What is calamari really? It’s a fancy term for squid recipes. So can dogs eat calamari? Can dogs eat squids? Squids are highly nutritious and even tasty. But is that only for humans or does it apply to canines as well?
If you want a quick, short answer, then it’s NO. Dogs should not be allowed to consume calamari freely. Many pet parents still feed squids to their dogs. So let me paint you a clear picture of feeding calamari and what it can do to your dog’s health.
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Can Dogs Eat Calamari – The Upside of Calamari
No doubt, calamari is packed with tons of protein. And this protein is beneficial for both humans and canines. Much like any other seafood, squids offer protein that improves muscle mass. Even in the case of dogs!
You should also know that calamari is very popular for its low caloric content. Depending on how calamari is prepared, the level of calories and fats can be reduced further.
Other healthy minerals present in squids include zinc and copper. What zinc does is boosts cell division and growth. It is also responsible for preventing excessive bleeding and encouraging wound healing. As for copper, it combines with iron for enhancing red blood cell formation.
So these are the benefits of consuming calamari. But that doesn’t answer the question, can dogs eat calamari. You can only answer it when you know what lies on the other side of the coin.
Can Dogs Eat Calamari – The Downside of Calamari
#1 It Can Cause an Allergic Reaction
Calamari is prepared using many methods. These include baking, frying, grilling, and steaming. Since it’s highly nutritious, the seafood is full of low fat and high protein. But, mind you, these highly nutritional elements get affected by the way you prepare calamari.
One good example is the loss of all nutrition if you decide to have fried calamari. So in terms of nutrition, feeding fried calamari to your dog is a very, very bad idea. When you fry or even grill calamari, what you’re actually doing is adding loads of saturated fats into the food. Along with spices and salt that are certainly not good for your dog and his/her digestive health.
It’s not new information that food in its raw form is considered to be the most nutritious for dogs. So does that mean feeding raw calamari is okay? I don’t think so. Because squid is seafood, right? And dogs aren’t used to consuming sea animals. This means doing so might lead to the formation of allergic reactions. Such as diarrhea, constipation, vomiting, and nausea.
Dr. Becker Discusses Raw Food Diet (Part 1)
#2 It Can Cause Other Severe Medical Problems
Can feeding calamari give rise to life-threatening medical conditions in dogs? I don’t see why not! Especially in the case of fried calamari. Saturated fats are not healthy or safe for humans. So what makes you think they’re safe for dogs? The same applies to breaded or sautéed calamari.
The thing about feeding foods with high-fat content to dogs is that they lead to more than just unnecessary weight gain. These kinds of unhealthy foods can also give rise to pancreatitis. The symptoms of this particular condition include fever and nausea. The extreme symptoms are depression, chronic abdominal pain, and vomiting.
Also, when dogs are obese, it opens the gate to more debilitating diseases such as diabetes.
#3 It Can Cause Toxicity
Let’s also not forget that calamari contains high levels of mercury and copper. After all, squids are seafood, correct? And seafood consists of toxic metals, which you obviously don’t want your precious pet to consume.
When mercury enters the body, it leads to the formation of many types of neurological and behavioral issues. Such as emotional instability, chronic headaches, insomnia, and even convulsions. Immediate treatment, at such times, is absolutely necessary. Otherwise, it can cause organ failure of the kidneys and thyroid.
What If You Still Decide to Feed Calamari to Your Dog?
In that case, keep a check on the amount of calamari you feed. Don’t throw a bunch into his/her food bowl daily. Moderation is the focus here. First, feed a little bit of boiled or steamed calamari. Make sure the portion is very little.
Steamed calamari and boiled calamari are almost one and the same thing. Keep away from feeding fried, grilled, or any other form of squids to your furry friend. Steaming and boiling don’t include adding saturated fats into the dish. The nutritional elements stay the same in the case of both boiling and steaming.
Also, when feeding the seafood, combine it with your dog’s daily food. But why is that? Simply because calamari is a very tasty treat. So it’s better if your dog doesn’t get hooked on to the delicious taste alone. If that happens, he/she might neglect eating normal food for calamari. And you obviously don’t want that to happen. Dog-specific food on a daily basis is a must.
The EndNote
No doubt, calamari is both nutritious and tasty. We humans can’t get enough of calamari. But does that mean it’s okay to feed squids to your dog? No matter how fond he/she is of calamari! Well, the answer is NO it’s not okay. And let me tell you why again.
The possible health risks of feeding calamari outweigh the benefits. That’s for sure. It’s always a better idea to be safe than sorry when it comes to the health of our pets. Your dog might develop an allergic reaction. Or it could lead to toxicity since seafood contains high levels of mercury.
The nutritional value of calamari does make it enticing for you to feed it your dog. Nevertheless, these nutritional elements are insignificant when compared to the health risks. Be it cooked, grilled, or fried, calamari is not safe. Not with additional fats, salts, and spices. And not raw either!
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