Why can t dogs eat salmon

Can Dogs Eat Salmon?

NOTE: Always check with your veterinarian first before giving your dog any new foods, especially people foods. What might be OK for one dog might not be good for your dog, depending on multiple factors, such as their age, health history, health conditions, and diet. Dogs on prescription diets should not be fed any food or treats outside the diet.

Does your pooch have a penchant for fish? Many dogs like the taste and smell of seafood, but its important to understand the benefitsand possible risksanytime you consider adding a new ingredient to their diet.

Thankfully, when it comes to cooked salmon, your dog is safe. Salmon is a popular ingredient in many types of commercial dog food and is also OK for your dog to eat as a food topper or tasty treat. As with any new food, youll want to be careful not to feed your dog too much salmon to start, and be sure to watch out for any extra ingredients that might be included in typical human recipes (like butter or seasonings) that can be dangerous for dogs to eat.

Keep reading to find out how to safely prepare salmon for dogs, and when youll want to ask your vet for advice.

Is Salmon Good for Dogs?

Salmon can be a great addition to your dogs diet, and many high-quality dog food brands use salmon as a protein source. Unlike some seafood, such as tuna, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reportsthat salmon contains very low levels of mercury.

So, adding a little cooked, plain salmon to your dogs bowl can be a great way to give them an extra boost of flavor and nutrition. A few nutritional benefits of feeding your dog salmon include:

• Omega-3 fatty acids: Salmon is a great source of omega-3s, which are good for dogs skin and coat health, and can even improve mobility for dogs with joint issues or other inflammatory diseases.
• Protein: In addition to being an excellent source of healthy fats, salmon is also a good source of protein, which helps your pooch build and repair muscle tissue. There are many high-quality dog foods that use salmon as a main source of protein, which can be a great option for dogs who have allergies to other proteins like chicken, beef, or lamb.
• Vitamins and minerals: Salmon is also a good source of B vitamins. One important nutrient thats critical for keeping your dogs brain and nervous system healthy is vitamin B12, and salmon is rich in B12.

Just be sure to check with your vet before making any major changes to your dogs diet, especially if your dog has any health conditions or sensitivities.

Can Dogs Eat Salmon Raw?

Even with all the health benefits of salmon for dogs, pet parents should be cautious about feeding their pooch raw or undercooked salmon. Feeding your dog uncooked salmon can make them very sick. Raw and undercooked salmon can contain a parasite known to cause salmon poisoning disease, which can be fatal for dogs if left untreated. So sorry, sushi-sniffing hounds! Baked, broiled, grilled, and boiled fish are all much safer options for dogs to eat.

If your dog does get ahold of raw salmon or raw fish of any kind, give your vet a call so they can help you determine next steps.

Can Dogs Eat Salmon Skin?

If youve baked a nice salmon dinner but dont care much for the skin, its fine to share that leftover bite with your pooch. Salmon skin is safe for dogs to eat. Just be sure the fish has been thoroughly cooked and isnt seasoned with spices or ingredients that are toxic to dogs (like onions, butter, or garlic).

In fact, that scraping of salmon skin can be a great way to give Fido extra nutrients rather than throwing it into the compost if its not to your taste. Salmon skin actually contains even more of the healthy omega-3 fatty acids than the rest of the fish. So if youre not a fan of the skin, topping off Fidos food dish with a small amount of your leftovers can be a win-win for you both. Just remember to feed your dog salmon skin only in small amounts.

How to Safely Feed Salmon to Your Dog

Salmon is a safe snack for dogs, but that doesnt mean you should grill them an entire fish for dinner tonight! Giving salmon as a treat is a good place to start, and you can gradually increase amounts to let your dogs body adjust to the new food. This can help them avoid adverse effects like an upset stomach or diarrhea, which can happen when your dogs usual menu changes.

Any salmon given to your dog should be fresh, cooked, and free from bones, which pose a choking hazard. Avoid any seasonings or extra ingredients, as many common ingredients are not safe for dogs to consume.

Canned salmon is also OK for dogs to eat, but youll want to watch the sodium. While canned salmon in water is a better choice for dogs than salmon packed in oil, rinse it thoroughly to remove any excess salt or oil from the canning process before adding it to your dogs dish.

How Much Salmon Can Dogs Eat?

Feeding small amounts of fresh, cooked, boneless salmon as an occasional treat is considered safeand even healthyfor dogs. But as with any new food, start slow! Its always best to err on the side of caution when it comes to your dogs health.

Here are some general guidelines for how much salmon is safe for dogs to eat, based on their weight:

• Extra-small dog (220 pounds): 12 ounces of fresh, cooked, boneless salmon per week
• Small dog (2130 pounds): 23 ounces of fresh, cooked, boneless salmon per week
• Medium dogs (3150 pounds): 34 ounces of fresh, cooked, boneless salmon per week
• Large dogs (5190 pounds): 46 ounces of fresh, cooked, boneless salmon per week
• Extra-large dogs (over 90 pounds): 68 ounces of fresh, cooked, boneless salmon per week

Note that these are just general guidelines. Its always best to check with your vet before making major changes to your furry friends food bowl.And remember: Raw seafood can contain harmful bacteria and/or parasites that can cause illness in dogs.

Featured Image: iStock/O_Lypa

Its A Protein-Rich Superfood, Can Dogs Eat Salmon?

Salmon is a tasty, protein-dense fish that works with any diet plan from paleo, Mediterranean to keto. As such, its easy to assume that adding this to your dogs diet can work wonders. However, can dogs eat salmon? Is salmon safe for dogs to eat?

As pet owners, you probably know by now that some of the healthiest human foods are extremely poisonous to dogs (think grapes and garlic). Thats why it doesnt hurt to be extra cautious when it comes to feeding dogs your leftovers.

When it comes to salmon, there are a couple of must-know facts which you ought to consider before finally deciding on whether you should or shouldnt feed salmon to your dog. Of course, were here to provide you with everything you need to know.

So hang on tight as we get into all the nitty-gritty details about salmon and its effect on your dog. Soon, youll find out the answer to your question can dogs eat salmon? and to all your other salmon-related queries.

Need-To-Know Salmon Facts

Salmon is a ray-finned fish that is considered an anadromous or a freshwater-born aquatic animal that lives the span of its life in saltwater. They, later on, swim upstream and go back to the river to spawn.

Considered as keystone species, salmon plays a vital role in maintaining the balance in the ecosystem. Unfortunately, salmon is facing a lot of threats, parasites and overfishing included.

The demand for salmon is increasing, and its easy to see why. Its a tasty fish that offers a lot of hearty nutrients. So, to keep up with the demand, salmon is now farmed in cages. And you know what? Many of the store-bought salmon are farm-bred.

Nutrition-wise, salmon provides a truckload of health benefits. This is why many consider this a superfood. Protein-dense and loaded with omega fatty acids, this fish also contains the following vitamins and minerals:

• Vitamin B12
• Vitamin D
• Phosphorus
• Vitamin A
• Selenium

Farmed Salmon Vs. Wild Salmon

If budget is not a concern, opt for wild-caught salmon. However, farmed salmon will do if theres no choice.

Both are rich in omega fatty acids and protein. The big difference is that wild-caught salmon contain more natural minerals (think iron and calcium) than farmed fish. It also has less harmful contaminants.

Can Dogs Eat Salmon?

The answer is a big YES. Dogs can eat salmon. This is one of the human foods which your dog can safely eat.

Fact is, salmon is a protein source commonly found in high-quality dog foods and dog treats (like salmon jerky). However, just like any other food, it is vital to feed salmon to your dog the right way to maximize the benefits and to avoid any health risks.

If you want to know how eating salmon will keep your dog healthy and how it can negatively affect your dog, read on. Youll find everything you want to know below.

Health Benefits Of Feeding Salmon To Dogs

Can dogs eat salmon? Yes. This well-loved and popular fish is indeed good for your furry friend.

So, if you can find fresh salmon or dog treats and dog food products with salmon listed as one of its top ingredients, go ahead and buy one.

Youll be glad you did, knowing that this rich-tasting fish offers a couple of great nutritional benefits for your dog. Here are some:

It Is Packed With Omega 3 Fatty Acids

Deemed as essential, omega 3 fatty acids provide tons of rewards. It keeps the immune system in check, helps reduce inflammation, and decelerates cancer cell growth.

Apart from that, developing puppies and senior dogs will also enjoy its heart and brain health-boosting features. Older dogs would further love eating salmon because of its ability to reduce joint or arthritis pain.

Lastly, if your dogs coat looks a bit dull and its skin dry, adding salmon to your dogs diet might help promote healthy skin and bring that sheen back to your dogs fur.

It Is Protein Dense

Healthy dogs need to eat a balanced diet or a diet rich in high-quality protein. Without this, your dog will be unable to function properly. After all, proteins role in your dogs body includes muscle and bone development, tissue repair, and nerve function regulation.

Since this is rich in protein, salmon is an excellent alternative if your dog is allergic to beef and chicken. Beef and chicken, after all, are among the typical food allergy triggers in dogs. Fish (like salmon), on the other hand, is less likely to cause any allergic reactions.

Promotes Healthy Weight Loss

If you have a dog that needs to shed some body weight, you might want to add salmon to its regular diet. Eating protein-rich foods has been known to control appetite by giving the feeling of fullness. It also helps increase metabolic rate or the bodys ability to burn calories and use up energy.

Potential Dangers Of Feeding Your Dog Salmon

Although the answer to your can dogs eat salmon question is yes, giving your dog salmon also comes with risks. So, before you even think of giving that slice of fresh salmon to your dog, make sure to know all the possible hazards.

True, salmon is healthy even for dogs. But feeding this hearty meal to your dog can quickly turn into a nightmare if its done the wrong way.

Choking Hazard

Salmon, like many other fish in the sea, contains small bones. When swallowed, these small bones can easily get lodged in your dogs airways, especially if you have a small breed dog.

Intestinal Blockage

The small bones may be able to go through your dogs airways, but these may still obstruct your dogs digestive tract. If this happens, watch out for signs of whining and hunching.

Your dog may also experience diarrhea, vomiting, weakness, and bloating. Contact your vet immediately if you notice any of these symptoms.

Infection

Raw salmon and undercooked salmon (smoked salmon included) contain harmful parasites (think parasitic flatworms like fluke). When a bacteria-infected parasite like a fluke enters your dogs body, you can expect this to wreak havoc.

According to MSD Vet Manual, if a dog eats raw salmon or undercooked salmon, the dog can get infected and experience the following:

Salmon Poisoning Disease

Despite the name, this infection isnt really caused by toxins or any poisonous compounds. On the other hand, this deadly condition is triggered by a bacteria called Neorickettsia helminthoeca, which can be found in fluke-infected raw fish like salmon and trout, and giant salamanders found in the Pacific Northwest.

A dog that eats an infected fish often shows signs of salmon poisoning 5 to 7 days after eating. Symptoms usually persist for 7 to 10 days. If left untreated, this can lead to death. Signs of salmon poisoning include the following:

• Fever
• Depression
• Loss of appetite
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea (may contain blood)
• Dehydration
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Nasal and eye discharge

Elokomin Fluke Fever

Unlike salmon poisoning disease, elokomin fluke fever is a milder infection caused by the bacterium Neorickettsia elokominica. While this would less likely cause severe GI problems, your dog would most likely develop lymph node-related diseases.

Tips On How To Prepare Salmon For Your Dogs & More

After reading all the pros and cons, you might think that youre now ready to let your dogs eat salmon. Well, youre halfway there.

Since the risks involved are great, its always a good idea to follow these tried-and-tested tips. This will ensure that your dog gets to have a tasty fish dinner minus the hassle of unwanted complications that require frequent visits to the vet.

Get Rid Of All Those Tiny Bones and Scales

Since these are choking hazards, make sure to remove these parts of the fish. If you dont have time to scale or debone the fish, you can always buy fresh boneless fillets.

Never Feed Raw Or Undercooked Salmon

Can dogs eat salmon raw? The answer is NO. Feeding your dog raw salmon and even under cooked salmon is a bad idea.

Salmon poisoning or even the milder version is not a pretty sight. As such, you shouldnt let your dog eat raw salmon as well as those that are undercooked.

Now, you might be wondering if you can let your dogs eat smoked salmon. Eating smoked salmon is the same as allowing your dogs to eat raw salmon. Smoked salmon may still contain parasites. On top of that, this is also high in salt, which is also bad for dogs.

Serve It Well Cooked & Plain

There are plenty of ways to cook salmon. You can either poach, bake, steam, grill, or roast salmon. Whichever way you want it cooked, just make sure to serve well-cooked salmon to your dogs.

According to USDA Food Safety & Inspection, fish (in general) should be cooked at a minimum internal temperature of 145F.

When cooking salmon for your dog, serving it plain is the way to go. Remember that oil, butter, and seasonings like onion and garlic are bad for your dogs health.

Portion Control Is Key

Like any other food (dog food included), salmon should be given in appropriate portions. The question is: How much salmon can dogs eat?

Salmon should only be given once a week. The amount to give should not go more than 100 grams for every 10 pounds of your dogs weight.

Final Thoughts

Yes, well-cooked salmon is good for dogs. If you have time to whip up something for your dog, check out all the recipes below.

But if youre too busy and cooking salmon isnt really your thing, you can also give your dog salmon products that are proven safe for your furry pals.

This includes canned salmon or tinned salmon. Just make sure to choose the canned salmon variants packed in water instead of oil or brine.

Now, if you want to know if its okay to let dogs eat salmon skin, the answer is yes as long as its cooked thoroughly. Salmon skin, after all, offers the same benefits as salmon itself. Salmon oil can also be added to your pets dinner every now and then.