Can Dogs Eat Fish? What types of fish are good for dogs? How should we give them? Is it necessary to cook them or, on the contrary, can they eat them raw? Undoubtedly, these are just some of the doubts that assail us when we decide to start in homemade dog diets or hybrid feeding, in which the animal is offered both feed and food made by us.
Of course, if you are one of those who opt for this last option you should know that it is not recommended to mix in the same dish with natural feed, it is necessary to offer it separately and at different times of the day. This is because these products follow completely different digestive processes and, therefore, causing the dog to eat them at the same time could develop serious health problems, such as gastric torsion.
If you want to answer all your questions, keep reading and discover in Dogsfud.com if dogs can eat fish and how?
Can Dogs Eat Fish? Which Fish is Good for Dogs?
Indeed, fish is good for dogs and, despite popular beliefs about the consumption of this product, none of them usually show signs of toxicity in dogs, except in cases of fish allergy. Thus, we can offer our furry companions any type of fish, both white and blue, since each one offers different benefits and interesting properties for the correct development of dogs.
Of course, taking into account that bluefish contains a greater caloric intake than white. For example, our dog needs to lose some weight, it is much more advisable to opt for white rather than blue. Likewise, this greater caloric contribution also translates into a higher percentage of omega 3 fatty acids, so that bluefish is more indicated to improve the coat of dogs, as well as protect their immune system and prevent the onset of diseases cardiovascular
As carnivorous animal dogs, in which the protein intake must occupy the highest percentage of their total diet, both meat and fish consumption is recommended to cover it. The important thing when we decide to venture into the elaboration of homemade diets for our animals is to cover all their nutritional needs, maintain a correct balance between phosphorus and calcium, and work with quality products, are the most recommended organic ones.
Now, although all fish are good for dogs, it is true that some of them stand out above the rest of the benefits they offer to our four-legged friends. In this way, the most recommended fish are the following:
- Salmon
- Tuna
- Sardines
- Mackerel
- Herring
- Hake
Benefits of Fish for Dogs:
As we have seen, both white and bluefish have great benefits for dogs, so to include them in your diet is more than recommended. Now, what exactly are those benefits? Undoubtedly, the first of them, common in both types of fish, is high protein intake.
As we have already indicated, dogs are carnivores by nature and require animal-derived proteins to stay healthy and strong, because without them your body could not produce the enzymes, hormones, tissue, and cells necessary for proper functioning. Regarding the rest of the properties of the weighing for dogs, we will detail them according to the type.
Benefits of Bluefish for Dogs
Bluefish, unlike white fish, has a high percentage of fats. However, the fats that we find in this type of fish are called ‘polyunsaturated’, being the omega 3 fatty acid present in the bluefish. In this way, we see how the products that are part of this group of foods represent one of the best natural sources of omega 3, a very beneficial substance for dogs. These fatty acids manage to improve the hair health of the animal, enhancing its shine, increasing its softness, and restoring vitality to its fur.
Likewise, omega 3 has the ability to protect the animal against the possible cardiovascular diseases that it can develop. Because it considerably reduces the formation of plaques in the blood vessels. On the other hand, it also has important anti-inflammatory properties, indicated for joint pain patients such as that produced by canine arthritis.
In addition to its omega 3 content, bluefish is good for dogs because of the variety of vitamins that make it up, with vitamin D, A, B12, B3, B2 and B1 being the most outstanding.
The ideal thing is to offer salmon, since it is the bluefish that most favors the health of our furry friends, however, mackerel, sardines, tuna, and herring are also advisable.
Benefits of White Fish for Dogs
Whitefish, also known as lean fish, differ from bluefish, mainly by the percentage of fat and, therefore, fatty acids of their composition, being much less in whites. In general, 100 grams of white fish usually contribute around 110 kcal, so it is highly beneficial for those dogs with obesity, which require a special diet to lose weight. Likewise, it is also a product recommended for elderly dogs, both for its protein content and its low caloric intake and other benefits that we name below.
Whitefish is also an excellent natural source of B vitamins, with B3, B9, and B12 being the most prominent, and vitamin A. On the other hand, it provides dogs with a considerable amount of essential minerals for their proper development. , such as calcium and phosphorus, already mentioned above.
As we indicated, maintaining the balance between these minerals is essential to avoid a deficiency of one of them. Because if the organism of the dog detects that. For example, it needs more calcium, it will tend to extract it from its own bones, something totally counterproductive. In this way, by offering this food to our furry friend, not only do we avoid this situation. But we also favor the bone system and help prevent the development of pathologies related to it such as osteoporosis, arthritis or osteoarthritis.
Although in the previous section we highlight hake as the most recommended white fish for dogs. We can offer any other type, such as cod, bream, etc.
How to Give Fish to my Dog?
Now that you know that dogs can eat fish and what their benefits are. The time has come to talk about the different ways to offer them this product and include it in their daily diet. In this sense, the ideal and most advisable is to previously cook the fish and remove all the spines, since in this way we can eliminate any type of bacteria.
To do this, it is best to make the fish boiled or grilled, never fried or battered. Of course, to keep all its properties intact, it is necessary to cook the fish at low temperature, without exceeding 70 degrees, and leave it half-cooked, so that it is sealed on the outside and slightly raw on the inside. If you follow the BARF diet and want to offer the animal raw fish, it will be necessary to ensure its origin to confirm its quality.
Once the fish is cooked. We wait for it to cool to crumble it and serve it with a jet of olive oil. The first cold pressing being the most beneficial for the dogs. For more information, do not miss our article on the benefits of olive oil for dogs.
On the other hand. We can also offer from time to time versions of canned fish, always natural or in olive oil. An example of this is canned tuna.
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What is the Amount of Fish I can Give My Dog?
There is some controversy as to the exact amount of protein that a dog should consume per day. Since some professionals say it should be around 80% while others suggest that the ideal is 70%. We recommend that you try both percentages and determine yourself which is the best for your dog. In any case, the remaining 30 or 20% should be occupied with fruits and vegetables good for dogs, and even cereals such as rice or oats some day a week.
Now, if you are looking for an indicative amount in grams we can say that, for every 10 kilos of weight. You can offer the dog between 120 and 150 grams of fish per day. On the other hand, it is not advisable to feed the animal based on fish every day. Remember that the consumption of meat, such as chicken or turkey, is essential to maintain your health in perfect condition, except for those cases allergic to certain meats. Thus, you can book two days a week. For example to prepare recipes with fish.
Can I Mix the Fish with Other Foods?
Of course, as long as you keep the indicated amounts. In this way, you can combine the fish with pieces of boiled vegetables such as carrots or squash, or a little-boiled rice. Of course, if you wonder if you can mix the fish with dog food the answer is a resounding NO.
As we have already indicated, natural foods and commercial feeds require different times and digestive processes. So offering them at the same time could cause serious health problems and damage the digestive system of the animal.