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Can Puppies Eat Shrimp? (Quick Answers)

Your love for your puppy can make you share the food with the cute little buddy often. You may like to give a taste of whatever on your plate as it’s hard to ignore the innocent string of puppies. 

Moreover, sometimes it’s good to add change to the puppies’ food menu so they don’t get bored and at the same time get nutrition. 

If you’re thinking of feeding the shrimp that you bought last day to your puppy, but can’t proceed because you don’t know whether puppies can eat it, we are here to help. 

We’ve done research to let you know if your puppy can eat shrimp, what are the benefits of shrimp and whether it’s good for those fur balls. Read ahead to know in detail:

Puppies eating shrimp

Puppies can eat shrimp when it’s cooked and the shell is removed. Shrimp can provide protein, vitamins, and phosphorus to your puppy. But they cannot eat raw shrimp as it can make them sick. Also, regular consumption of shrimp is not recommended by professionals as it’s high in cholesterol.

While maintaining the regular diet chart for your puppy, you might often think of adding sea fish like shrimp to its plate. Well, you can surely do that because a puppy can eat shrimp. It’s not unhealthy. But they can only eat cooked shrimp that has no shell, tail, or head. 

You can occasionally treat your puppy with shrimp with its regular food. It contains protein, fatty acids, vitamins, etc. Check if a puppy can eat shrimp in the mentioned state: 

Shrimp shell: 

Puppies should not eat shrimp shells. They are very hard, crispy and tough to digest. Moreover, it may have stuck in the throat of those poor animals while eating and cause a dangerous choking hazard. 

Shrimp tails: 

Shrimp tails are another big no for puppies. Puppies can’t chew or digest the tail of shrimp as it is very hard for them. Even if they consume it might cause the puppy gastrointestinal upset.

Shrimp cocktails: 

No, puppies cannot eat shrimp cocktails. This dish includes different types of sauce and spices that are not appropriate for a puppy. If consumed, a shrimp cocktail can make the puppy uncomfortable and sick. 

Shrimp heads: 

You should not offer shrimp heads to your puppy as they can trigger an allergy. This part of shrimp is hard to digest and can cause many stomach issues. 

Shrimp chips: 

Puppies can eat shrimp chips but not too frequently. Well-cooked plain shrimp chips are safe for them to eat once in a while as snacks but it’s good to avoid oily chips. 

Shrimp paste: 

Shrimp paste is made by drying shrimp and fermenting them for a long time. It contains salt and is similar to the sauce so it’s good to avoid giving shrimp paste to your puppy. Because it can upset the puppy’s stomach. 

Shrimp tempura: 

Shrimp tempura is a deep-fried food that is not appropriate for your puppy. Oily fried foods can irritate the stomach and cause health issues such as stomach pain, acidity, and digestion difficulty. 

But occasionally a puppy can eat shrimp tempura if approved by the vet. 

Shrimp flesh: 

Shrimp flesh is good food for your puppy. When cooked well without any seasoning or spice the flesh is soft and easy to digest. It’s also enriched in protein and other essential nutrients so the puppy can eat it. 

Raw shrimp: 

No raw shrimp cannot be fed to a puppy. Raw shrimps have bacteria that can affect your puppy’s health by causing many health issues. It’s very unhealthy so professionals strictly discourage feeding raw shrimp to puppies. 

Boiled shrimp: 

Boiled shrimp is a healthy food option for puppies. Boiled shrimp that has no shell can be easily consumed by puppies as it’s soft.

Fried shrimp: 

Fried shrimp is not right as puppy food. It is fried in oil and with seasoning which a puppy’s delicate stomach can’t tolerate. 

Frozen shrimp: 

Puppies can eat frozen shrimp if it’s boiled or cooked. Otherwise cold frozen shrimp cannot be offered to a puppy. It’s not edible and healthy as a food. 

At What Age Puppies Can Eat Shrimp?

Puppies can eat shrimp. But you have to consider their age before serving shrimp to them.

Though it’s best to consult a vet nutritionist before feeding shrimp but to have a primary idea here’s a list saying at what age puppies can eat shrimp:

4 Week Old Puppy: 

For a 4-week-old puppy shrimp isn’t the right food. But at this age, a puppy can’t chew properly since their teeth aren’t strong enough by then. They mostly eat milk and dog food at this stage.

6 Week Old Puppy: 

Puppies eat puppy food when they are at 6 weeks. It’s appropriate for them to stick to this routine as they get all the important nutrients from it. However, you can introduce shrimp to your puppy by preparing it as wet food. 

8 Week or 2 Month Old Puppy: 

2 month old puppy can eat shrimp. They can eat well-cooked shrimp or boiled ones in a decent amount. But you cannot give them it regularly. 

3 Month Old Puppy: 

You can feed cooked or boiled shrimp that has no shell or crispy part to your 3 month old puppy. It’s safe and healthy for them.

Which Breed Puppy can Eat Shrimp?

Shrimp is popular among dogs. Also, shrimp containing moderate fat, protein makes it a good food for dogs. Apart from the small number of dogs, who are allergic to shrimp, all other dogs face no issues eating shrimp.

However, due to its large cholesterol content, the case is different for puppies. Many dog owners hesitate to provide shrimp to their puppies.

Chihuahua puppies:

No issues have been experienced with puppies having shrimp. But to be cautious, do not make your puppies eat a lot of shrimp.

German shepherd puppies:

A german shepherd puppy would love to eat shrimp. But being high on cholesterol, you should reconsider before offering too often.

Pitbull puppies:

Shrimp is no less favorite among pitbull puppies. But eating too much can lead to many health issues.

Pomeranian puppies:

Pomeranian puppies can shrimp in moderate quantities. Shrimp is nontoxic food, yet should be avoided in most cases. 

Labrador puppies:

Like all the breeds, Labrador puppies too need to skip on shrimp, as a regular meal or snack. 

As food allergy is pretty common among puppies, and it varies individually, please take your puppy to a vet before serving shrimp.

Are Shrimp Good For Puppies?

Shrimp is a good choice as a food especially due to containing moderate amounts of fat, protein, and carbohydrate. But being heavy on cholesterol, this particular food should not be a regular meal or treat for any puppy

For puppies with sensitive digestive systems, shrimp can be a very bad choice. Also, eating the food can lead some puppies to face vomiting, gas and diarrhea.

Shrimp is, no doubt, very nutritious and full of protein, and vitamins, and good for puppies; but you have to consider if it causes any trouble for the little creature.

Can Eating Shrimp Make a Puppy Sick?

Eating shrimp can make a puppy sick if it has eaten too many or too frequently. Since it contains high cholesterol a large quantity is harmful to the puppy. It may also increase acidity and allergy in the puppy.

Also, if the puppy has a sensitive stomach or delicate digestive system eating shrimp may cause stomach pain, irritation, vomiting, weakness, etc.

Moreover, eating shrimp tail, head, or shrimp with shell can make a puppy feel uncomfortable by stucking in its throat and hampering the digestion process.

Can Dogs Eat Shrimp? 

Yes, dogs can eat shrimp. But after a certain age and in some certain way. 

Dogs can be offered shrimp after they have reached their 8th week. They have mature teeth by that time and enjoy shrimp once in a while. It’s fine to give them one or two pieces of shrimp in one go. 

But dogs cannot eat raw shrimps or shrimp shells, tails, or even heads. Raw shrimp can cause bacterial infections in dogs and make them sick. So a dog should be fed cooked shrimp that has its shell, tail, and head removed. 

Benefits of Shrimp for puppies 

Shrimp is a good choice of food when you want to give the puppy a taste of seafood. But it’s also a healthy item thus eating shrimp can improve your little friends’’ health gradually. Let’s know what are the benefits of shrimp so that you can serve it to the puppy without hesitating.

Shrimp is a source of protein: 

Protein is a vital need for a puppy’s body. It develops muscle, makes the body healthy and firm. Protein also works to repair minor tissue when damaged. Protein keeps the puppy energetic. 

It’s a good diet food: 

Shrimp is low in calories, has less fat, and doesn’t have many calories. So it’s good food for a puppy that maintains a diet as it will not increase weight or calories unless the puppies are overeating shrimp. 

It contains vitamins: 

Shrimp is high in vitamins such as Vitamin B12, and B3. Vitamin B12 speeds up metabolism, regulates blood circulation, and keeps organs active in a puppy. 

It’s enriched in phosphorus: 

Phosphorus is another nutrient found in shrimp. Phosphorus helps to build stronger bones and teeth. It develops bone health and makes them less prone to decay.  

How to Feed Shrimp to Puppies 

It can happen that your puppy won’t show much interest in eating shrimp at first. Also, you cannot feed it raw shrimp so it has to be prepared the way it’s suitable for a puppy. To make your puppy familiar with shrimp and make it edible you can follow a few methods. 

Here’s how to feed shrimp to puppies:

Cook the shrimp: 

Cook the shrimp by removing all the hard parts such as the tail, head, and shell. Then boil until the color changes into sparkling white. Don’t add any salt, seasoning, or sauce as they are not good for your puppy’s stomach. Cooked shrimp is a healthy dish for puppies. 

Mix it with greens: 

If the puppy doesn’t want to eat the shrimp alone, cut the shrimp into small pieces and mix them with green vegetables. Thus the puppy will be able to taste the shrimp and get all the benefits without noticing it much.  

Final Thoughts

Puppies can eat shrimp occasionally as a treat. But the shrimp has to be shell-free and well-cooked. Raw shrimp is not healthy and the shell can cause puppies choking hazards. However, eating shrimp can fulfill a puppy’s need for some vital nutrients such as vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids, etc.