Went to the market and got some fresh prawns to cook up for dinner? You’re sure to get puppy eyes from your dog as you’re preparing them. But are you allowed to share some of the meat with your furry friend? Can dogs eat prawns, or are they unsafe for our pets? Let’s find out!

What’s a prawn, anyway?

Funnily enough, no one really knows. There’s no scientific basis for the term “prawn”, and it can refer to different aquatic invertebrates in different regions. In the USA, freshwater shrimp are often called “prawns”. An example of this is the giant river prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii), which is widely raised for food and can be recognized by its long, sturdy claws.

In the UK, the term is usually used to refer to large edible marine shrimp, usually of the suborder Dendrobranchiata. The tiger prawn (Penaeus monodon), a type of saltwater shrimp, is a common example you may come across at your local supermarket or fishmonger’s.

Here, we’ll take “prawn” to mean all of these.

Can dogs eat prawns?

Yes, they can! As long as they’re prepared properly, dogs can eat pieces of prawn. This seafood is low in fat and high in protein, making it a healthy snack for your pooch. Just be sure to keep the following in mind:

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• Prawns and other seafood should be super fresh. If you wouldn’t eat it yourself, don’t give it to your dog
• Prawns should never be fed raw, always fully cooked
• Prawns should be shelled, as their hard exoskeletons can cause digestive problems, especially in smaller dogs

Did you know? It’s often said that shrimp are too high in cholesterol to feed to your dog on a regular basis—or to eat a lot of yourself. Luckily, this has been proven to be a myth! As long as you don’t fry the shrimp in oil, they don’t affect heart health.

Can dogs eat prawn crackers?

Technically, yes, although prawn crackers shouldn’t form a regular part of your dog’s diet. Although there’s no reason to worry if your furry friend got into a bag of unsupervised prawn crackers, their high oil and fat content make them unhealthy snacks.

You can share a single cracker here and there, but don’t make it a habit.

How to prepare prawns for your dog

Bought some prawns for dinner? As long as they’re plain (not salted, pre-breaded, or marinated in garlic), you can share a few with your dog. To ensure you’re giving your furry friend a healthy snack, just set a few of the prawns aside before preparing the rest for yourself. The ones reserved for your dog don’t need much:

• Steam or boil the prawns until fully cooked (pink, without translucent areas). No salt, oil, or any additives whatsoever needed.
• Remove the head and exoskeleton, leaving only the cooked tail meat.
• Offer the tail meat as a snack or mixed with your dog’s regular meal.

Tip: If your dog has never eaten seafood before, give a small piece (no more than one prawn) to start with. Although seafood allergy isn’t common in dogs, it can happen. The result is usually itchy skin, which develops over the course of a few hours and may require treatment with antihistamines.

Conclusion: Can dogs eat prawns?

So, can dogs eat prawns? In conclusion, yes, they can eat prawns as long as they’re fresh, fully cooked without additives, and de-shelled. Start with a small amount to make sure your pooch isn’t allergic. Dogs can also eat most other seafood, including squid, octopus, mussels, and freshwater crawfish.