Can dogs eat fish?

[Joe]

Just a quick question here because I couldn't easily find anything on the web.

Does anyone know if there are any dangers to feeding dogs fish, like sardines for example?

 

[Jacques]

Just a quick question here because I couldn't easily find anything on the web.

Does anyone know if there are any dangers to feeding dogs fish, like sardines for example?

I'm not an expert but my little dog Capucine just loves fish and she goes crazy when we are eating some fish.

I have already given sardines/salmon/trout in small quantity and there were no bad reaction.

fwiw

 

[casper]

Fish is one of the best foods for dogs as it is easily digested and rich in omega 3 fatty acids that strengthen the immune system, and dog hair becomes firmer and brighter.
More on link:
https://translate.google.hr/translate?sl=hr&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=hr&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fmoj.pet-centar.hr%2FPitajte-nase-veterinare-Psi%2FPrehrana-psa-riba-na-jelovniku-2734.html&edit-text=God+works+in+mysterious+ways

 

[Chu]

Here's some info on sardines for dogs, and it seems to be ideal, indeed, for their fur, as an anti-inflammatory in cases of arthritis, as a brain food, etc.:

http://www.dogster.com/lifestyle/sardines-for-dogs

http://pets.thenest.com/sardines-dogs-fur-coat-8634.html

http://www.keepthetailwagging.com/the-health-benefits-of-sardines-for-dogs/

 

[Chu]

Some reservations according to this person:
http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2012/01/03/fish-as-a-protein-source.aspx

But it's mostly about the quality and origin of the fish (heavy metals, etc.). She says it's important to rotate the types of protein that you give to your pets. The same kind every day for a long time is not good according to her. At the end, she still recommends sardines for that.

 

[Possibility of Being]

The Internet consensus seems to be: yes, now and then; avoid raw salmon.

http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=2+1659&aid=1030

Fish (raw, canned or cooked)
If fed exclusively or in high amounts can result in a thiamine (a B vitamin) deficiency leading to loss of appetite, seizures, and in severe cases, death.

http://nextgendog.com/fish-for-dogs-studies-on-benefits-and-side-effects/

That article is generally positive about fish for dogs if not to often:

To conclude – a little fish or seafood on a weekly basis under controlled supervision can be very beneficial for canines, while too much of it can become dangerous with adverse consequences. So yes, do give fish to your pooch, just know where it’s coming from, cook well and don’t go overboard.

They quote one study though about possible dangers:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23323770

Potential adverse effects of omega-3 Fatty acids in dogs and cats.

Abstract

Fish oil omega-3 fatty acids, mainly eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid, are used in the management of several diseases in companion animal medicine, many of which are inflammatory in nature. This review describes metabolic differences among omega-3 fatty acids and outlines potential adverse effects that may occur with their supplementation in dogs and cats with a special focus on omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil. Important potential adverse effects of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation include altered platelet function, gastrointestinal adverse effects, detrimental effects on wound healing, lipid peroxidation, potential for nutrient excess and toxin exposure, weight gain, altered immune function, effects on glycemic control and insulin sensitivity, and nutrient-drug interactions.

http://canigivemydog.com/fish

Different Types of Fish

Different types of fish are beneficial for different reasons. It can be confusing because there are a lot of fish varieties to choose from. As an example, salmon contains the required daily dose of vitamin D and about half of the recommended dose of vitamin B12. Generally, dogs can benefit greatly from occasionally eating salmon since it provides them with lots of essential proteins. However, as stated above, you have to make sure that salmon is cooked well enough before you feed it to your dog.

Another type is sardines which can contain soft digestible bones for a calcium boost. They also provide a quarter of a daily dose of magnesium which can help with mood, among other benefits. [...]

You do, however, still need to provide well-balanced meals for your canine friend so limit their fish consumption to a couple times weekly.

 

[Seaniebawn]

One of my dog's loves fish, I just put it down to his country of origin, he's a japanese akita , but it doesn't seem to cause him any harm

 

[Z...]

In fact canned sardines are the safest inexpensive fish to feed to dogs.

However moderation is the key since canned fish are usually rich in histamine. I'd say few times a week would be safe.

I would steer clear from tuna or any large blue fish, this article is about cats but the most of it can be applied to dogs as well. There is also a very neat chart there.
http://www.vetmalta.com/zoran-daily-pet/133-why-feeding-only-fish-to-a-cat-is-not-very-good-idea

when it comes to salmon, most of it is farmed and fed on grains so not really good idea, not to mention GMO frankensalmon - last time I checked there was a push to release it in the wild but it was blocked, this was few years back, who knows what happened in the meantime. If they were introduced into the wild, this concern becomes valid for trout too since it was proven in the lab that Atlantic salmon and brown trout can have hybrid offspring.

And last but not least all Pacific fish should be avoided because of Fukushima and I presume during our lifetime all the fish will be off the menu. So fish lovers enjoy it while you still can or be prepared to grow scales ;)

 

[Don Genaro]

Here's some info on sardines for dogs, and it seems to be ideal, indeed, for their fur, as an anti-inflammatory in cases of arthritis, as a brain food, etc.:

http://www.dogster.com/lifestyle/sardines-for-dogs

http://pets.thenest.com/sardines-dogs-fur-coat-8634.html

http://www.keepthetailwagging.com/the-health-benefits-of-sardines-for-dogs/

Yes, I've given my dogs sardines with no negative results - I cook them and feed them whole. I also throw a cod liver oil capsule into their food regularly as it's supposed to be good for their coats :)

 

[Z...]

Don Genaro, cod liver oil is too rich in vitamin A and should not be supplemented more then few weeks several times a year, since excess of vitamin A can cause serious problems in dogs. It should never be given to cats.

Better option is to give good quality fish body oil but the chances are if it is marketed for dogs it will be of lesser quality and not obtained with cold distillation, therefore little more expensive but safest option is to feed human grade quality omega 3 capsules which have been purified from heavy metals by cold distillation. For medium or large size dog you should give at least 500mg of DHA and EPA daily ( read labels carefully because for example Holland and Berret Omega3 1500mg contains about 500 mg of DHA and EPA).

Every dog should get omega3 same as humans.

 

[Don Genaro]

Thanks for that Z. I'll switch to fish oil for them. While we're on the subject, I give them a raw egg a few days a week with their food. I guess that's okay?

 

[Possibility of Being]

Thanks for that Z. I'll switch to fish oil for them. While we're on the subject, I give them a raw egg a few days a week with their food. I guess that's okay?

Nope. It can also lead to Vit B deficiency. From the same source as above (peteducation):

Raw eggs
Contain an enzyme called avidin, which decreases the absorption of biotin (a B vitamin). This can lead to skin and hair coat problems. Raw eggs may also contain Salmonella.

That's raw egg whites causing the problem as far as I know.

 

[JonnyRadar]

I've fed mine whole remains of river caught trout after filleting them, and she's never had a problem. :) She gobbles them up like they were candy...

 

[rrraven]

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/09/080903-wolves-salmon.html

Wolves Prefer Salmon to Deer?
Anne Minard
for National Geographic News
September 3, 2008

Move over, grizzly bears. "Fishing wolves" in coastal British Columbia are also looking to snatch some salmon, and will eat the fish almost exclusively when they are available, new research reveals. The team found that the coastal predators, like many other wolves, rely on deer most of the time in the spring and summer.

But during several months in the fall, the wolves ignored deer to focus on migrating salmon.

"What is unusual is this huge seasonal shift to salmon. They were forgoing deer to target salmon,"

 

[Z...]

Thanks for that Z. I'll switch to fish oil for them. While we're on the subject, I give them a raw egg a few days a week with their food. I guess that's okay?

Nope. It can also lead to Vit B deficiency. From the same source as above (peteducation):

Raw eggs
Contain an enzyme called avidin, which decreases the absorption of biotin (a B vitamin). This can lead to skin and hair coat problems. Raw eggs may also contain Salmonella.

That's raw egg whites causing the problem as far as I know.

Indeed egg whites contain avidin, a Biotin (one of the B vitamins) inhibitor. However this effect would be accomplished only if you feed very high amounts of egg whites and no yolks, so left over white from fatbombs will have to be cooked ;)

This is from dogsnaturally website:

"Biotin deficiencies are quite rare and it would take an extraordinary amount of egg whites to create a deficiency. Moreover, egg yolks are very high in biotin, so as long as you feed the entire egg, there are few worries. There are other sources of biotin in the diet as well. Liver is a particularly good source. Once again, cooking the egg white will eliminate the risk but your dog will lose much of the nutritional value. If feeding your dog eggs on a regular basis, simply make sure he gets the whole egg, not just the white."

I'd say up to 4-5 whole raw eggs a week is pretty safe, including shells - if the eggs are organic