Yes, dogs can eat seaweed snacks and supplements, if they do not contain garlic or onions. Seaweed is nutritious and contains protein, iron, iodine, magnesium, and omega-3s. Dogs should not eat wild seaweed on the beach because of pollutants and digestion risks.
Signs of seaweed ingestion typically begin with vomiting, diarrhoea and loss of appetite followed by lethargy, depression and weakness. If untreated, these can lead to potentially fatal dehydration and circulatory shock.
It’s recommended to contact your vet immediately if you believe your dog has ingested dried wild seaweed. The effects can escalate from mild to deadly in a matter of hours. Keep a close watch on your pet for signs of wild seaweed poisoning.
Dogs like to roll in unpleasant stuff, but when it comes to seaweed, their instincts have put them on the right path. Seaweed is actually quite healthy to eat. It’s 25% protein and is one of the best plant sources of beneficial minerals and amino acids. It’s rich in iodine and tryptophan and is actually low in sodium.
Seaweed has been championed as a source of vitamins and minerals. However, dried up seaweed washed up on the shoreline can be dangerous for dogs. If swallowed, it can expand in the stomach and become stuck in the intestine.
How Much Seaweed is Safe to Eat? For healthy individuals without a thyroid condition, the recommended daily allowance for adults 19 years and older is 150 micrograms and the upper limit is 1,100 micrograms, according to Dreher.
Adding a product such as Simply Seaweed to your pets dinner bowl each night can dramatically reduce the amount of plaque that can build up on your pets teeth. Simply Seaweed contains Ascophyllum nodosum; a species of kelp which helps to keep your pet’s teeth clean and reduce bad breath in a natural way.
“Kelp is absolutely safe for dogs when used in correct amounts,” she says. But she warns against adding too much kelp to a commercial diet, since over supplementation can be dangerous.
Dogs who visit the beach are in danger of what veterinarians call intestinal sand impaction. This condition can make dogs very sick and is potential life-threatening, typically requiring emergency veterinary intervention.
The best way to feed your dog seaweed is by giving him plain seaweed as a treat every once in a while. “Any commercially prepared seaweed, kelp or nori is the best bet,” Dr. Brayshaw said. “Stay away from seaweed that’s seasoned with other ingredients that may be poisonous to your dog, like onion or garlic.”
Salmon poisoning: Even sushi-grade raw seafood, raw salmon, and raw fish can pose several health risks to a dog—the most dangerous threat is that raw fish could contain harmful bacteria, tapeworms, roundworms, and flukes.
Kelp and nori are both considered seaweed, though they look quite different. Both are safe for dogs, as long as they aren’t seasoned with additional salt or other spices such as garlic.
Does seaweed make you poop? Seaweed contains prebiotic fiber, which may cause people to poop and help to alleviate constipation. Research from 2020 suggests that the high-fiber content of seaweed causes it to act as a natural laxative.
Dogs that develop allergies may experience inflamed and itching skin, respiratory disorders, and chronic skin and ear infections. Although possible, allergies to kelp are very rare. Kelp is used more often to help relieve the symptoms of allergy by improving health and vitality to the skin and coat.
A tasty monthly chew for protection against fleas and ticks, intestinal worms and heartworm. A multistrain probiotic food supplement for the maintenance of everyday digestive health.
You can feed kelp to dogs of all ages, including puppies and seniors, and the exact amount depends on your dog’s weight. That said, dogs can have 1/4 teaspoon of kelp per 10 lbs of body weight per day, but shouldn’t eat more than 3 teaspoons per day.
Dogs that receive excessively high levels of iodine in their diet can suffer with some of the same symptoms as iodine deficiency, including goiter (an enlarged thyroid gland). High iodine intake can also cause thyroid gland inflammation and thyroid cancer and of course hyperthyroidism in our feline companions.
My Dog Ate Seaweed – What to do if a Dog Eats Seaweed
Next, watch for any signs of sickness such as diarrhea, lethargy, or seizures.
If your dog eats sand, especially a lot of it, he may become constipated within 1-2 days. If the constipation worsens, and the patient is dehydrated, the sand can become compact and has a potential to develop into an intestinal obstruction that could be life threatening.
Is it ok to take my dog to the beach? Yes. Beaches are great places for dogs to explore and they will encounter sounds and textures that they don’t often experience.
Toxic Heavy Metals
Several reports detail the heavy metal content of seaweed: Heavy metals in laver, seatangle, sea mustard, hijiki, and gulfweed from the South Korea coast are below safety limits (source, and source). Hijiki, regardless of brand, contains arsenic that is above the safety limit (source).
Among health-conscious eaters, seaweed holds a reputation as a nutrient-rich superfood. Seaweed is stuffed with vitamins and protein, chock full of iron—and at least one kind tastes like bacon.
Good Source of Vitamins and Minerals. Each type of seaweed has a unique set of nutrients. Sprinkling some dried seaweed on your food not only adds taste, texture, and flavor to your meal, but it’s an easy way to boost your intake of vitamins and minerals.
Ascophyllum nodosum Seaweed is proven to improve the health of your dog’s teeth, remove plaque and help with bad breath. This was proven in a study*, published last year, in which 60 dogs were studied over 90 days.