Can Dogs Eat Fish?
9/30/24
Reviewed by: Dr. Tori
Can Dogs Eat Fish? Benefits and Risks Explained
Watching your pup bounding through the woods or chasing other dogs around the park might remind you of something: at their core, dogs are wild. Their ancestors roamed the woods freely, hunting and surviving for thousands of years without human help.
While the bond between humans and dogs runs deep, domestication has nevertheless cut them off from their roots, especially when it comes to diet. Fortunately, you can easily feed your dog an ancestral diet. You can also get pet food delivery that provides tailored nutrition to your domesticated dogs. But as you make the transition, you may have some questions like, Can dogs eat fish?
Put simply, they can.
However, there are some risks to consider. That’s what we’re focusing on in this guide: the benefits and risks of adding cooked or fresh fish to your dog’s diet. We’ll also discuss what fish is good for dogs.
Introduction to Feeding Fish to Dogs
Your pup might already eat fish—the ingredient may be mixed into their normal food as a protein source.1 However, this isn’t the same as feeding your dog fish on its own.
For this reason, it’s important to understand the benefits and drawbacks of adding either raw or cooked fish to your dog’s diet. Let’s take a look at each, starting with the positives.
Benefits of Fish for Dogs
Seafood comes with a host of benefits for dog health. The biggest one? Most pups adore it, and they’ll come running at first sniff. This means you can get their tail wagging while enhancing their health with a nutritious food source.
That’s because fish offers:
- Nutritional Boost – Fish comes loaded with vitamins and minerals, such as vitamins D and B2, calcium, iron, and zinc (to name just a few).2
- Omega-3 Fatty Acids – You may already know that there are “good” and “bad” fats. Omega-3s fall under the “good” category. They help maintain healthy skin, a sleek coat, and a healthy brain.3
- High Quality Protein – Fish is packed with protein.4 It also happens to be highly digestible (meaning it’s easy for the body to extract the protein and nutrients).5
With a nutritional profile like this, any dog would benefit from a little extra fish in their diet.
Types of Fish That Are Safe for Dogs
Dogs have pretty resilient digestive tracts, but they’re certainly not invincible. For this reason, certain fish agree with dogs more than others. It’s also important to note that a few fish are hazardous to dog health.
Even still, there are plenty of healthy fish options that are perfectly safe for your pup to eat.
Here are a few of the top candidates:
- Salmon – Providing immune support, reduced inflammation, and shiny fur, salmon is an ideal protein alternative for dogs, especially those who have allergies to chicken or beef.6
- Whitefish – This is a catch-all term that refers to any fish that has white meat and a dry (as opposed to oily) texture. Some examples are cod, halibut, and flounder. 7
- Sardines – Sardines feature abundant nutrients, especially Omega-3s. Just be sure to choose sardines packed in spring water, instead of oil, to avoid digestive issues.
- Tuna (with caution) – While fresh or even canned tuna is a phenomenal protein source, is also features elevated mercury levels, meaning it’s best to eat in moderation. In other words, avoid making it a daily menu item.
With so many options, you might be tempted to offer your dog a mouthwatering fish dinner every day. However, keep in mind that excessive fish consumption can lead to weight gain. If your pup is prone to obesity, it’s important to hold all fish intake (not just canned tuna) to moderate levels.
You may also want to explore other protein sources, like rabbit meat good for dogs, which can be beneficial for dogs with certain allergies or sensitivities.
Potential Risks of Feeding Fish to Dogs
Now that we’ve covered the myriad ways fish can bolster your pup’s diet, let’s talk about some possible drawbacks. No food is perfect, after all.
However, by keeping the following risks in mind, you should have no trouble safely incorporating fish into your dog’s diet.
Mercury and Toxin Concerns
You’ve probably heard of the connection between fish and mercury poisoning, and it’s true that many fish species carry high mercury loads.9
This is because human industry, especially coal mining, produces mercury as a byproduct. This mercury eventually finds its way into the ocean, where smaller fish absorb it and pass it up the food chain. Consequently, the largest predators accumulate substantial stores of mercury from the legions of smaller fish they consume.
Some high-mercury species include:10
- Tuna
- Swordfish
- Marlin
- King mackerel
- Shark
For this reason, it’s wise to feed your pup smaller fish, such as salmon and sardines, as they’ve had less time to absorb mercury.
Bones and Choking Hazards
Fish bones are tiny, crumbly, and sharp. Dogs who ingest fish bones risk getting them wedged in their throat, mouth, or intestines. Aside from being quite painful, this may require a costly vet visit (and sometimes surgery).
Before feeding any fish to your dog, make sure to thoroughly debone it. Keep in mind that smaller fish have smaller bones, so bite-size options like sardines are also safer in this regard.
If, after serving your dog fish, you notice any of the following signs, call your vet right away:11
- Excessive drooling
- Pawing at their throat or face
- Gagging or retching
- Vomiting
While this may sound scary, don’t let it dissuade you from supplementing with fish. Careful preparation renders a fish bone-related mishap extremely unlikely.
Food Allergies
Although it’s generally safe for all dogs, fish may trigger allergic reactions in more sensitive breeds, such as:12
- Cocker spaniels
- Labrador retrievers
- Golden retrievers
- German shepherds
- Poodles
Any dog breed can struggle with allergies, however, so stay vigilant. Symptoms of a food allergy include:13
- Itchy skin
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Burping
- Secondary infections (due to scratching irritated skin)
- Facial swelling
It’s important to note that a dog may eat a problem food for months or years before any side effects appear. This can make it tough to pinpoint the offender. So, if allergy symptoms do appear, try removing supplemental foods, like fish, before making drastic dietary changes.
How to Safely Prepare Fish for Dogs
Compared to other menu items, fish requires a bit more meal prep on your part, but the effort is worth the reward: a healthy and thriving pup.
Ultimately, proper preparation depends on how you incorporate fish into your pup’s diet and whether you plan to serve a cooked or raw fish diet for dogs.
Raw Fish Diet
While it’s technically true that dogs can eat raw fish (their ancestors, after all, would have eaten uncooked fish) it comes with a number of health risks, such as:14
- Salmonella – A bacterial infection that causes severe gastrointestinal distress.
- Tapeworms – Parasites that trigger diarrhea, upset stomach, and rapid weight loss.
Aside from the danger posed to your pup, handling raw fish also puts your health at risk. If you opt to serve your dog raw fish, be sure to thoroughly clean and sanitize all utensils and wash your hands vigorously with soap and hot water afterward.
Additionally, always purchase your raw fish from a reputable source that observes impeccable food safety standards.
Cooked Fish
Cooking fish is safer than serving raw fish, but still requires careful preparation to ensure a nutritious and hazard-free meal for your pup.
When prepping cooked fish, observe the following guidelines:
- Heat thoroughly – Steaming and baking are excellent ways to kill bacteria.
- Debone – Take the time to meticulously remove all bones.
- Skip the seasoning – Added spices can lead to upset stomachs.
- Pass on the oils – Like spices, fatty oils can disrupt your dog’s digestion process.
- Control portions – Manage your pup’s weight by keeping portion sizes moderate.
- Remove skin – Fish skin is a breeding ground for bacteria and parasites.
It’s also wise to rotate the types of fish on offer at first. This will help you zero in on the varieties your pup finds most appetizing.
How Much Fish Should Dogs Eat?
While steamed or grilled fish can be an excellent supplement to an otherwise balanced diet, too much fish can be a ticket to obesity. It's important to monitor your dog's overall food intake, including knowing how many treats per day for a dog to ensure you're not overfeeding them.
Since maintaining a healthy weight is crucial for your dog’s health, check with your veterinarian before making significant changes to their diet. Let them know you plan to incorporate fish into your dog’s weekly menu and ask for guidance on appropriate quantities and serving sizes.
As a general guideline, consider fish in the same category as treats.
And here’s a helpful rule of thumb: Dog treats should make up no more than 10% of a dog’s daily food intake.15 Staying within this range leaves room for health benefits while still keeping excess weight gain at bay.
Integrating Fish into Your Dog’s Diet with Darwin’s
Dogs and humans share a bond like no other, and that’s not changing anytime soon. But the strongest friendships are those where both sides are free to be their natural selves. Deepen your relationship with your dog by helping them get in touch with their ancestral roots through a healthy ancestral diet. Raw dog food can provide a nutritious foundation to support their overall well-being and Darwin’s is here to help.
Our Dog Fish Protein provides a safe, nutritious way to expand your dog’s menu, treat them to something delicious, and support their overall health.
If you’re looking for an ideal foundational fresh dog food, our expertly crafted Natural Selections recipe also features a mouthwatering blend of free-range meats and organic veggies. However you’re looking to supplement and enhance your dog’s diet, trust Darwin’s to deliver.
Sources:
1BetterVet. 5 Dog Food Ingredients to Look For & Ones to Avoid.
2Washington State Department of Health. Health Benefits of Fish.
3American Kennel Club. Fish Oil for Dogs: What to Know.
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/nutrition/fish-oil-for-dogs/
4Healthline. 10 Foods That Are Almost Pure Protein.
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/10-foods-almost-pure-protein#TOC_TITLE_HDR_1
5Journal of Animal Science. Protein digestibility evaluations of meat and fish substrates using laboratory, avian, and ileally cannulated dog assays. https://academic.oup.com/jas/article/88/4/1421/4745685
6American Kennel Club. Can Dogs Eat Salmon?
7Fine Dining Lovers. Different Types of White Fish and How to Cook Them.
8Healthline. Mercury in Tuna: Is This Fish Safe to Eat?
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/mercury-in-tuna
9Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation. How Does Mercury Get Into Fish? https://dec.vermont.gov/sites/dec/files/wmp/SolidWaste/Documents/alittlebit.pdf
10Very Well Fit. Concerned About Mercury? Avoid These Fish.
11Pet Health Network. The Dangers of Esophageal Foreign Bodies in Dogs.
12Cleveland Health Clinic. Is Raw Fish Safe? What To Know Before You Eat.
https://health.clevelandclinic.org/is-it-safe-to-eat-raw-fish
13Wag! Predisposition to Allergies in Dogs.
https://wagwalking.com/condition/predisposition-to-allergies
14WebMD. Could My Pet Be Allergic to Their Food?
https://www.webmd.com/pets/dog-cat-food-allergies
15University of California Davis. Treat guidelines for dogs. https://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/sites/g/files/dgvnsk491/files/inline-files/treats-guidelines-for-dogs-2020.pdf