Can dogs eat prawns? Many dogs are curious about their smell, but can you offer them to your doggo? Yes, dogs can eat prawns as long as they are thoroughly cooked, peeled, and cleaned. In fact, prawns offer your dog some of the same benefits we humans enjoy from adding seafood to our diets. Your dog might actually love the taste of prawns. Prawns are an excellent source of protein, B-vitamins, and phosphorus. Protein helps your pet maintain healthy muscles. Vitamins B3 and B12 boost gastrointestinal health, and phosphorus is essential for healthy bones.

Prawns should not be eaten raw, so cooking them is important to ensure that they are safe for consumption. It is advised against feeding your dog raw seafood and shellfish because they could potentially carry parasites. Prawns are no exception, and raw prawns may carry harmful pathogens or parasites that could make you or your pet ill or case gastrointestinal upset.

Crustacean shells are notoriously indigestible, hard and sharp. It is important to ensure that all the shells are removed before feeding them to your dog as any part of the shell can be a choking hazard, irritate or obstruct their digestive track and are harder to break down. Prawns are tasty and nutritious, but they should also be fed in moderation even though they are low in calories and fat. As with all snacks, it should not be more than 10% of their daily food intake.

There are multiple health benefits which prawns provide for dogs. They help promote healthy brain function, thyroid function and joint health, as well as being a nutritious food source.

Anti-Inflammatory - Prawns very high in omega-3 and omega-6. These fatty acids are ideal for dogs with skin allergies or joint disease. They also enhance skin and joint health by improving the skin barrier’s defences to environmental substrates, and improving joints by making the joint fluid more viscous, thereby enhancing the joint’s ability to glide smoothly and deal with concussive forces.

Antioxidants - Prawns are a great source of selenium and astaxanthin antioxidants. Antioxidants fight free radicals which can be damaging to the body, and as a result improve your dog’s immunity. They can even reduce the likelihood of developing certain types of cancer.

Brain Function - Prawns are naturally very high in iodine; a mineral which is vital for thyroid and brain health.

Nutritious - High in protein, B-vitamins and phosphorus, which is beneficial for muscle growth and synthesis of DNA. B-vitamins also have an impact on cell metabolism, brain function and energy levels, and phosphorus contributes to healthy bones, including teeth, and efficiently functioning kidneys.

Shellfish and seafood can have a few caveats when it comes to letting your dog eat them. Some seafood are contaminated with heavy metals like mercury which can pose a problem if fed regularly. Luckily though, prawns don’t carry these risks of contamination because they are short-lived and small, so any build-up of metals inside them is minimal.

A majority of dogs are not allergic to shrimp but what’s even more common in dogs is their complete rejection of shrimp in general. In case your dog’s stomach rejects shrimp, make sure to expect bouts of diarrhoea and vomiting. Allergic symptoms may range from excessive scratching and feet licking, ear inflammation, inflamed skin, chronic gas, and diarrhoea, to other gastrointestinal problems as well. Should you observe these symptoms, take them immediately to the veterinarian for proper treatment. As always, with any new food, it’s always best to feed your dog only a little at first. When in doubt, please consult your veterinarian.

At Kuro Snacks, we are happy to introduce Ebi Bites by Kuro Snacks to the line up of delicious, healthy and natural snacks without any artificial additives, coloring, flavoring or preservatives. Prawn bites with Ginger & Rosemary. For Anti-Inflammatory, Arthritis, Better Digestion, Motion-Sickness, Skin and Coat Support.