Diet is an essential part of a dog’s general health. As pet owners, we often wonder whether different foods are safe for our furry friends. Seaweed, a typical food for people, has gotten our attention as a possible dog snack. Is it safe, though? Let’s talk about whether or not dogs can eat seaweed and what we need to think about before giving this ocean snack to our dogs.
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Can Dogs Eat Seaweed?
Sea veggies from the grocery store are safe for dogs to eat. You can give your pets Seaweed like kelp and nori without thinking about them getting sick. Seaweed and other snacks should be clean and full of garlic and onions to make them smell good. Don’t let your pet eat the grass that washed up on the beach.
What nutritional benefits seaweed may have for your dog?
It’s general knowledge that Seaweed is one of the healthiest snacks you can get anywhere in the world.
- Seaweed is an excellent source of copper, which helps keep bones and muscles strong and keeps people from getting scurvy.
- Dogs need calcium for bone growth, muscle movement, and blood clotting. The Association of American Feed Control says dogs should get about 50 milligrams of calcium per kilogram of body weight. For example, a 10-pound dog needs about 225 mg of calcium daily. There is more calcium in 100 grams of Seaweed than in many other full meals.
- The chemicals in your dog’s body need magnesium to work. Essential for healthy nerves and muscles, a robust immune system, and an average heart rate. The amount of magnesium in 100g of Seaweed can be as high as 500mg. Seaweed is a great way to ensure your dog gets the 150mg of magnesium they need daily.
- Iodine should be in your dog’s food because it helps keep the dog’s body healthy and balances the thyroid hormones. If your dog has hyperthyroidism, you shouldn’t give it iodine. The Nutritional Research Council says that for every 1000 calories a dog eats, it needs 220mg of iodine.
- Several types of Seaweed are full of natural fiber that isn’t made from gluten. Dogs with stomach problems like diarrhea, constipation, or pain in their anal glands may benefit significantly. One way that a high-fiber diet might help dogs with stomach problems is by making their poop better.
- Vitamin B12 is also found in some seaweeds. Vegetables have an unusually high amount of this vitamin. Without B12, your dog’s nervous system and brain won’t work right. It helps keep the digestive system healthy and slows the rate at which blood cells divide.
- 10g of dried nori may have as much as 232 mcg of iodine. This means you only need a small amount of iodine daily to meet your body’s needs. But dogs on medicine for hyperthyroidism shouldn’t eat anything made from Seaweed because the salt in Seaweed could make the condition worse.
Seaweed’s nutritional value can change based on its type, season, water temperature, tides’ movement, and other natural factors. Seaweed grows in different places, and each style has nutrients and health benefits.
Six suitable seaweeds for dogs
Wet Seaweed is very flexible, so it needs to be dried before it can be used. Below is a list of the seaweeds that people and dogs eat the most.
- The Atlantic shores of both North America and Europe are home to Irish moss, a purple and red alga. Irish moss is like a small tree because it has branched off its main trunk. It comes as both a powder and a cream.
- Kombu is a type of kelp that is long, stringy and has a strong taste. You can make a quick dashi with kombu, katsuobushi, or iroko to add moisture to your dog’s dry food. Since dried shiitake mushrooms are in dashi, dogs shouldn’t eat them.
- Kelp (Laminaria) woods, also called wakame, are home to a wide range of sea life in a small number of coastal areas worldwide. This sweet and smooth food is full of omega-3 fatty acids which is good for your dog health.
- Dulse is a type of red Seaweed that flourishes on rocks in the North Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, where the water is calmer. It comes in flakes, pieces, and powder, all of which are dry.
- The Seaweed called nori, also called “purple laver,” turns dark green when it dries. Nori strips are dried in the oven and under pressure, like paper. Dried nori sheets are a healthy dog snack when given in small amounts. You can have it with salt or without.
- Hijiki is a brown Seaweed that turns black and resembles skinny sticks when it dries. Hijiki is a type of Seaweed that is often used in seaweed salad.
If you want to give your dog dried Seaweed, you should soak it in water and mix a small amount into their food.
Why Seaweed is bad for dogs to eat
Even though Seaweed is very healthy, there are some problems with giving it to your dog.
- If your dog likes seaweed treats, don’t give it Seaweed that has been cooked. Garlic and onion powder are hard for dogs to break down and may even be poisonous.
- Owners shouldn’t give dry seaweed to dogs because it could block their intestines.
- If your dog has thyroid problems, don’t give him Seaweed. Because iodine affects the thyroid hormones, he could get sick in one of two ways.
How to Give Your Dog Seaweed
Seaweed is hard to chew and hard to break down. Seaweed can sometimes make dogs choke because they like to eat it so much. It could cause a blockage in the intestines or stomach pain in the worst cases.
You can use either seaweed powder or dried Seaweed. Make sure to cut those seaweed strips into pieces your dog can handle. Try adding some seaweed to his food to make it taste better.
FAQs
Can dogs eat Seaweed of any kind?
Not all Seaweed is suitable for dogs’ health, though. Some kinds, like some types of sea algae, could be wrong for dogs and make them sick.
Can dogs eat snacks made out of Seaweed?
Some of the seaweed snacks that people eat can also be fed to dogs if the salt and spices are kept to a minimum.
Can puppies eat Seaweed?
If you want to feed your puppy new things, like Seaweed, you should wait until they grow bigger.
Final thoughts
Seaweed isn’t a simple yes or no to a dog’s food. Even though dogs may have some benefits to eating this watery plant, we can’t ignore the risks. Moderation and care are the keys here. A seaweed snack might seem like a good idea, but remember that our pets’ health is the most important thing.
