Busting the Myth! Can Dogs Eat Imitation Crab Meat??

Can Dogs Eat Imitation Crab? What is Imitation Crab Meat?

Bearing in mind that the question is, “can dogs eat imitation crab meat or not? Your answer to this question should be a hard NO! But why? let’s find out!

While you might be hearing about imitation meat for the first time, chances are you have already eaten it a dozen times. Imitation crab meat can be found in many seafood dishes around you.

This imposter meat is very popular in the restaurant industry, making quite a name for itself. From crab cakes & seafood salads to Shushi rolls, imitation crab meat is all over the place.

Crabmeat, or as the fishermen call it, “the hot dog of the sea,” might make you scratch your head while you learn about this suspicious little food but worry no more because we at Smart Dog Owners are going to help figure out all the ins and outs of crab meat in this article!

Can Dogs Eat Imitation Crab Meat?

Well of course they can, dogs will chew on whatever food you through at them with a few exceptions (veggies).

Imitation crab meat, sometimes referred to as “krab,” does have some amount of crab meat in it, but the prime ingredient which makes imitation crab meat so affordable is wild Alaska Pollack.

We all enjoy seafood like crazies, and if you want to learn how to properly give crabmeat to your pooch, I have written a separate article on real crab meat for dogs.

Seafood is just amazing! Jam-packed with Omega 3s and lean proteins, all kind of seafood is great not only for you but for your doggo too.

Freshly caught fish, crabs, lobsters, and shrimp define the word term “tasty” all these seafood are extremely healthy for your dog to have but coming back to the question:

Can dogs eat imitation crab meat? Well, the answer is a bit complicated.

Can Dogs have Imitation Crab Meat? Yes they can, but They Shouldn’t

Dogs belong to the mammal family of animals. Just like us they can be allergic to a great many things. For example, your dog can be allergic to peanuts, kiwis, and pollen too.

You can get more information on common allergies that dogs faces in their daily lives right here.

 Imitation crab meat can be a mixture of many different components, there can be surimi, a paste-like substance made out of Alaskan Pollack, and there can be preservatives and additives added to increase the shelf life of this product.

Furthermore, food colorings are added to imitation crab meat; all these things combined together can make up a very nasty case of allergies for your pooch.

In recent cases reported, dogs have been seen with swollen eyes and redness on their skin. Your dog can go through seafood allergies, artificial additive allergies or both of them combined.

The fish paste of Alaskan Pollack, called surimi, can be pumped with excessive salt, which isn’t good for any dog or human.

Why Can’t Dogs have Imitation Crab Meat?

• High salt content results in high BP, leading to heart problems in dogs.
• Imitation can cause stomach pains, irregular bowel movements, and even induce vomiting.
• If taken, imitation crab meat should be in small quantities or it will make your dog nauseous.
• Unlike real crab meat, imitation crab meat might contain bad fat content leading to obesity.

Imitation Crab Meat for Dogs – Ingredients!

As we have discussed earlier that surimi is the main component of imitation crab meat. Artificial colors and flavors are added to the fishy mixture to give imitation crab meat a look, taste, and feel like real crab meat.

Let’s dig in deep and find out the harmful substances found in imitation crab meat that can be detrimental to your dog’s health.

Sodium Pyrophosphate

Imitation crab meat contains Sodium Pyrophosphate. This material is also found in canned tuna and chicken nuggets with salt contents so high that it only rivals the table salt we use on our food.

Too much of this additive can give your dog high blood pressure and can also cause your dog’s heart to suffer.

Monosodium Glutamate

It is mainly used as an industrial additive, giving gourmet foods their robust flavor, Monosodium Glutamate isn’t fatal for dogs but your pup can feel digestion issues and can feel mild chest pain too.

Carmine

This here is the real reason why we don’t recommend imitation crab meat for your dogs at all.

Carmine is made out of dead bugs and is used as an artificial food coloring. It is the substance behind “the easy on the eyes cherry red color” in flavored milk, yogurt and yes you guessed it!

Imitation crab meat. Carmine is linked to respiratory issues in dogs such as asthma.

Potassium Chloride

That savory flavor we all love in crab meat is effortlessly imitated by using Potassium Chloride. In dogs, it will lead to darker and smellier poop.

Potassium Chloride removes water from the body and can be healthy if taken in a controlled amount, but if taken excessively, it will cause bloating and some very smelly stools.

Disodium Inosinate and Guanylate

Disodium Inosinate is an unnatural food enhancer and an additive found in most ready and canned foods. It will make your dog feel tightness around the mouth and chest area and can cause a burning sensation around these areas.

It is a horrible ordeal for your dog to go through. It also makes your dog sweat, pant, and swollen in different spots. Lastly, it affects the skin and fur coats in dogs.

How Much Imitation Crab Meat Can My Dog Eat Regularly?

Can dogs have crab meat? Well, you can answer this tricky question now. Let’s say you still have your doubts about imitation crab meat being good enough for your pooch.

We will decide on the quantities later but what you really need to know is that too much imitation crab meat for your dog may be fatal!

Imitation of crab meat for your dog can be detrimental to its health. Causing major issues like a spike in blood pressure, skin irregularities, and possible heart failure.

However, we at Smart Dog Owners understand the need of a good tasty treat made out of crab meat for your lovely pooch.

Firstly, you should always try to feed your dog the real stuff but if you are on a budget and your doggo really loves crab meat, try giving it in very small quantities once every few weeks.

Can dogs eat imitation crab sticks?

Crab sticks are just as they sound; they are crab meat on sticks! Not to be confused with fish sticks, this little snack can be a pocket full of flavor. But can dogs eat crab sticks? HARD NO! crab sticks are usually made from imitation crab meat as well.

Crab sticks usually come with a ton of sauce on them. These sauces might not be healthy for your dog. The ingredients we put in our food are specifically made for us humans, and dogs might not like them at all.

Crab sticks can be loaded with salt, garlic powder, and onion powder, all of these ingredients are extremely dangerous to dogs and can be fatal. If you want to learn more about them, just give them a click.

Conclusion – Can dogs have imitation crab meat?

We have tried to cover various aspects of the notion of why imitation crab meat is not healthy for your dog. Imitation Crabmeat for dogs can be very harmful if taken in larger quantities.

Yes, the affordability and convenience of using this particular food item make it high in demand but looking at all the negatives of this food, you should come up to the conclusion that your dog is better off without imitation crab meat.