Can (and Should) Dogs Eat Crab Meat?

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The crab is a crustacean, making its meat very light and low in fat. It is a type of seafood that contains some vital vitamins and minerals that are required by the human body. Crab meat is very healthy, but also high in iodine.  For this reason it is not recommended to consume it every day but on an occasional basis it is a good part of your diet.

Crab meat does have certain reasons why it shouldn’t be consumed but it has more factors to benefit your dietary plan.  It contains lots of protein, minerals and vitamins. It also contains omega-3 fatty acids. If you are looking to give your dog omega-3’s consider giving them fish oil instead.  For more, check out this post:  Can Dogs Take Fish Oil?  However, some crabs also contain and cholesterol, sodium and iodine than others. So it is wise to select the crab carefully.

 

Can Dogs Eat Crab Meat
It’s best to steer your dog clear of crab meat

 

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So, can dogs eat crab meat?

Dogs like humans can eat crab. It is advisable to get a iodine test done before feeding it to your dog.  Some dogs are highly allergic to crab as it contains iodine.  For this reason, we recommend not giving a dog crab meat unless you know they do not have this iodine allergy.  Even if they aren’t allergic, crab meat should still be given in moderation.

Crab benefits the dog with its high quantity of protein and vitamin B12.  Protein helps muscle growth, cell restoration and build energy, more importantly, it supplies amino acids that help grow everything from good hair to skin nails, and even muscles in your dog. The vitamin B12 helps in brain functions and its intestinal health. If your pet cannotabsorb vitamin B12 can lead to health problems.

 

When Should you Give your Pet Crab Meat?

If a dog suffers from exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, crab meat could help if added to the diet.  It is very easy and obvious to care for a dog’s coat and nails but its pancreas is one of the most vulnerable areas and it good to always keep a check on that.  Sometimes, due to minor illnesses or other issues, dogs refuse to eat or even go anywhere near food.  Crab meat can be used to coax them to eat, it is also soft and easily swallowed.

It is necessary to understand that despite all the good nutritional value, dogs are also very sensitive and highly allergic to certain things.  Too much intake of crab meat can cause high cholesterol levels in the dog. An occasional treat is better in order to avoid health problems.

Too much sodium intake cause hypernatremia, resulting in heart diseases, high blood pressure and circulation issues in the dog.  Iodine causes lethargy and diarrhea as well. Some dogs also get a watery nose and eyes.  If a dog shows these symptoms within five hours of consuming crab, it is likely that it suffers from iodine allergy.

 

How should you give the dog crab meat?

Crab meat should always be cooked for a dog as it may contain foodborne illnesses and this could lead to the dog being sick for a long period of time.  The crab should be well de-shelled as the shells can go between the teeth and get stuck in the throat.

The best possible way to cook it is to boil it or steam it till cooked thoroughly.  No salt, garlic, onion, butter or any other kind of condiment or seasoning should be used. Some foods are very toxic for dogs even in very small amounts.

Many people will give their dog imitation crab meat, because they figure it’s better.  It is not.  Fake crab meat is made of different combinations of seafood, and is just as likely to have harmful chemicals in it.

 

What If Your Dog Already Ate Crab Meat?

 

If your dog already ate crab meat, keep a look out for the signs of iodine poisoning in dogs mentioned above.  If you notice any signs, or have that gut feeling, go ahead and contact your vet right away.  There’s no reason to potentially risk your dogs health.  But, it’s more than likely they’ll just be super jazzed to have gotten to try a rare treat.

 

Wrapping Up

Feed you’re a dog a crab but carefully and occasionally only.

Jason
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