Basically, the majority of all common foods for humans (such as meats, fishes, eggs, vegetables, bread, rice, noodles, etc.) are edible to dogs. These foods are undoubtedly healthy (some are pricey); however, just as with humans, they need to be processed well prior to being fed to the canine fellows.
The same goes with shrimp. No matter how luxurious a treat it is, these shellfish cannot be consumed raw. It would harm your dog just as much as it would benefit him when properly cooked. So, can dogs eat cooked shrimp? Let’s find out!
Can Dogs Eat Cooked Shrimp?
The answer to this question is YES! But only because there is the keyword “cooked” there. Now, let’s see why it is a good idea to feed your puppy these little crustaceans.
Ideal Diet
Shrimp is undeniably a nutritional food for dogs. Besides, their nature of low carbohydrates makes them an ideal choice for any doggy’s diet.
Beneficial Vitamins
Shrimp flesh contains:
- Phosphorus is the guardian of healthy, strong bones.
- Vitamin B12 plays a crucial role in dogs’ metabolic progression and gastrointestinal health.
- Vitamin B3 (also known as Niacin) is vital to the dog’s body as it ensures the function of enzyme and the creation of fat and energy are carried out properly. Not to mention, numerous of other internal activities (such as secreting endocrine signals into the bloodstream) rely heavily on this irreplaceable vitamin to work smoothly.
Old Age Suppression
Shrimp holds some important antioxidants. These are powerful enzymes, chemical compounds minerals, and other vitamins that subdue free radicals (whose detrimental combination with oxidation is said to damage cells). These antioxidants can slow the aging process down, together with suppressing many age-related diseases.
Excellent Treats
There is nothing more motivated than using shrimp as a worthy prize for each trying, tricky task. What is more, a shrimp’s size is exactly that of a standard treat all dogs dream of.
What a brilliant combination, isn’t it? Seeing as every domesticated dog’s nature is overeager to please, which is now strongly boosted by such valuable treat.
Your sweet puppy will undoubtedly give any order assigned his very best.
Can Shrimp Harms Your Dogs?
The fact that shrimp is safe for dogs to eat doesn’t mean they’re completely safe, particularly when being eaten improperly. In fact, there are some ways that this kind of seafood harms a dog. Some of them are:
Digestive Problems
There is a considerable amount of salt in shrimp flesh, which is unhealthy for animals’ digestive system, especially the kidneys. That’s why if you let your furry friend consume too much shrimp in a long time, he will have renal calculus (or kidney stones).
Furthermore, your dog will be exposed to the high possibility of coughing and choking with the shrimp’s shells. The likelihood of this happening is even higher with dogs of small-sizes breeds and puppies. In this case, you might want to feed your dogs food specially made for small breeds.
Allergies
Like us, sometimes dogs are allergic to shrimp (or certain minerals or substances in shrimp flesh), too. Typical symptoms indicating seafood allergy in dogs are itchy and irritated skin. If your sweet pup is exceptionally sensitive, he may display GI upsetting signs, such as vomiting and diarrhea.
Poisonous
Posing as a choking threat aside, the shrimp’s shell itself is the home for dozens of deadly bacteria. Any type of which is capable of causing shellfish poisonousness in dogs.
If shrimp are not carefully and thoroughly processed, they can still be polluted by the contaminants and toxins that are still not eliminated completely during the cooking progress. These harmful factors can cause serious poisonous reactions, such as gastrointestinal distress, paralysis, or neurological symptoms.
Some Pieces of Advice
Choose the Right Stall
Only buy fresh shrimp (whose flesh is still shiny and translucent) at trustworthy stores and markets. Better yet, and if possible, you should choose shrimp sold by prestige branches - those with labels stated clear the products’ origins and are guaranteed by the national shellfish safety controls.
Thoroughly Preliminary Preparations
Shrimp is safe when their shells are peeled clear off. As mentioned above, because there are harmful germs making a home all over these creatures, feeding your precious doggo with raw, undercooked, or unpeeled shrimp is totally ill-advised.
Therefore, you have to prepare the fresh shrimp meticulously before cooking. To be more specific, prior to being boiled, the raw shrimp’s back must be sliced open to devein it. The following step will be the removal of its shell, legs, head, and tail.
You could use a knife or scissors to take off the hard shell while the shrimp is still raw, or you could try stripping it off after it is well cooked to minimize the loss of nutritional value. Either way, just make sure that its armor is wholly got rid of before offering it to your dog.
Cuisine
For dogs, cooked shrimp is preferable than raw shrimp. However, not all types of cooked shrimp are fine to eat. For example, fried shrimp is the number one in the no-no list.
That’s because the shrimp’s flesh inherently contains high cholesterol, so submerging them in oils and butter will make them even much fattier. Such a disastrous combination for your furry fellow’s health, is it not?
So, it is best that the shrimp are simply boiled, baked, grilled, etc. without any fat accompanied.
Plain Flavor
It is understandable that you wish to spoil your faithful puppy with the most delicious treat, and even go out of your way to purchase, or painstakingly prepare, a dish of 5-start standard for him yourself.
But you must be careful, because such human-standard foods may be flavored and decorated with butter, raisins, chocolates, avocados, macadamia nuts, etc. Those are all toxicants to dogs that you must avoid at all cost!
Also, if the amount of salt exceeds the rational limit per day, it will devastate the dog’s kidneys. There are iodates already packed inside the shrimp’s flesh. Therefore, for his health, you don’t have to give him a (very) salty crustaceous dish anymore.
Balance Diet
As per nature’s law, the most extreme thing is not necessarily the best thing. As it is, shrimp will be nutritious to the point of redundant if you feed them to your eager doggo too often. Besides, beneficial vitamins, protein, compounded minerals, etc. in shrimp can also be found in other dog foods and treats available in any pet store and supermarket.
That’s why you do not have to feed him expensive, peeled shrimp more than 2 or 3 times a week, lest he experiences weigh putting and indigestive issues due to superfluous cholesterol and protein.
Medical Support
If there is any scratching or somewhat unwell appearance on your furry friend after ingesting the shrimp, you can first cut the portion from his diet, then wait up a little while to see if the allergic symptoms clear up.
However, should he experience violent reactions like fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, even seizures, you must make a consulting call to your veterinarian immediately.
Conclusion
So, can dogs eat shrimp? Yes, in case of ‘cocked’ shrimp! But only one to two shrimp a time is enough, and don’t ever neglect to monitor your doggie every time you serve the crustaceans up to him.
If he reacts to the dish and the symptoms appear worse, do not hesitate to visit the clinic where he can be treated timely.
