Comparison
A blanched mussel next to a raw shrimp, compared
Updated
Mussels vs shrimp for dogs is a blanched bag against a raw one. Our blue-lipped mussels are blanched before freeze-drying; the shrimp are whole, freeze-dried raw. Both are one ingredient, listed for adult dogs of all sizes and sold for cats. The mussel listing asks you to keep the count low; the shrimp listing asks you to wash your hands.
Blanched or raw: how does each bag start?
Our imported mussels go through blanching first and freeze-drying second. Raw is the wrong word for them, and so is fully cooked. The blanched mussels for dogs page covers that step, so we keep it short here.
The shrimp go in whole and raw, then get freeze-dried with no seasoning. That is the listing's description, and the shrimp are imported. Because the shrimp are raw, the FDA, raw pet food diets page (opened 2026-10-16) covers them: once raw pet food has been in your hands, wash them, and clean and disinfect the spots it touched. The mussels, being blanched, are outside that sentence.
Where does a mussel part ways with a shrimp as shellfish?
A mussel is a mollusk. A shrimp is a crustacean. Both count as shellfish. Both bags are made in Malvern, Pennsylvania, from imported shellfish.
The mussel is also a blue mussel, which is a different species from the green lipped mussel you may have seen sold elsewhere. Ours are not green lipped. Our shrimp are simply shrimp, one ingredient, whole.
Where do the mussel and shrimp labels differ?
These are the figures each package label prints, with no changes from us.
| What the label prints | Blue-lipped mussels | Shrimp |
|---|---|---|
| Protein floor | 59% | 71% |
| Fat floor | 4% | 3% |
| Fiber ceiling | 6% | 8% |
| Moisture ceiling | 10% | 10% |
| Energy, kcal ME per kg | 3,023 | 2,831 |
| Energy, kcal per ounce (approx.) | 85.7 | 80.2 |
On this label, a floor is the lowest the maker commits to and a ceiling is the highest. That is all the table claims. We do not take one bag away from the other, and we do not add up what a piece is worth, because neither label prints a piece figure. The one row where the two bags print the same number is moisture.
What does each listing ask of the person feeding?
Each listing asks for something different. The mussel listing says mussels are rich, so keep the count low, and gives one or two at a time for most dogs. The shrimp listing says to wash your hands after handling the shrimp.
VCA, Dog Treats (opened 2026-10-16) sets treats at roughly 10 percent of what a dog takes in each day, and the mussel listing fits its one or two under that line. Both bags are treats or toppers, not a meal.
On storage, the mussel listing calls the bag shelf stable, with no refrigeration, and asks you to reseal it and keep it cool and dry. The shrimp listing asks for the same resealing and the same cool, dry place, and does not use the words shelf stable. Our dating covers both the same way: best-by 1 year past production, and 30 days once a bag is open.
How does each bag work for a cat?
Both bags are for cats too. The mussel listing says the size suits a cat. The shrimp listing allows a whole shrimp as a hand-fed treat, or crumbled onto dinner as a topper. We suggest small pieces from either bag. Neither listing has a kitten line, so we give no kitten guidance.
The dog count above is for dogs only, and we do not carry it to a cat. Ask your veterinarian before the first piece for a cat. The shrimp for dogs and mussels for dogs pages hold the bags, and the guides hub lists the rest of our comparisons.
Questions
Which mussel species is in this comparison?
Blue mussels. The mussel listing says they are not green lipped mussels, and that blue mussels are a different species. That is the whole of what we say on the subject, and we leave the claims made for other mussels to the people who make them.
Is there a bag that holds both mussels and shrimp?
Captain's Catch has both, as two of its five: the others are squid, octopus and clam. That makes it the one bag here with more than one ingredient. Its listing tells an owner who knows that one of the five is a problem not to buy it.
Which bag keeps longer once open?
Neither. Both are dated the same way, with a best-by date set 1 year from production, and both follow the same 30 days once open. The only difference is wording: the mussel listing uses the words shelf stable, and the shrimp listing does not.
Are both listed for small dogs?
Both are listed for adult dogs of all sizes. The mussels are already small, sized for a quick bite. The shrimp listing says to break each shrimp into bite-sized pieces for training rewards, which suits a smaller mouth.
How do the two score for training?
Each one gets a 3 of 5 from our scorecard as a training reward, the middle of the scale. We rank neither above the other on that score, and the label figures are not a ranking either.
Can a dog on a vet plan rotate between the two?
Ask your veterinarian before either goes in the bowl. Rotation is a question about a particular dog's plan, and your veterinarian is the one who knows it. The listings call both bags treats, not a replacement for regular food.