Imitation crab meat is one of the more interesting foods. Unlike most imitation foods, imitation crab meat is not a vegan food; it is made of actual meat, such as fish meat. However, there are a lot of other additives added to the food that can make it dangerous for dogs, especially if they eat over a long period of time.
There is also the issue of potential allergies, and there are a number of different possibilities in that regard. For dog owners looking for the best possible food for their dogs, it may be one that you should think about not feeding it to your dog,
Can Dogs Eat Imitation Crab?
When It comes to your dog, crabs are fun animals that they chase at the beach until they get pinched by the crustaceans. For you, it can be great-tasting meat. However, imitation crab meat is a different animal altogether; literally, as it is usually a fish that has been flavored and textured to appear to be crab meat.
This makes it unusual among meat substitutes, which are usually plant-based substitutes. However, once the meat has been processed a number of additives are added to it that can make it a problem for those thinking it could be decent health food.
The problem is the processing that it goes through. While it starts heavy in Omega-3s, for example, those do not last the processing and are not always added back in. Binding agents are added to it to give it the right texture, such as egg whites, vegetable oil, and usually sugar, giving it more calories than regular crab meat.
Orange or red food coloring is also added to give it the right color, and the Cardamine that is used may trigger allergies as well as cause inflammation issues. Also, some of the preservatives added to it include several that include some form of sodium.
This means that not only does it not have all of the nutrients of real crab meat, but also that it was a lot of extra sodium. While sodium is required for a number of different functions such as blood pressure, blood volume, nerve signal efficiency, and the acidity/alkalinity of the body.
If the dog suffers from hypernatremia, or great than acceptable sodium concentrations, then the dog has to worry about confusion and disorientation, coma, seizures, intravenous fluid therapy, increased thirst and consumption of water, lower water intake, vomiting, and diarrhea. All of these symptoms result from increased sodium intake, such as that from imitation crab meat.
So, for those wondering, “Can dogs have imitation crab?” the answer is a “maybe, but usually no.” The problem is that while it should not cause any immediate problems unless your dog is allergic to fish or Cardamine, it can cause a number of long-term health problems.
Thus, while it should be acceptable as a treat or occasional snack, it should not be an everyday thing, or even on a regular schedule due to those issues. This sort of puts it on that long list of foods that you should debate giving to your dog as more than something special.
Can Dogs Eat Crab Sticks?
Crab sticks should be seriously debated before you even think about giving them to your dog. First off, as they are made of imitation crab meat, they carry all of those issues. Second, they carry a number of their own issues: They are generally cooked with a number of spices, and the breading is usually spiced as well.
That extra spice can give the dog a bad case of indigestion. There are also more additives added to give it a particular color, and some of those artificial additives, such as Cardamine may come with their own problems. As such, you should seriously debate giving your dog crab sticks.
My Dog Ate Crab Shells
Dogs were not made to eat crab shells. Crabmeat in and of itself is pretty good for dogs considering that it is high in Omega-3 fatty acids, has almost no fat to worry about, and generally is pretty good meat except for the ammonia in the meat.
However, the crab shells may be a problem: Crab shells tend to splinter when you crunch down on them, making them a potential problem for dogs who like crunching down on things. As such, debate giving them the meat, which is good for them except for the ammonia for which they lack an enzyme, but keep the shells as far away from them as possible.
Is Imitation Crab Good For Dogs
Imitation crab has one good thing going for it: The companies that process usually add in Omega-3 fatty acids, which fight inflammation and weight gains. However, that is all it adds; the sodium and spices that are sometimes added to it generally place it in the “not good for dogs” category.
This makes it acceptable for the rare special treat, but is probably not going to score you any points with your veterinarian down the road when the problems associated with high sodium intake come to bear.
This is the problem with all foods meant for human consumption: A lot of them are okay for a special treat, but there are problems with it in the long term. As humans, we can make the decision which foods we are willing to take a chance on, but we also have one of the most adaptable digestive systems; dogs are not so blessed.
Before you ask, “Can my dog eat imitation crab meat?” ask yourself if you are willing to deal with the potential health risks that come with long-term use; it is great as a treat, but not a meal.
Can Dogs Eat Surimi?
Surimi was initially created more than 900 years ago by salting and grinding any spare fish they had into a gel. It was considered a delicacy until the 1960s when a Japanese chemist found a way to use sugar as the preservative, giving it a long lifespan.
It has expanded from the Japanese islands; Oregon fisheries produce 200,000 tons per year. What makes it popular is its cheap price; it currently costs about $.20 to $.30 per ounce, as opposed to lobster, at $3.12 per ounce. Since it can be produced en masse and cheaply and can be flavored to match most sea-based meats, it is popular among food producers.
However, prior to being flavored and retexturized, surimi has plenty of health benefits. It is high in Omega-3 fatty acids, which aid in weight loss and help against inflammation. While processing does take away the Omega-3s, which do not survive cooking, it is sometimes added back. It is also high in protein and low in fat.
A major problem is that it is otherwise hard to comment on it as it can come from almost any fish caught in the ocean; it usually defaults to well-managed and sustainable Alaska pollock. However, it can become a problem based on its additives.
Is Imitation Crab OK For Dogs?
For those interested in the long-term health of their dogs, imitation crab should be seriously debated. While the desire to break up the usual monotony of dry food is easily understood, there are some serious health issues that need to be debated.
While it is fine to use pretty much any meat as a one-time snack or even something special, a lot of processed meats tend to be packaged with sodium as a preservative, and in some cases, it is part of the processing process. As such, those foods, such as imitation crab, should be hotly debated before you give them to your dog.
In Conclusion
When it comes down to it, imitation crab meat may be real meat, but it comes with a number of additives that may trigger a dog’s allergies. Worse, those additives make it bad for the dog over the long run by increasing the amount of sodium in a dog’s blood.
Surimi, which is in a lot of imitation crab meat, is just as bad. While it does have some redeeming qualities, imitation crab meat is something that you should debate when giving to your dog; while it may be okay to give to the dog just to give them something different, it is definitely not something for the long term.
FAQ
Imitation crab meat is definitely one of the more interesting meat substitutes. The following sodium effects should be considered before eating it over the long term: While sodium is required for a number of different functions such as blood pressure, blood volume, nerve signal efficiency, and the acidity/alkalinity of the body. If the dog suffers from hypernatremia, or great than acceptable sodium concentrations, then the dog has to worry about confusion and disorientation, coma, seizures, intravenous fluid therapy, increased thirst and consumption of water, lower water intake, vomiting, and diarrhea. All of these symptoms result from increased sodium intake, such as that from imitation crab meat.
Imitation crab meat is actually made of fish, but with a lot of additives in the mix. In the short term, the worst that could happen is the dog suffers from allergies to the fish or one of the additives. In the long term, the dog could suffer from increased sodium on one hand, but do get the advantage from the Omega-3 fatty acids. As such, if your dog eats imitation crab meat as a treat there should be no problem, but there may be problems if your dog eats it all the time.
As long as you are aware of the potential health risks associated with imitation crab meat, then yes: Dogs and cats can eat imitation crab meat. There should be no problems if the meat is eaten every so often as a special treat but there may be problems based on increased sodium intake. It is worth noting that the meat does have Omega-3 fatty acids, which do have some rather nice health benefits, but the health issues created by increased sodium intake will outweigh those benefits..
Imitation crab sticks should be severely debated before you feed them to a dog. There are a number of additives that can create a number of instant problems, and there are all of the standard allergy issues. Imitation crab meat sticks contain a number of spices and other additives that can cause severe indigestion issues. Overall, imitation crab sticks have enough additives, spices, and other potential canine health issues that a dog owner should probably look for another treat for their dogs, and they should definitely not be eaten over the long term.
Imitation crab meat is not, in and of itself, a bad thing provided it is eaten solely as a special treat every so often. However, if you eat it every day or with some sort of regularity then you face the possible consequences of an increased sodium intake, which is similar to all of the problems that a dog would face. While you would get all of the advantages of Omega-3 fatty acids while you ate the imitation crab meat, you would also be facing the problems that increased sodium intake causes. So eat it as a special treat, but do not eat it every day and you should be fine.
