Can Dogs Eat Shrimp? – Ultimate Guides to Feed Your Dog

Did you know that human and dog food don’t really mix well! It’s true! In fact, a lot of the foods you eat on a daily basis are actually toxic for your doggy friends! And, that’s why it’s good to look up human food before giving it to your furry friend. After all, how else would you know the answers to questions like, “Are oranges good for dogs?” or “Can dogs eat sunflower seeds?”! In this blog article, I would like to go over the frequently asked question: Can dogs eat shrimp? Are you ready to know the truth?

The Shrimp Talk: Do Dogs and Shrimp Mix?

Shrimp is amazing. Especially if you’re a seafood lover. All you’ve got to do is cook it for a few seconds, add some lemon juice and you’re good to go! And it goes especially well with a nice drink.

You must’ve noticed that your dog loves to give you the ‘please feed me!’ stare whilst you’re devouring your yummy snack. But, you wonder to yourself, “Can dogs eat shrimp”? Well, I’ve got the answer for you! Yes, dogs can eat shrimp. But there’s a condition. You can give him a little bit as a treat, and the shrimp needs to be cooked.

Raw Meat, Dogs, and Shrimp!

If you’re a dog owner, you know that raw meat is actually good for your dog. That being said, it is not recommended for you to feed your dog some raw shrimp. Let’s try to understand why.

Raw shrimp or raw fish of any kind is bad for your dog. This is because the raw shrimp actually comes loaded with a lot of impurities that causes shellfish toxicity. And it doesn’t just hurt your doggy friend, it hurts you as well.

Let’s Learn About Shellfish Toxicity

Shellfish toxicity is also known as shellfish poisoning and it can affect both humans as well as animals. Freshwater, as well as saltwater shellfish, of all kinds cause this toxicity. What happens is that toxins tend to accumulate in the shellfish and this poison can be absorbed by your body or your doggy friend’s body and just wreak havoc. So, the best thing that you can do is to always cook fish before having it!

Let’s Talk About Moderation!

Like I told you before, cooked shrimp is safe for your doggy friend. But, that doesn’t mean that you should give your dog a LOT of cooked shrimp! That’ll prove to be bad for your furry friend. But, feeding shrimp moderately may be beneficial. The thing, your doggy wasn’t evolutionarily supposed to eat stuff from the bottom of the ocean—where the shrimp comes from!

That being said, shrimp won’t do a lot for your doggy friend. There are much better alternatives to shrimp available for your dog. There are, however, a few things that shrimp can help your dog with. Let’s take a look:

But, speaking honestly, there are better alternatives available for your doggy friend. Give it to him as a treat, not as a part of his daily meal.

Also Read: Best Dog Food for Allergies Reviews and Buying Guide

Cooking Some Shrimp for Your Doggy Friend!

Did you know that undercooked shrimp can be really bad for your doggy friend? The thing is that undercooked shrimp contains a high level of cholesterol. So, you need to make sure that you cook it just right before serving it to your doggy friend. If you really do want to give your dog some shrimp you need to prepare it in the following way:

Step 1: Clean and Cut the Shrimp

You Need to Peel the Shrimp as Well as Remove the Veins

We do this because unpeeled shrimp can wreak havoc for your doggy friend. It’s extremely difficult for your doggy’s body to digest as well. They can even get stuck in your dog’s intestines! Did you know that tough skin can get be a choking hazard? It can also lodge in your dog’s teeth and cause problems.

Remove the Tail

If you eat shrimp, you know how hard it is to chew on its tail. And this can prove to be really bad for your furry friend—especially if he doesn’t have the teeth to chew it! So, make sure you remove everything before you go ahead and cook the shrimp for your doggy friend!

Also Read: Best Dog Food for Small Breeds – Top Reviews to Buy

Step 2: Take the Dietary Constraints Into Account

Does your dog have any dietary concerns? Ideally, you should keep them in mind before feeding your dog anything! Other than that, there are a few things you must definitely avoid when cooking shrimp for your doggy friend. Let’s take a look, shall we?

Keep in mind that shrimp does not add anything to your dog’s diet. It is not a necessity. It can make a good treat on occasion, but NOT a meal. What I mean to say is that it isn’t a good dog food for pitbulls or any of your dogs! Before feeding anything to your dog, always consult your vet as they know what’s actually best for your furry friend.

The Verdict: Can Dogs Eat Shrimp?

Human food can be deadly for your dog and it always wise to look up foods before giving them to your doggy friend. After all, that’s how you’ll know the answer to questions like “Are oranges good for dogs?”, “Can dogs eat sunflower seeds?”, etc! That being said, your dog can eat shrimp but on two conditions:

Raw shrimp is really bad for your doggy’s system and can cause shellfish toxicity which can prove to be deadly. So, always make sure that the shrimp you feed your dog is cooked. Now that you’re more knowledgeable, you’ll know what to do when your dog begs for shrimp next time!