Can Dogs Eat Mussels?
In moderation. Steamed mussels, out of the shell, with no salt or sauce, are a good protein for dogs and provide omega-3. Never raw, pickled or gathered from the rocks.
What it gives your dog
Cooked mussels have about 170 kcal per 100 g (3.5 oz), plenty of protein, little fat and, within that fat, the omega-3s EPA and DHA, plus vitamin B12, iron, zinc and selenium. A medium cooked mussel, out of the shell, weighs about 8-10 g. Green-lipped mussel supplements are used in dogs with osteoarthritis, with some modest evidence, but the common blue mussel sold at the fish counter isn't a treatment.
The risks come from how they're prepared and where they come from. Raw, they can carry bacteria and viruses, and they contain thiaminase, an enzyme that destroys vitamin B1 and is inactivated by cooking. Shellfish filter seawater and can build up biotoxins from red tides: mussels from the fish counter are tested, but those gathered from the rocks aren't. Canned mussels in escabeche contain vinegar, salt and paprika, and mussels cooked marinière-style contain garlic, onion and wine. The shell can break teeth and cause a blockage. And, like any shellfish, mussels can cause allergies.
How to serve it
- Steamed, with no salt or sauce
- Out of the shell and debearded
- Whole for large dogs; cut up for small ones
- Never raw, pickled, in wine-and-garlic sauce or canned in oil and salt
- Only from the fish counter, never gathered from the rocks
How much can they eat?
Small dog (under 10 kg / 22 lb): 1-2 mussels. Medium (10-25 kg / 22-55 lb): 3-4. Large (over 25 kg / 55 lb): 5-6. Once or twice a week as an extra, within the 10% of daily calories. The first time, give one and watch them for a day.
Risks
- Raw: bacteria, viruses and thiaminase
- Biotoxins in mussels gathered from the rocks
- Escabeche, canned mussels and sauces with salt, garlic or onion
- Shell: broken teeth and blockage
- Shellfish allergy
Frequently asked questions
Can dogs eat raw mussels?
No. Raw mussels can carry bacteria and viruses, contain thiaminase, which destroys vitamin B1, and if they were gathered from the rocks they may carry biotoxins that cause neurological symptoms. Steaming them until they open solves almost all of that. Throw away any that don't open.
Can dogs eat canned mussels?
Not the ones in escabeche: they contain vinegar, salt and paprika. Mussels canned in water, if you find them, can be given drained and in small amounts, although they usually contain salt. For your dog, it's better to buy them fresh and steam them with nothing added.
Are mussels good for dogs' joints?
There are studies with extract of green-lipped mussel, a New Zealand species, showing a modest improvement in dogs with osteoarthritis. Eating regular mussels isn't the same as that supplement. If your dog has osteoarthritis, talk to your vet about omega-3 or mussel supplements and their dose.
General information reviewed against veterinary sources. If your dog has eaten something that worries you, call your vet or a 24-hour emergency vet right away, without waiting for symptoms.