Can Dogs Eat Shrimp?

Yes, dogs can eat shrimp in small amounts if it's fully cooked, plain and peeled. Remove the shell, tail, head, legs and vein, and serve it boiled, steamed or baked with no butter, oil, salt or seasoning.^1,2 Don't give raw shrimp, which can carry bacteria, or fried, breaded, garlic butter or scampi shrimp.^1,2,3 One or two shrimp are usually plenty for most dogs.¹

Shrimp Nutrition for Dogs

Plain cooked shrimp is high in protein and low in fat and carbohydrates, with vitamin B12, niacin, phosphorus and selenium. It's also high in cholesterol.^4,5,1 How it's processed makes a big difference to salt and fat.

Some frozen and pre-cooked shrimp are treated with additives that hold in moisture and can raise sodium more than eightfold, so check the label and choose shrimp with no added salt or sodium.^4,5,7

How Much Shrimp Can a Dog Eat?

A healthy adult dog's treats, including fruit, should be no more than about 10 percent of daily calories.^8,9 Using the Merck Veterinary Manual's energy formula for a neutered adult, that works out to roughly 35 calories of treats a day for a 10-pound dog, 59 for a 20-pound dog, 98 for a 40-pound dog, 150 for a 70-pound dog and 196 for a 100-pound dog.¹⁰ Your dog's real needs depend on age, activity and body condition. The AKC says one or two shrimp are usually enough for most dogs, and only part of one for small dogs.¹ PetMD's suggested amounts are below.² At these amounts shrimp is the day's treat, so skip other treats that day.

Calories are our estimate for a plain cooked medium shrimp of about 5.5 g. Shrimp sizes vary a lot.

How to Serve Shrimp to Your Dog

• Cook shrimp all the way through by boiling, steaming or baking, until the flesh is firm and opaque.^2,11
• Remove the shell, tail, head, legs and the dark vein.^1,2
• Serve it plain, with no butter, oil, salt, garlic, onion or spices, and let it cool.^2,3
• Cut it into small pieces for small dogs, and start with a single piece the first time.¹

Can Dogs Eat Raw Shrimp?

No. Raw shellfish can carry harmful bacteria, so cook shrimp first.^1,2 FDA testing of raw pet foods has found bacteria such as Salmonella and Listeria, which can make both pets and the people handling the food sick, and freezing doesn't kill all harmful germs.^12,11 If your dog has vomiting, diarrhea or belly pain after eating raw shrimp, call your vet right away.²

Can Dogs Eat Shrimp Shells and Tails?

No. Shells and tails are hard and sharp, and they can cause choking or an intestinal blockage, especially in small dogs.^1,2 If your dog swallowed a lot of shells or tails, watch for vomiting, loss of appetite, belly pain or straining to poop, and call your vet if you see them.^2,13

Fried, Breaded and Seasoned Shrimp

Skip fried, breaded, tempura and coconut shrimp, and shrimp cooked in butter, garlic, Cajun seasoning or scampi sauce.^1,2 Breaded fried shrimp has more than twice the calories of plain shrimp and much more fat, which can upset the stomach or trigger pancreatitis.^6,4 Garlic and onion are toxic to dogs.³ Shrimp fried rice, cocktail sauce and dried shrimp are usually salty or seasoned, so leave them out too.⁷

Can Dogs Be Allergic to Shrimp?

It's possible, but shellfish allergy in dogs hasn't been well studied. In the largest review of food allergies in dogs, shellfish wasn't even listed as a category, and fish accounted for only about 2 percent of cases.¹⁴ A first-time reaction such as vomiting or diarrhea is more likely an intolerance than an allergy.² Introduce shrimp slowly and stop if you see itching, vomiting or diarrhea.¹ See allergies in dogs.

Can Puppies Eat Shrimp?

Yes, a small piece of plain, fully cooked, peeled shrimp is fine for a puppy who is eating solid food and having treats.^2,9

When to Call the Vet

Call your vet if your dog has a poor appetite, seems tired or uncomfortable, or keeps licking his lips or gulping after eating it. Get care right away for repeated vomiting, severe diarrhea, blood in vomit or stool, weakness or collapse.² Call right away after raw shrimp with vomiting or diarrhea, signs of choking or a blockage from shells or tails, or garlic butter or scampi shrimp.^2,1,3

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