Can Dogs Eat Calamari? Safe Seafood Feeding Guidelines

While calamari may be a tasty treat for humans, you may be wondering whether it’s safe to share this seafood with your dog. The good news is that dogs can eat calamari safely as long as it’s prepared simply, with no breading or seasoning.

That said, calamari is high in fat and calories, so it can contribute to weight gain and obesity if dogs eat too much. To make sure you’re feeding your dog the right amount, talk to your vet, and make sure you’re not inadvertently causing any health problems, like mineral imbalances.

In the sections below, we’ll take a deep dive into the research on veterinary nutrition to find out what dogs need in their diets and where seafood fits in. We’ll also look at studies on dog digestion to learn how dogs process calamari and whether there are any potential advantages or disadvantages to feeding them seafood that’s rich in omega fatty acids.

Throughout, we’ve distilled the information from a thorough review of the most up-to-date research, so you can be sure you’re getting evidence-based information about your dog’s nutrition and health.

Squid and Dog Diets: Finding the Right Balance

Dogs are omnivores, so they need a well-rounded diet that includes proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, and water to stay healthy. VCA Animal Hospitals explains that the six essential nutrients that dogs need in their daily diet are proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, and water.

Since squid is high in protein and Omega-3 fatty acids, it could be a nutritious addition to a dog’s diet. These nutrients are important for keeping a dog’s skin, joints, and brain healthy. That said, squid should be added to a dog’s diet with caution and in moderation.

PetMD notes that the AAFCO guidelines are important because they determine the nutritional adequacy of pet foods. So, if you’re thinking about giving your dog squid as a treat or supplement, it’s important to make sure that it doesn’t throw off the nutritional balance that’s been established by the AAFCO guidelines.

The protein in squid can help with tissue repair, and the Omega-3 fatty acids in squid can help reduce inflammation. However, it should be used to supplement, not replace, the basic elements of a dog’s diet.

VCA Animal Hospitals also recommends making sure that dogs eat the best food you can afford, and that means that any seafood treats, including squid, should be fresh, well-cooked, and free of potentially harmful preservatives. This way, you can make sure that you’re supporting your dog’s health without sacrificing their nutritional needs.

How Dogs Digest Calamari

Dogs have a digestive system that is well-suited to a wide range of foods due to their history as scavengers. According to PetMD, a dog’s gastrointestinal tract is adapted to digest and absorb carbohydrates and has a faster transit time than humans, with food moving through in six to eight hours. This fast transit time may impact the way dogs digest seafood like calamari, which is high in protein and fat.

Although there is no research on how calamari is digested by dogs specifically, the general process of digestion suggests that dogs may digest properly prepared calamari well due to its high protein content. That said, dogs do not have a higher nutritional requirement for the nutrients found in animal fat and protein sources, and so it’s important to be cautious when introducing calamari into a dog’s diet.

To avoid digestive upset, it’s important to make sure that seafood is prepared properly. This means that calamari should be cooked without any toxic additives like onions or garlic and that it should not be prepared in rich, fatty ways.

In addition, it should be fed in moderation to avoid obesity, which PetMD lists as a potential cause of other health problems. If these factors are taken into account, calamari can be a healthy occasional addition to a dog’s diet, ensuring that they get the most nutritional value without any negative side effects.

Navigating the Waters: How to Safely Feed Your Dog Seafood

Seafood, like squid, can be a good source of protein and omega-3 fatty acids for dogs, but it also comes with some risks. One of the most common is a fish allergy, which, while not as common as allergies to proteins like beef or chicken, can still be a concern for some dogs.

According to Smart Earth Camelina, symptoms of fish allergies can include itchy skin, upset stomach, vomiting, diarrhea, and in some cases, changes in behavior like hyperactivity or aggression.

In addition, seafood can be contaminated with toxins that can be dangerous to dogs. A paper cited by PubMed describes several cases of dogs with paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) and palytoxin poisoning, which can cause symptoms like bloody diarrhea, respiratory distress, and death. To avoid these issues, it’s important for dog owners to know the signs of an adverse reaction, which can range from mild stomach issues to severe systemic problems.

Dog owners can reduce the risk of these problems by making sure the seafood is fresh, cooking it thoroughly, and avoiding giving their dogs raw seafood. It’s also a good idea to talk to a vet before adding any new foods to your dog’s diet. By following these precautions, dog owners can make sure their pets stay healthy while still enjoying a diverse diet that includes the occasional seafood snack.

Omega-3s in Dog Food: What You Need to Know About Squid

Omega-3 fatty acids are essential for dogs because they help lower inflammation and support cognitive health. Squid is a good source of omega-3s, especially eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). That said, ResearchGate notes that it’s important to maintain an ideal omega-6 to omega-3 ratio, especially since a 6 to 1 ratio has been shown to decrease the risk of diseases like cancer and heart disease in dogs.

In addition to the benefits of adding omega-3s to a dog’s diet, it’s also important to consider the potential downsides of giving dogs too many omega-3s. According to Veterinary Sciences, marine-based omega-3 sources like squid are more effective than plant-based sources at increasing a dog’s omega-3 index, or the amount of omega-3s in red blood cell membranes.

However, the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine warns that there are potential downsides to increasing omega-3s in a dog’s diet, including changes in platelet function, weight gain, and the potential for exposure to environmental pollutants.

This is why it’s important to find a happy medium. Veterinarians may recommend adding omega-3-rich sources like squid to a dog’s diet to help ensure they get the nutrients they need without going overboard or creating a deficiency in their diet.

Final Thoughts on Giving Dogs Squid

As long as it’s served in moderation and prepared correctly—meaning it’s plain, cooked, and free from harmful seasonings and breading—squid can be a safe and healthy treat for dogs.

The high protein and Omega-3 fatty acid content in squid can even help support a dog’s skin, joint, and cognitive health. That said, it’s important to make sure you’re still following the dietary balance outlined in AAFCO guidelines when adding anything new to your dog’s diet.

We’ve covered the fact that dogs can eat squid and that their digestive systems can handle seafood as long as it’s prepared correctly. While there are potential benefits to feeding your dog squid, it’s also important to be aware of the risks, including allergies, toxins, and the possibility of foodborne illnesses.

Pet owners should be careful to monitor their dogs for negative reactions and take steps to prevent issues by making sure the squid is fresh and properly cooked.

Always talk to a vet before adding a new food like squid to your dog’s diet, as they can offer personalized advice based on your dog’s specific health concerns.

Keeping your dog healthy is all about responsible feeding, and this is a good rule to follow: While a little bit of squid can be a good way to add some variety to your dog’s diet, make sure you’re always putting safety and balance first.