June 06, 2019 6 min read 0 Comments
Usually, dogs love being with their owners and will happily try out any foods their human owner is eating. Maybe some owners don’t even consider the consequences as they toss bits of whatever they are eating to their dogs. But have you ever wondered, if you are conscientious about what your dog eats, whether seafood is OK for your dog to eat – what about shrimp, for instance?
Most of us humans love and enjoy eating shrimp. It’s considered a highly delicious addition to a lot of other foods we eat, such as pasta. And often we love to pour cheesy-mushroom and garlic type sauces, or favorite flavorings like butter and garlic and other sauces over. We love it so much that we often move on to the larger versions of shrimps known as prawns. In the USA, shrimp is the most popular seafood eaten – one source says that the average person eats around four pounds of shrimp each year.
Shrimp consists of a small, soft, edible body – this is inside a flexible shell. The shrimp has a semi-rigid tail fin, small legs, and tentacles on its head. Whether it’s jumbo, cocktail, gulf, battered, buttered, boiled or broiled, you will find shrimp from fast food joints to dive bars to 5-star restaurants. Naturally, you will want to share this delicious delicacy with your canine companion.
Bottom-line, it is OK to give shrimp to your dog only if it has been cooked. But in saying that, there are still a couple of food safety tips to keep in mind.
Shrimp has protein in it, but there are other good benefits of shrimp. It is high in antioxidants, which includes selenium and copper. There is a very special antioxidant found in shrimps called astaxanthin. What’s so special about this antioxidant is that it is a potent anti-inflammatory, offering support to the nervous system and the musculoskeletal system as well. Research shows that an intake of astaxanthin decreases the risk of colon cancer and diabetes. Other vitamins and minerals contained in shrimp are vitamin A, vitamin B3, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, vitamin E, iodine, omega-3 fats, pantothenic acid, zinc, choline, and protein. Shrimp is simply a quality protein, low in calories and saturated fats. Sometimes if you replace the commercial dog treats with a healthier alternative, such as cooked shrimp you can control your dog’s weight too.
Another great way to get your dog some of these great vitamins and minerals check out coconut oil for dogs!
Yes, it can be a nice healthy treat. But remember to follow the rules of ensuring you follow the cooking instructions. And don’t forget to first test his reaction to eating the shrimp. When in doubt, chat to your veterinarian – this will give you peace of mind that any new food to your dog’s diet is beneficial to his health and wellbeing, and that’s a top priority.