Shrimp when done nicely, can be absolutely delicious. Before you feed your dog shrimp, there are a few technical details you will need to know about. Have some information from Mobile Pet Grooming professionals or veterinarian.
Though it may be a nice treat to give to your dog and it’s healthy to its diet, just like with everything in life, it should be given in moderation. Provided shrimp is fully cooked, it is not harmful to dogs.
This also goes for other kinds of shellfish, this includes lobster. Also, don’t let your doggie have free access to a sizeable amount of cooked shrimp.
Keep reading to find out more about how to best feed your dog shrimp. Let’s get started!
Is It All Right for Dogs To Have Shrimp?
One very important thing you need to know is that shrimp it needs get cooked properly. Uncooked shrimp contains some dangerous bacteria that can lead to shellfish toxicity.
Also, feed your dog small portions of shrimp per each feeding. There are other foods that have a higher protein content than shrimp, like tuna or salmon. Though it’s low in calories, dogs can easily digest shrimp.
Minerals such as iron, calcium and phosphorous contained in shrimp help in strengthening teeth and bones, plus quicken a dog’s metabolism.
A potential danger you need to be conscious of is that shrimp have high levels of cholesterol levels. So, if your doggie struggles with its weight, it’s advisable to avoid shrimp. Also, it can negatively impact your doggies’ cardiovascular system. Best to put your Fido on a prescribed diet.
How Can Your Dog Eat Shrimp Safely?
Always give your dog a small well-cooked piece and monitor him for warning sign for allergy or even food sensitivity. Also, shrimp heads and tails should be removed before feeding your dog.
Some signs to watch out for are:
- Difficulty breathing
- Aggressive scratching
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
When you observe any of these reactions after your dogs eat shrimp, immediately contact your vet. It’s possible that shrimp causes the problem and it is best to stay away from shrimp later on.
Is it Good For Dogs?
As an occasional treat for your dog, this low-cholesterol, low-fat shellfish plays a beneficial role in his diet. Besides being tasty, shrimp contains a healthy combination of important nutrients like phosphorous, niacin, Vitamin B12, niacin, and anti-oxidants. Vitamin B12 is important for brain health, proper metabolism, and gastrointestinal well-being.
Vitamin B3 or Niacin contributes to the overall energy level of your dog. It is important for protecting the cardiovascular system of your dog and supporting a healthy metabolism. Niacin contained in shrimp enhances proper blood circulation, healthy skin, and brain function.
The phosphorus is essential for healthy bones. And the anti-oxidants in shrimp help reduce brain aging.
Is it Bad For Dogs?
As an occasional treat, shrimp that is properly prepared is safe for your dogs. But, some words of caution.
If your doggie has circulatory problems, is diabetic, or overweight, avoid shrimp. Since shrimp is high in cholesterol and also excess cholesterol might add to circulatory complications like high fat/lipid content or hyperlipidemia in blood.
Though a huge amount of shrimp will have to be eaten by your dog frequently to be the only cause of hyperlipidemia, it is recommended to maintain a diet with low cholesterol.
If your canine has a thyroid disease, avoid shrimp too. Shellfish and shrimp generally, are a common source of the dietary iodine and can be harder to control with a thyroid disease.
Are Dogs sensitive To Shrimp?
It can happen that some dogs develop an allergic reaction to shrimp. Food allergies can occur to all dogs at any time and for different reasons or your dog may have a genetic inclination to food sensitivity or food allergies.
Even though foods mostly account for merely 10 percent of allergies found in dogs, it’s advisable that you limit shrimp that your dog can take until you are certain there won’t be any allergic complications.
It is best to stay away from shrimp if your doggie has any known sensitivities to another food or allergies.
Does My Dog Need To Consume Shrimp?
Before you start feeding your dog a whole bunch of shrimp because you think that your dog needs to have more shrimp, remember that the important nutrients found in shrimp can also be found in other sources of protein found in commercial treats and dog foods.
Meaning that shrimp is not necessary to have a healthy diet for your dog.
Actually, although shrimpy options are ample in cat treats and foods, these are only in a few commercially available dog foods. Even then, you will often find them as whole shrimp versus shrimp meal.
Some of these are Applaws brand that has a small choice of high protein dog treats and foods carrying shrimp meal. Each contains shrimp and salmon option that have shrimp in chicken or salmon based wet food.
Can Dogs Have Raw Shrimp?
Your pet dogs should not be fed with raw shellfish. According to the U.S., Food & Drug Administration eating raw shrimp can be hazardous to your dog because it may contain some parasites.
Also, eating raw shrimp will put your doggie at a high risk of contracting serious food-borne illnesses.
When your dog eats raw shrimp, be on the lookout for indications of stomach upsets. Get in touch with your vet when you notice unusual behavior like vomiting, dizziness, or diarrhea.
In Closing
Although feeding your pet dog shrimp may be a good little healthy treat. But remember to only feed your dog fully cooked shrimp. Dogs eat asparagus too. It can either be steamed in some clear water or boiled. An important note is that you do not give shrimp tails, heads, or shells to your pet dog. And bear in mind to first check your dog’s response to the shrimp. It is always best that you first talk to your vet to ensure that any new addition onto your dog’s diet benefits him. Always remember to limit the feeding to a bunch of shrimp a few times a week.
