Some pet parents are parents to multiples—dogs, cats, fish and more. So, there’s always the possibility that one of the pets will get into another pet’s food. This is the case if you have a dog and an aquarium. Some dogs seem to love snarfing up fish food! Why?
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Dogs have a penchant for eating a host of things they shouldn’t. In fact, dogs are not very discerning when it comes to eating anything that may look or smell good to them. They’ve been known to eat dead things, poop from other others, and more!
But what about fish food? Is fish food bad for dogs?
What is Fish Food Made Of?
Commercially prepared fish food comes in flakes or pellet form. They’re easy to buy at any pet shop, the grocery store, and more. The ingredients in fish food can include carbohydrates, fats, moisture, proteins, fiber, ash and nitrogen-free extracts.
Fish need higher amounts of protein and fats in their diets compared to other animals. The protein usually comes from fish meal and fish oil but can also come from soy or pea vegetable sources.
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The carbs in fish food usually include maize meal, rice and wheat. And some fish foods may also include sex hormones and other additives to enhance color. Some fish food also contains medication.
Fish Food & Dogs
You’ll be happy to know that fish food is generally not toxic for dogs. However, it can contain ingredients that a dog may be allergic or otherwise sensitive to. However, in most cases, if a dog only has a very small amount of fish food, they should be OK.
The problem comes if the dog eats an entire container of fish food. Your fur baby may have an upset stomach, vomit, and even have diarrhea. This shouldn’t last long once your canine companion has rid his system of the fish food.
However, there is a danger that smaller dogs and puppies could become quickly dehydrated from vomiting or diarrhea. Another danger is if the dog has eaten a very large amount of fish food, he could develop pancreatitis from the high levels of protein in the food.
And if your dog is allergic to fish, then he could develop an allergic reaction from the food. Some dogs may be more sensitive to the fish ingredients, and could develop an anaphylactic reaction to the food, which can be deadly.
If your dog is showing any concerning signs after eating fish food, then you’ll need to call the vet. Especially if your dog is having an allergic reaction to the fish food.
Tom
Tom has always loved to write since he was little - he wanted to be either a writer or a veterinary doctor, but he ended up being a professional writer while most of his works are based on animals. He was born in San Francisco but later moved to Texas to continue his job as a writer. He graduated from the University of San Francisco where he studied biotechnology. He is happily married and a soon to be father!
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