Can Dogs Eat Crab? How to Feed Crabmeat to Dogs

Dogs can eat cooked crabmeat in moderation. Stick to real, unseasoned crabmeat, and boil it to kill off any parasites before letting it cool and serving it to your dog in small amounts. It’s essential to remove the crab shells to prevent choking.

Allergic reactions to crab are possible, especially if your dog is allergic to iodine, which is found in crabmeat and many other kinds of seafood. This reaction may include watery eyes, lethargy, and an upset stomach. Monitor your dog’s response and stool, and be sure only to feed your dog a small amount of crabmeat the first time.

A form of lean protein, crabmeat has many health benefits for dogs. This shellfish is rich in vitamin B12, which can help improve your dog’s brain function. Crab also contains protein, omega-3 fatty acids, and amino acids to support your dog’s skin, nails, and connective tissue.

Fake crabmeat is generally made of white fish, artificial food colorings, and other additives and preservatives. There are unknown ingredients in imitation crabmeat products—including imitation crabmeat sticks made out of fish paste—that can be unhealthy for dogs.

Dog food should make up most of your dog’s diet, but you can feed your dog real crabmeat as an occasional treat. Follow these tips to feed crab to your pooch safely:

1. 1. Cook the crabmeat. Don’t let your dog scoop up a crab found on a summer beach walk. Raw crab can contain intestinal parasites, negatively affecting your dog’s gastrointestinal tract and leading to a severe upset stomach. Always bake or boil the crab—the hot water will kill off parasites or pathogens and make the meat safe to eat.
2. 2. Stick to plain crab. Humans love buttery crab legs and crab cakes, but the added ingredients and spices can be harmful to your dog. Keep it simple and serve your dog plain, baked crabmeat.
3. 3. Shell the crab. Feeding crab to your dog is fine, but you’ll want to shell it first—crab legs and shells are choking hazards, so only serve the white meat inside.
4. 4. Feed your dog crab in small amounts. Crabmeat has high sodium and cholesterol content, so it can be fattening for your dog. If your dog has any health problems, like high blood pressure, crabmeat can lead to bloating or obesity. Only give your dog a little bit as a treat.
5. 5. Monitor your dog’s reaction. When feeding crab to your dog for the first time, be sure to monitor how your pet reacts. Feed your dog smaller pieces of crab at first to see if there are any side effects or allergic reactions, such as watery eyes, gastrointestinal upset, or lethargy.

Before Sharing With Your Pooch
Certain human foods can cause adverse reactions in canines, so always consult your veterinarian to determine whether it is safe to add these foods to your pet’s diet. This article is for educational and informational purposes and is not a substitute for medical or dietary advice.

Certain human foods can cause adverse reactions in canines, so always consult your veterinarian to determine whether it is safe to add these foods to your pet’s diet. This article is for educational and informational purposes and is not a substitute for medical or dietary advice.

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