How about it, can dogs eat octopus? Are there any advantages to feeding it to them, and what are the potential drawbacks? Does it matter how you give it to them? What is it?
Can Dogs Eat Octopus?
It’s fine for dogs to eat octopus on occasion, but only in very small amounts. Making sure the octopus they eat is prepared properly is also crucial.
In the right preparation, feeding octopus to your dog has many positive effects. However, this can be harmful to the health of your dog if you do not meet the prerequisites.
There’s a chance your dog is allergic to octopus or just doesn’t enjoy the taste.
You should also exercise caution when feeding it to puppies because their digestive systems may not be fully developed.
Octopus Nutrition
As with most seafood, octopus is low in calories and a good source of lean protein. It’s also great for your dog’s heart, skin, coat, and brain because it contains omega-3 fatty acids.
Octopus is an excellent source of taurine, an amino acid that is beneficial to the cardiovascular system.
In terms of macronutrients, a serving of octopus (about 85 grams) has about 11% carbohydrates, 11% fats, and 78% protein.
It’s a healthy option because it’s low in saturated fat and high in nutrients like niacin, vitamin B6, phosphorus, potassium, and zinc. Vitamin B12, iron, copper, and selenium are all plentiful in it. Additionally, it contains beneficial nutrients like vitamin C, calcium, and magnesium.
Instead, octopus is loaded with cholesterol and sodium.
Only 139 calories can be found in three ounces of octopus. It contains only 1.8 grams of fat and 3.7 grams of carbohydrates. It’s packed with protein—25.3 grams to be exact.
It’s clear that octopus is a nutrient powerhouse.
Sushi made with octopus is recommended for pregnant women who are concerned about mercury in seafood due to its low mercury content, according to the American Pregnancy Association. A moderate level, according to the Environmental Defense Fund.
Some studies have shown that octopuses feel pain, which has sparked debate about whether or not they should be eaten.
In 2010, health officials in South Korea claimed that octopus heads had excessively high concentrations of the metal cadmium.
Officials from South Korea’s Food and Drug Administration declared that eating up to two octopuses per day, heads and all, was safe after conducting their own tests.
Customers were advised by government officials to remove the ink sac and any internal organs as a precaution.
For obvious reasons, you shouldn’t eat live octopus. In some cultures, eating a live octopus is a gourmet treat.
They can put up a fight, which could result in a choking incident. Fresh or frozen, all octopus purchased from a fish market or anywhere else online is guaranteed to be dead.
Potential Benefits
Some dogs may reap the health benefits associated with eating octopus if it is given to them on occasion and in small amounts.
Let’s examine some of these advantages in greater depth down below.
Proteins
Proteins from octopuses can give a dog a significant energy boost. These proteins also have amino acids, which are crucial to a dog’s growth and development, and are therefore beneficial to the dog’s health.
Proteins can help your dog maintain its muscle mass and energy levels, making it easier for him to engage in physical activity and thereby shed some of his extra weight and calories.
In particular, proteins aid in muscle development and promote a healthier, shinier coat and skin in your dog.
As a result, adding some cooked octopus to your dog’s diet can be beneficial because it increases their protein consumption. The same can be said for giving your dog an excessive amount of protein, but as long as the cooked octopus is part of an overall healthy diet, there is no reason to worry.
Healthy Fats
The dog’s body needs healthy fats because they have numerous positive effects on the heart and cholesterol levels. In fact, they help keep dogs’ hearts healthy by lowering their risk of heart disease and stroke, controlling blood pressure, and cutting down on harmful cholesterol.
Two grams of fat and about a gram of unsaturated fat are all that an octopus has, so feeding it to your dogs in moderation can have positive effects.
Additionally, fats can be a great source of energy for your dog. Therefore, octopuses can provide some of the healthy fats that are necessary in a balanced diet for your dogs.
Fatty acids like omega-3 have been shown to lower cancer risks, boost general immunity, and preserve cardiovascular health in dogs.
They can also improve the health and luster of your dog’s skin and fur. They may also help the eyes and kidneys work as they should, which is a boon for the development of one’s mind.
These acids, when derived from a variety of food sources, can also do wonders for the mental health and happiness of dogs.
Vitamins and Minerals
Many vitamins and minerals found in octopuses, once cooked, are beneficial to canine wellbeing and immunity. Vitamin B12, which is abundant in octopuses, plays an important role in the formation of red blood cells and is essential to maintaining healthy digestion.
Additionally, it lessens feelings of melancholy, nervousness, and drowsiness. Enzyme performance also sees notable enhancements.
Octopuses are a great source of protein, and the minerals they contain, like iron, phosphorus, and copper, can help your dog’s muscles grow stronger, his bones get stronger, and his overall health stay in check.
Potential Risks
In spite of the fact that octopuses have many potential benefits for dogs, it is not always possible to limit how much your dog consumes.
As you’ll see below, there are a few potential dangers for your dog if he or she consumes too much, too frequently, or in an unsuitable form of octopus.
Heavy Metal Poisoning
Heavy metals like lead and mercury are sometimes found in seafood, including octopuses. Potential long-term consequences include impaired neurodevelopment, blindness, and enzyme inhibition.
Toxic exposure to these metals can cause acute symptoms like nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, pain, and fatigue.
At least one of three different types of heavy metals were discovered in the bodies of dogs in a recent study.
Pathogenic Bacteria in Raw Octopus
Ingesting raw octopus can have serious consequences for a dog’s health because it may contain pathogenic microorganisms or bacteria, which can cause vomiting, nausea, and diarrhea.
This can cause a variety of infections in a dog’s body, some of which may have permanent consequences. If you and those around you come into close contact with the dogs, you may catch these bacteria as well.
In order to protect your dog from these bacteria, it is crucial that you keep them out of his system. Cooking the octopus thoroughly and avoiding skin contact with raw octopus are both helpful measures.
Sodium Poisoning
Diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, depression, seizures, and fatigue are just some of the symptoms of sodium poisoning. The results of this can be fatal in the long run as well.
Precautions
Important safety measures should be taken before feeding octopus to your dog. Below, I will break down a few of these for you.
- If you can’t keep an eye on what your dog is eating, have someone else do it for you.
- Do not give your dog raw octopus due to the high risk of illness it poses from the bacteria, heavy metals, and salt content.
- Before feeding it to your dog, make sure the octopus is fully cooked. Artificial flavors, salt, and preservatives found in dried or canned octopus can be just as harmful as they are in undercooked octopus, so both should be avoided.
- Due to their delicate digestive systems, dogs shouldn’t have any seasoning added to their cooked octopus, so keep the octopus plain.
- Don’t ever give your dog an excessive amount of octopus. You shouldn’t give it to your dog very often, but on rare occasions it’s fine.
- You may want to check with your vet before giving your dog any octopus.
- If your dog is a puppy or if your dog has allergies, it is best to check with your vet before feeding your dog any octopus.
How Much Octopus Can You Give Your Dog?
Never overfeed your dog octopus. When properly prepared, it’s a great source of protein and other nutrients, but for most dogs, it’s a very foreign delicacy.
If your dog isn’t used to it, giving it to it in large amounts could cause stomach distress.
Dogs can develop an allergy to octopus just like they can to other types of seafood.
Get your dog to the vet ASAP if it exhibits symptoms of a cross reaction. You should not rule out the possibility of using allergy medication like Benadryl.
Signs of a food allergy in dogs include:
- Itching
- Scratching
- Redness and inflammation of the skin
- Facial and oral/oral/eyelid swelling
- red, watery eyes
- Perpetual licking
- Hives
- Sneezing
Soon after your dog eats the octopus, you may notice these symptoms. A quick reaction from your dog would warrant an immediate phone call to the vet.
Symptoms of a food sensitivity, which is slightly different, usually manifest as gastrointestinal problems:
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Gas
- Sounding like you’re about to burp or belch
- Watery stools
All of these issues should go away once your dog throws up the offending meal.
How Often Can You Give Your Dog Octopus?
The octopus’ high price tag is understandable. The average octopus we found weighed 3.06 pounds, so at $7.18 per pound, it cost $21.97.
That’s the price for eco-friendly wild-caught octopus that was caught and frozen in the past before it became unusable. Prices for fresh octopus will be significantly higher.
It’s pricey, so that may be a deciding factor in whether or not you decide to buy it for your dog. You might save it for a once-in-a-lifetime event.
A small amount of octopus, once or twice weekly, provided it is acceptable to your dog, if money is no object and you have lots of octopus at home.
Conclusion
Only feed your dog octopus that has been boiled, steamed, or grilled without salt or spices if you really enjoy it. The presence of potentially harmful bacteria makes this a raw food that should be avoided when feeding your dog.
With octopus, a little bit goes a long way. For canines, this is an extremely novel diet. Until you know your dog can safely consume the whole serving, a small amount should be given at a time.
A dog’s allergy to octopus is possible if he also has an allergy to other seafood. If your dog has an allergy, you should seek immediate medical attention.