Can dogs eat mussel shells?

[JES72]

We had mussels for dinner and Homer crunched on a tasty mussel shell. He crunched a lot so I’m not concerned. Just wondered if your dogs ate mussels.

 

[Selina27]

Not mussels particularly, but the first time I took Cassie to the seaside she ate shells -- very crunchy!!
Full of iodine and Calcium I shouldn't wonder !

 

[kateincornwall]

As @Emily_Babbelhund will confirm , Reuben pulls them off rocks and eats the whole thing , I do distract him before he eats another , never had any ill effects x

 

[SwampDonkey]

My great great grandfather died of mussel poisoning on the Isle of wright. They packeted him in ice and took him home on a horse and cart to Stoke on Trent. The family has the record and accounts.

 

[JES72]

they were cooked mussels. We are the mussels, Homer had a shell. So I dont think he’ll get mussel poisoning. more Concerned about sharp pieces of shell.

 

[JES72]

My great great grandfather died of mussel poisoning on the Isle of wright. They packeted him in ice and took him home on a horse and cart to Stoke on Trent. The family has the record and accounts.

I love a good bit of family history.

 

[snowbunny]

I don’t let mine eat mussel shells because I worry about how sharp they are. It may be unfounded, but I can see a broken shell easily perforating something on its way down. I wouldn’t have the same concerns about oyster shells which are a very different texture... but I’m also not going out of my way to feed them either

 

[Oberon]

I’d also be more worried about them getting stuck in or scratching the oesophagus. I think that once they’re in the stomach they’d become somewhat dissolved and would make it through the gut fine, especially given he chewed them up.

 

[Emily_Babbelhund]

As @kateincornwall can attest to, Carbon would rather have a nice rotten crab. But when first brought him and Paul over from Spain, Paul 'taught' Carbon to eat mussel shells on the beach in Calais. No ill effects but I was also worried about the sharp bits. Neither of them had a problem thankfully.

 

[Jelinga]

The wind blew the dustbin over in the night and Rourke opened the bin bag and has eaten 14 shells all scrunched up, a few little bits left with very sharp edges. I went on line and it says he will bleed to death as the sharp edges will scratch his organs. I suppose as they are cooked shells they will be stronger than raw ones. Am seeing vet in an hour but for a different thing, he collapsed yesterday while we were out, after I had made the appointment this morning I found the shells had all been taken and eaten from the bin bag. I am desolate.

 

[Jacqui-S]

Don't panic Sonia. Googling can be your worst enemy.
Your vet will be able to give you the best advice.
Lilly is always eating crabs and shells on the beach with no harm. Remember dogs eat bones etc too.
Keep your spirits up that this is something and nothing.
for Rourke and for you x

 

[Jelinga]

Don't panic Sonia. Googling can be your worst enemy.
Your vet will be able to give you the best advice.
Lilly is always eating crabs and shells on the beach with no harm. Remember dogs eat bones etc too.
Keep your spirits up that this is something and nothing.
for Rourke and for you x

Oh thank you @Jacqui-S, but there shells were cooked and in little bits and very sharp. I am trying to look on the bright side distraught. However, you have given me some hope xxx

 

[Atemas]

Oh @Jelinga - glad you have a vet’s appointment and hoping all will be ok. Thinking of you snd Rourke

 

[Emily_Babbelhund]

Sending all the Lambies for your vet appointment . Googling things like this is logical but is also guaranteed to scare you to death . These dogs of ours have rather amazing trash-bin-like skills of digestion, keep thinking of that.

 

[Cath]

For Rourke and you @Jelinga

 

[kateincornwall]

Fingers crossed he will be fine and if its any consolation , Reuben actually pulls mussels off the rocks and devours them as did one of my other Labs, it is amazing what their tummies can handle xx

 

[MellowYellow]

I do hope Rourke is ok!!!

 

[Emily_Babbelhund]

How are you and Rourke doing, Sonia ?

 

[Jelinga]

Fingers crossed he will be fine and if its any consolation , Reuben actually pulls mussels off the rocks and devours them as did one of my other Labs, it is amazing what their tummies can handle xx

Did he scrunch them up into sharp edges or swallow them whole?

 

[Jelinga]

How are you and Rourke doing, Sonia ?

Am in bits. Vet said to feed him tinned pumpkin, which I am now doing. He had a collapse yesterday before all this so I was in a state this morning before I found the rubbish all over the back yard and realised he had eaten and scrunched up all the mussel shells as there three sharp bits left.