How can I feed my dog calamari? Dogs are carnivores, and sometimes their owners want to include seafood in their pets’ diets.
Unfortunately, there are some serious risks to consider when feeding your pet seafood. This is because dogs can’t eat all seafood without risking the consequences of poisoning.
Some fish are natural sources of vitamin B12, and many people choose to incorporate them into their pets’ diets as a result, but there are still some ocean critters that should never be fed to dogs.
This is the case for the popular seafood dish calamari, which should not be fed to dogs because it can cause symptoms ranging from mild nausea to tremors and seizures, according to the Merck Veterinary Manual.
Read on to learn more about raw calamari’s risks to dogs.
Can your dog eat calamari?
The good news is that cooked calamari is safe, nutritious, and downright delicious when served with pasta and your favorite tomato sauce.
The bad news? Raw calamari has enough toxicity to kill even the most carnivorous of pooches. Raw squid, also known as calamari, can be toxic to dogs when ingested.
Raw squid and calamari have a naturally occurring poison called taurine in them that can negatively affect the dog’s heart, liver, or other organs.
If you are feeding your dog raw calamari and they start showing symptoms of illness, call the veterinarian immediately.
Should you feed your dog calamari?
Typically seafood consumption poses a risk of food poisoning because it is not considered thoroughly cooked or preserved before being served.
If your pet has eaten raw calamari or any raw seafood product please contact your veterinarian immediately for possible treatment advice.
Your dog can better stomach cooked calamari when treated to it in moderation. Remember, always cook seafood until there is no longer any red color on the surface of the fish or shellfish. Another consideration when feeding your dog calamari is that it can often by deep fried.
This makes for a calorific treat for your dog, that can lead to weight gain and subsequent issues. Be very wary of feeding high-fat calamari to your dog, only giving small pieces in moderation, and never feeding your dog raw calamari.
What is calamari?
Calamari refers to a type of squid that can be cooked in many different ways. The most popular way of cooking the calamari is frying it.
There are three main types of seafood that most people think of when they hear the word: fish, shrimp, and calamari.
It’s important to note that not all seafoods are safe for dogs and some seafoods can make them very sick if they eat them. Read on for more information about seafood poisoning in dogs.
What to do if your dog eats calamari?
Food poisoning can be quite common in dogs who have accidentally been fed something their owner didn’t know they couldn’t eat.
If your dog has eaten some raw calamari or had a large amount of cooked calamari, they could experience food poisoning.
Symptoms typically occur within one or two hours after ingestion, and can last anywhere from three hours to five days, depending on the severity.
Symptoms of seafood poisoning in your dog!
Squid poisoning has a number of effects on dogs. The specific symptoms will depend on the amount of poison eaten and the dog’s breed, weight, age, and health status.
Typical symptoms of squid poisoning include vomiting, diarrhea (which may contain blood), staggering gait or uncoordinated movement such as staggering around or circling in a clear area but not moving any closer to food or water source even though they are hungry or thirsty.
Symptoms also include a high fever and drooling. A few cases have been reported with dogs dying within 24 hours after eating raw calamari while others experience less severe symptoms like fatigue, pale gums, shallow breathing, loss of appetite and decreased urination that can last up to 2 weeks.
The only cure for this type of poisoning is symptomatic treatment so if you suspect your dog ate calamari then take him to the vet immediately.
Some symptoms can be mistaken for other diseases which means it’s best to consult a veterinarian who knows what he/she is looking at when diagnosing your pet.
If your dog has eaten calamari, or if you suspect he has, bring him to your vet immediately.
If you have any questions about whether or not your dog should eat a certain food item, it is always best to ask your veterinarian before feeding it to your pet.
