Yes, dogs can eat fish. And many should actually get more of it than they do. Fish provides high quality protein and omega 3 fatty acids that a dog cannot produce itself. Anyone with a dog with a dull coat, dry skin or constant scratching often sees a difference after a few weeks of fish. The only question is which fish and in what form.
Which fish species are suitable?
In principle almost all food fish. Especially good are:
- Salmon: lots of omega 3, but also rich in fat. Great for normal weight dogs, for diet dogs better the salmon head, which has only 8.6 percent fat.
- Cod, hake, redfish: lean white fish with lots of protein. Ideal for training and for dogs that need to lose weight.
- Sardines, anchovies, sprats: small fish, hardly any pollutants, lots of omega 3. They can be fed whole.
- Flounder: native flatfish, dried as a whole fish a proper chewing project.
- Tuna: good, but not daily, because of mercury. More on this in our article Can dogs eat tuna.
Which fish better not?
Smoked fish, because of too much salt. Fish in marinade or sauce, because of spices and often onions. Raw freshwater fish, because it carries parasites more often than sea fish. And quite generally: nothing breaded or fried. The fish finger from the plate is not a dog snack, no matter how faithful the look.
Raw, cooked or dried?
Raw fish is common in raw feeding, but has two catches. Parasites, and an enzyme called thiaminase that breaks down vitamin B1. Both disappear with heating and with drying. Cooked fish is safe, but you have to take the bones out and the dog has it gone in two seconds.
In my experience, dried fish is the most practical form. The bones become brittle during drying and crumble while chewing, germs are killed, and the dog has something to do. On top of that, nothing needs to be added. With our fish snacks the ingredient list says exactly one word.
Fish for allergies
Most food allergies in dogs are directed against chicken and beef, because they are in almost every food. Many dogs have never had fish. That is why it is one of the first alternatives vets suggest for an elimination diet. Important: one fish species, not a mix. That is why every fish snack we have is made from exactly one species.
How much fish for the dog?
As a snack the usual limit of ten percent of the daily ration applies. Fish snacks are mostly low in fat, so within this limit it may happily be daily. As a main meal fish replaces meat one to one, but then please alternate and not just one species for months.
Does it not smell terrible?
A little, yes. For the dog that is the whole appeal. Even dogs that are otherwise picky go for fish. The bags are resealable, and as long as they are closed the kitchen smells of nothing.
If you do not know where to start: the fish sampler has seven varieties in it. All the others are in the category fish for dogs.
