Can Dogs Eat Crab? (King Crab & Steamed Crabs)

If you’re spending some time at a waterfront location, then crab might be on the menu for your family. But what about for your dog?

As you’re prepping the seafood for your dinner, you might be wondering:

Can my dog eat steamed crabs?

and

Can my dog eat king crab?

Yes, dogs can eat crabs in moderation, but it’s better if you don’t feed it to them. Below we’ll explain this to you in more detail.

Can Dogs Eat Crab Meat?

Yes, dogs can eat crab meat but you should never give your dog more than just a little bit of crab meat.

According to Nashville veterinarian Dr. Patel,

Most of the time it’s safe to give your dog a little bit of crab meat, but there are some dietary concerns to think about.

So, just because a dog can eat crab meat, doesn’t mean that you should feed it to him. And you certainly should never make it a regular part of his diet.

Benefits of Crab Meat In A Dog’s Diet

Crab meat actually offers a lot of benefits to a dog’ diet.

• It’s a lean protein.
• It’s a good source of omega-3.
• It’s a good source of vitamin B12 and the mineral, zinc.

So, a little crab meat can make your dog’s coat shiny, ward off heart disease, improve kidney function and brain function.

Sounds pretty good right? Well, not so fast.

Risks of Crab Meat For Dogs

With all those awesome benefits above, you might be thinking this is a miracle food for doggos. But the truth is that there are some serious risks here.

Here is why you should not feed your dog crab meat:

• Raw crab meat has intestinal parasites, which is very painful for the dog.
• The crab shell is super sharp and it can cut dog’s gastrointestinal tract and result in internal bleeding. (no crab legs either!)
• Some dogs are allergic to cooked crab.
• Crab is naturally high in iodine, which dogs may be sensitive to.
• Crab is naturally high in cholesterol, which makes digestion difficult for the dog.
• Crab is naturally high in sodium, which makes an electrolyte imbalance in the dog.

Even cooked crab shell is too dangerous for dogs to eat.

As you can see, there are far more negatives than positives where it concerns dogs eating crab meat. So, it’s better to just not let your dog eat any crab meat at all.

But, if you insist on giving your dog some leftover crab, just remember that he may be allergic to it. You should introduce it gradually to prevent vomiting or diarrhea.

Can Dogs Eat Imitation Crab Meat?

Since you know that you shouldn’t feed your dog a lot of real crab meat, you might be wondering if imitation crab meat is a good alternative.

You can feed your dog imitation crab meat, but you shouldn’t because it’s not good for him either.

Since it’s not real crab meat at all, this stuff is full of additives, preservatives, and a mix of processed white fish. It is not healthy for your dog to eat and may give him GI distress.

Can Dogs Eat Crab Sticks?

Usually crab sticks is not real crab meat, but instead imitation crab meat. And your dog should not eat that.

So, no, you should not let your dog eat crab sticks.

Summary

Crab meat offers a lot of benefits for dogs, but it is also a risky food for them to eat. You dog may even be allergic to shellfish like crab.

You can feed your dog crab, but only in moderation. And you should never let your dog have any of the crab shell, including the crab legs.

But a little bit of crab once in a while is safe for your dog to eat — just stay away from the shell and that gross imitation crab meat stuff.

image: Deposit Photos

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