimp. When shrimp isn’t handled or cooked properly, your dog could be at risk of food-borne illnesses like salmonella and vibriosis.
In addition, if your dog is allergic to shrimp, this shellfish could potentially be poisonous. The worst-case scenario is that your dog will suffer from anaphylactic shock, but more than likely, your dog will only experience symptoms such as excessive itching, diarrhea, troubled breathing, and facial swelling. If your dog is suffering from an allergic reaction, you should stop feeding it shrimp and contact a vet immediately.
2. How much shrimp can a dog eat?
Most dogs can enjoy and handle a little bit of shrimp in their diet. As a general rule, shrimp should be thought of as a scrumptious, occasional treat.
Medium-sized dogs, they should only consume two shrimp every day whereas tiny dogs should only consume about one shrimp a day.
The most important thing to remember is that dogs shouldn’t eat shrimp in large portions.
3. What happens if a dog eats one shrimp?
Shrimp is a tasty snack that most dogs enjoy, and this shellfish actually offers many health benefits to dogs as well. As long as dogs aren’t allergic to shrimp, they could experience many of the health benefits from eating just one shrimp.
Recognized as a healthy snack for dogs, the many nutrients in shrimp have been shown to improve a dog’s immune system, heart, eyes, brain, joints, and skin. Due to the fact that shrimp is full of antioxidants, this shellfish could even protect a dog against certain medical conditions such as cancer, heart disease, and other chronic diseases. Shrimp contains taurine, so it may also be able to reduce a dog’s risk of developing seizures.
