We may associate it with Ursula, the antagonist from Disney’s The Little Mermaid, when we think about octopuses.
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Or we may link it with Kraken, the gigantic sea monster. However, beyond these creative presentations, the real value of octopus lies with its presence in the marine ecosystem and how its presence shaped the best dishes in our kitchen.
With its meaty flesh, octopus is a clear frontrunner in the culinary world. Famous dishes like French’s Moules Marinières, Spanish Pulpo a Feira, and Japanese Takoyaki are just some that use octopus as their main ingredient.
Given this, many people still ask and pursue to clarify: can dogs eat octopus? Is octopus safe for canines?
A pool of answers may surround your thoughts right now. Yet, let’s sail together as we quest for the best solution by understanding the nature of octopus, how it can help your dog’s diet, and ways to prepare it best and safe for your dogs.
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What is Octopus?
Octopus is a sea creature that is known for its eight legs and two rows of suction cups. This animal is claimed to have its origins in Southeast Asia but exported worldwide for human consumption.
It can be found in frozen food sections at grocery stores or fish markets as a whole product (heads on).
There are also canned octopus products which include the tentacles or the entire body.
Famous dishes that use octopus as their main ingredient are the “Pulpo a la Gallega” dish from Spain and Japanese dishes such as Takoyaki.
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Hence, octopus is best cooked through grilling, steaming, and boiling.
Octopus contains high amounts of protein, vitamin A, zinc, and several other micronutrients that are healthy for our bodies.
The benefit of its health includes improving blood flow by promoting good circulation throughout the body, which will help reduce some diseases such as high blood pressure.
Food family of octopus
Octopus belongs to the food family of seafood.
Seafood is discernibly known as a great provider of protein and micronutrients to the human body.
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In addition, seafood is an abundant source of omega-three fatty acids, which is very beneficial for our heart health by promoting healthy blood flow and reducing cholesterol levels in our bodies.
Seafood such as octopus is also known for its sustainable qualities. They have a low environmental impact, which provides nourishment to animals further up in the food chain with its nutrient content simultaneously.
With all the given facts, can we offer this eight tentacled animal to our four-legged canine friends?
Can dogs eat octopus?
Of course, dogs can eat octopus due to its high protein content. Its nutrient profile can boost our dog’s energy levels without causing them to gain unnecessary weight in their body.
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As earlier mentioned, an octopus has a high content of vitamin A, which is beneficial to our dogs since it helps promote healthy eyesight.
It also has a high amount of zinc, which will help boost our dog’s immune system by synthesizing new cells and repairing damaged ones more efficiently than its counterparts with normal zinc levels.
However, there are some preventive measures that we must take when feeding octopus to our pets — especially if they are not used to eating it in the first place.
For instance, octopus’s suction cups may get stuck on the tongue or roof of a dog’s mouth. Or, it may choke your dog when you feed it in large chunks.
In that case, we are preparing the best ways to feed your dogs with octopus:
Best Ways to Feed your Dogs with Octopus
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Wash the meat properly before cooking
When preparing a sumptuous meal for your dog, you have to ensure the meat of an octopus has been washed properly to avoid any bacteria and other parasites from contaminating it.
Ideally, we recommend boiling the octopus with at least two cups of water for around 20 minutes before cutting the tentacles into small chunks or cubes.
This will help remove any dirt particles stuck on its surface and kill off all harmful microorganisms residing in it.
Give your dog a fresh octopus, not the ones found in canned food.
Please do not give your dogs larger chunks of the octopus because it may get stuck on their mouth or throat.
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You can slice them into smaller pieces for consumption instead. When cooking, boil the meat with rice to maximize its nutrients before serving it to your pets.
The boiled rice will also help reduce the chances of choking your dogs while feeding on an octopus.
Feed smaller amounts for more servings.
Since seafood such as octopus has a high amount of protein, you must feed only small portions to avoid overfeeding your dog with its nutrient content which can lead to weight gain problems in some cases.
Reasons Why Dogs Can Eat Octopus
Octopuses don’t serve only with their meaty flesh. But, then, too, this eight-legged animal is known for the many benefits it can provide to both humans and dogs alike:
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Easy to eat
The meat of a cooked octopus is easy to chew and digest. It will not cause any digestive problems to your dog’s stomach, which is excellent news for dogs who are always on the move and want an energy-boosting meal when they get hungry.
Rich source of vitamins and nutrients
Octopus has a high content of omega-three fatty acids — a vital nutrient helping improve cardiovascular health by reducing cholesterol levels in our blood vessels while promoting healthy blood flow to the heart.
Plus, it also contains high levels of vitamin B12 and D — both beneficial to our dogs’ muscular system since it helps in synthesizing new cells and repairing damaged ones.
Boosts your dog’s immune system
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Octopus is rich in zinc, which can help boost the overall immunity by allowing their bodies to produce healthy cell tissues while repairing any damaged cell tissues at a higher rate.
Provide an energy boost
Octopus is rich in protein and low-calorie content, which can be beneficial for dogs who are always active and athletic — especially those who often participate in competitions or training sessions.
The nutrient profile of this seafood will help power up your dog’s energy levels without putting on the pounds.
Possible Concerns When Eating Octopus
To set realistic expectations, let us discuss some of the possible concerns you need to take note of when feeding your dogs with octopus:
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May cause food allergies
If your dog is not a seafood lover, it may be hard for them to digest and eat this meal without getting sick or having digestive problems later on.
In that case, we recommend giving their bodies some time to adjust and adapt before you feed them with octopus or any other seafood.
Heart disease
Since octopus is rich in cholesterol, it may cause high levels of these “bad” fats to accumulate inside your dog’s blood vessels.
If left untreated, this can also lead to heart diseases and other health problems that are hard to manage or control down the road.
Shellfish toxins
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Shellfish poisoning can occur if you feed your dog with an octopus with a high level of toxins found in shellfish.
This can be caused by consuming contaminated seafood or undercooked ones, so it is important to always cook them thoroughly before feeding this meal to your furry friends.
Signs your dog is sick from eating octopus
Signs of sickness appear when your dog acts unusually. For example, you may wonder if your pet is in pain or if they feel sick.
If you see any of these signs, it’s best to call a veterinarian immediately:
Vomiting
In case the octopus was not adequately cooked before being served for consumption, your dog may have been exposed to shellfish toxins.
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This causes your dog to vomit and have diarrhea later on, which will only cause dehydration and other health problems that are hard to manage.
Unusual or sudden changes in appetite
Octopus is rich in high protein content, so if your pet suddenly starts rejecting their food, it may be a sign they are not feeling well at all.
We recommend contacting a veterinarian immediately for further advice on what you need to do next.
Lethargy and weakness
Octopus has high amino acid content, which can cause your dog’s muscles to contract, resulting in fatigue and lethargy.
If you see any of these symptoms, it is best to take them out from their current environment or place right away for a checkup before the situation worsens.
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May cause constipation
Octopuses are filled with fibers, leading to digestive problems for your dogs if they tend to have loose stools.
If this is the case, we recommend slowly but surely cutting down on their intake to avoid discomfort.
What to do if your dog is sick from eating octopus?
When the effects of seafood allergy, constipation, or heart diseases attack your dog’s body — you may need to take them for a checkup at the nearest veterinary clinic.
Most cases can be managed and controlled with proper medication, so it is best to call your veterinarian immediately.
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Your vet will run some tests on your dog’s blood samples to determine what has been causing the symptoms or sickness that they are currently experiencing.
After knowing the cause, your vet will provide you with some treatment options and management plans to follow so they can come out healthy as ever!
Avoid these similar foods from this family.
Squid
Squid is also a member of the cephalopod family, and it is also very high in calories, cholesterol, and sodium. This meal has similar chemical components to octopus, so you should consider how much octopus your dog can consume daily.
Cuttlefish
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Similar to Squid, this menu item is rich in sodium and calcium, which can cause severe health problems if your dog consumes more than what is required.
In addition, this food item may also contain a high level of cholesterol that will lead to heart diseases after some time.
Lobster
Allergies are one thing you don’t want to mess around with, which is why you should avoid feeding your dog lobster or any other type of shellfish.
Lobster contains high content of cholesterol and saturated fats that are bad for your pet’s health when consumed regularly.
Avoid feeding these kinds of seafood to your dogs!
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How to Make Octopus Safe To Eat
To engender the concepts and subject matters we have discussed earlier, let’s figure out ways to make octopus safe to eat for your dogs:
Feed-in smalls pieces with moderation
The meat of an octopus is best served in small pieces. This way, you can gradually introduce them to your dog’s diet and avoid any severe effects if your dog is experiencing a shellfish allergy or has digestive problems that foods from this family may cause.
Pair it with vegetables
When cooking an octopus, it’s best to pair it with vegetables like carrots, zucchini, or peas to balance out the nutritional content of your pet’s meal.
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In this way, your dog may also experience gradually eating octopus, mainly if it’s your dog’s firsthand experience.
Give them time to digest
Octopus has high protein and amino acid levels, leading to some gastrointestinal discomfort if dogs do not appropriately eat them.
Therefore, we recommend giving octopus around 30 minutes before feeding again so their bodies have enough time for proper digestion.
Limit intake to once a week
We recommend giving octopus as an occasional meal for your dog only since there are high chances of digestive problems or seafood allergies that could lead to severe complications if they ingest too much throughout the day. Limit their intake to one time a week, and make sure you pair it with vegetables!
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Key Takeaways
Our childhood memories shaped and formed wild imaginings about sea creatures. Stories, myths, and legends led us to think about the beauty of confidential nature.
We may think of octopuses as the “villain” of the sea or a “monster” hidden in rock bottom, but in reality, the octopus is a friend to humans, to the marine ecosystem, and your dog as well.
Yes, we affirm that dogs can eat octopus. Octopus has a high protein content, zinc, and vitamin A for your dog’s immunity.
However, there are some preventive measures that we must take when feeding octopus to our pets — especially if they are not used to eating it in the first place.
If your dog has allergies to seafood, your dog may experience possible health concerns, such as vomiting, lethargy, and constipation.
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So, the safest ways to feed octopus to your dog is to provide this food in small pieces with moderation, pair it with vegetables, give your dog a time to digest before feeding another, and limit your dog’s intake once a week.
Again, we hope to see your dog’s health improving constantly. Because a healthy dog is a loving dog