We earn a commission when you shop through our links on this website.

Can Dogs Eat Shrimp

Tonight you are thinking about cooking some shrimp on the grill. You love some shrimps. You can’t live without it in your far left corner, you see your dog barking at you for some shrimp, but you are not sure if your dog can eat shrimp. So the big question many dog owners ask is, Can I feed my dog some shrimp? The answer is yes. You can provide your dog shrimp. However, many critical factors come into place when determining how well your little furry pet will react to such food. Twenty-seven percent of the United States seafood consumption went to shrimps alone. Shrimp is a massive part of the American diet for shellfish to be such tiny creatures. Hence, why do a lot of people question dogs can eat shrimp? Dogs can eat shrimp. Although it merely all depends on how you serve the shrimps, how well you cooked them, and the amount of shrimp you feed your dog daily.

Can Dogs Eat Shrimp
Can Dogs Eat Shrimp?

Shrimp: Good or Bad for Dogs?

Is shrimp good for dogs? Are shrimp terrible for dogs? Can shrimp be good and bad sometimes for dogs? Believe it or not, shrimps have a lot of nutrition your dog can benefit from. If you are wondering about calorie count, shrimp is low in calories. Shrimp have a lot of proteins and can also help build your pet’s immune system up. Some of the protein from shrimp includes Niacin which is vitamin B13. It is responsible for assisting balance body functions. It helps regulate the function of enzymes and chemical signals. Vitamin B12 impacts how the metabolism system is processed after food is consumed. Anti-oxidants are used to delay brain aging, and Phosphorus helps keep bones and articulations in good shape. Lastly, Glucosamine, which is also another protein found in shrimp, is very beneficial for dogs as well.

Shrimp also includes the three primary fatty acids that end up in the nutritional contents needed for dogs and humans. So can dogs eat shrimp? Yes, but is shrimp terrible for dogs? The only harm that comes to eating shrimp is catching a bacterial infection called Vibriosis. Both humans and dogs can catch this virus due to eating undercooked or raw shrimp. To avoid this, always make sure you are not eating any raw shrimp. Some days shrimp may disagree with your dog’s stomach, which can result in vomiting, diarrhea, or discomfort from an upset stomach. Either you are giving your dog too much at a given time, or simply the dog can not tolerate shrimps.

How Much Shrimp Can dogs Eat?

There are a lot of dogs, including cats, overweight, and this can lead to severe health issues. Specific diets should be put in place to help pet owners maintain a healthy weight for pets. Typically this diet can be met with simply pet food which includes all the nutrients that pets need. Of course, all pets get extra treats which can be 10% of a pet’s regular diet. So, according to World Small Animal Veterinary Association, a dog that weighs about 30 lbs would eat on average up to 101,346 calories a day.

With shrimp being about ten calories, you can say 10 to 13 shrimps a week would be good enough not to make your little furry pet sick. So basically, you want to give your little dog half a cup or less per week. You don’t want to give dogs any more than 1-2 shrimps a day for dogs bigger in size. To be on the safe side, anytime you are thinking about alternating your pet’s diet or giving your dog foods outside of their daily routine. Be sure to run it by the veterinarian to ensure that your dog won’t run into any underlying medical-related issues.

Most importantly, you want to make sure your dog is not allergic to shrimp. A lot like humans, some dogs are allergic to certain foods. To be sure, always test a small portion to make sure your dog is not allergic to shrimps. Overall, you want to feed your dog in small quantities of shrimp at a time, for you do not want to upset your dog’s tummy by giving them too much shrimp.

Cautions of Dogs Eating Shrimp

Raw Shrimp : Good or Bad For Dogs

Always make sure you’re not giving your dog any raw shrimp. Raw shrimp creates food Bourne illnesses such as Vibriosis, an upsetting effect caused on the stomach resulting in vomiting or diarrhea. So please do not feed your dog any undercooked seafood. Your dog can also catch an allergic reaction from eating shrimp. A few symptoms include facial swelling, hives, difficulty breathing, vomiting, and diarrhea. In any event, these issues occur. Make sure to visit our dog’s veterinarian to assure the dog is ok and doesn’t have any medical issues.

Can dogs eat Shrimp Shells or Tails?

To avoid your dog from choking, please be advised to remove any shells. Do not give your dog shrimp shells. As for tails go, dogs are not allergic to them, but they may cause upset stomachs due to the dog’s stomach not being in alignment with the shrimps. Dogs should not eat any shrimp tails or shrimp shells. Shrimp shells pose a choking hazard and should be discarded before shrimps are given to dogs. Shells can also get caught in a dog’s gums, causing irritations. We all know we do not want to hear our little dogs barking and hollering in pain from a bit of shrimp shell.

Can Dogs eat Shrimp Fried with Batter?

Though fried shrimp tends to have extra calories, including butter and many other ingredients, it is safe to say do not feed your dog fried shrimp. To stay on the safe side, stick with steamed shrimp. Giving your dog too many fatty foods can increase the risk of your dog catching pancreatitis and other health issues. You may like to eat your shrimp with a bunch of sauces that may include onions and garlic. These two are no good, for they may upset your little digs tummy as well. Please avoid feeding your dog these. You want to avoid adding extra fats to your little dog’s stomach. Always check with your dog’s veterinarian about any changes you make to your dog’s diet plan.

How Should Dogs Eat Shrimp?

 You always want to make sure you properly cook your shrimp. Steaming or grilling shrimp for your dog is fine as long as you’re not using any batter or sauces that add to the unwanted calories for your dog. Keep in mind to remove all shells and shrimp tails, for you do not want your dog to chock or catch an upset stomach. The shells can also get caught up in the dog’s mouth, gums, and teeth, resulting in significant irritation. Look at shrimp as an extra treat that you give your dog and not an actual full course meal. Use shrimp in your dog’s protein diet.

Can Dogs Eat Shrimp?

Some dogs may have much more sensitive stomachs than others. In most cases, Pomeranians’ stomachs are very sensitive, so in this case, shrimps would not be recommended to give this poor little creature. This is because it would result in your dog having an upset stomach. Always check with your dog’s veterinarian to ensure any changes made to your dog’s diet would not affect the dog in any medical way. So crucial factors to always remember, check if your dog’s stomach is compatible with shrimp. Make sure your dog is not allergic. Remember to peel all shells and tails off before feeding to your dog. Make sure shrimp is fully cooked and steamed—no fried shrimps. Do not feed the dog more than a certain desired amount a day. Remember to go in small quantities always.

Shrimp, we all can agree, is one of the most highly favored seafood options available worldwide. So after reading this today, I bet you don’t have to worry yourself anymore wondering if your dog can have shrimp. You should have no issues as long as you follow suitable precautions when feeding shrimp to your dogs. Always keep in mind to speak over any problems or concerns you have regarding your dog’s diet with the veterinarian to ensure and help you maintain a healthy pup: no fried or deep-fried shrimp. You always want to make sure the shrimp is plain and accompanied by no sauces whatsoever. These include garlic, onions, etc. They carry extra calories. You do not want your dog to become overweight, for this will only create more issues for both you and your pup medically. Enjoy your day full of shrimps. Remember, dogs only get a treat in small quants. Not a full course meal of shrimps!

Can Dogs Eat Shrimp
Scroll to top