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Dogs love to eat anything we do, plus a few others things we don’t appreciate too much! Our fur babies may even love to eat fish! Has your dog come over and begged for a piece of yummy fish you’ve cooked? Is fish even safe for dogs to eat?
Has your dog eaten fish? Are you worried the fish will make your dog sick? If so, you’ve come to the right place. We understand it can be concerning when your dog eats something like this.
We’ve gathered information about fish and whether it can make a dog sick. Let’s get started!
Can Dogs Eat Fish?
Yes, fish is safe for dogs to eat! If you take a look at commercially prepared dog foods, many of them contain some type of fish, such as salmon. Fish is healthy for dogs and provides plenty of protein; it’s low in saturated fats and is easy to digest. And some dogs with food allergies are sometimes prescribed a diet of commercially prepared dog food that contains fish.
What Types of Fish are Safe for Dogs?
Fortunately, dogs can eat a wide variety of fish, including:
- Whiting
- Light tuna fish (canned)
- Cod
- Catfish
- Whitefish
- Flounder
- Salmon
- Herring
These fish are healthier for dogs and have a lower chance of containing harmful levels of mercury. They also usually don’t carry parasites.
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Ask a Vet Live NowIs There Fish Not Safe for Dogs?
Yes, there are a few fish that are not safe for dogs, including:
- Shark
- Swordfish
- King mackerel
- Tilefish
- Albacore tuna (canned)
These fish are usually larger and older when caught; they’re more likely to carry higher levels of mercury and may have parasites.
In addition, dogs should not eat fried fish. The problem is the fats used to cook the fish. These can cause pancreatitis and other conditions in dogs. What’s more, cooked fish may also be cooked with other ingredients toxic to dogs, such as onion and garlic.
What About Raw Fish, Fish Skin & Bones?
Raw fish is not safe for dogs as it may contain parasites and bacteria that could make a dog very sick. In addition, fish bones, fins, tails, and heads are not safe for dogs to eat. These parts of the fish could cause choking or an obstruction in the dog’s digestive tract.
Fish should be cooked, cleaned, deboned, and filleted before serving it to your fur baby.
What to Do If Your Dog Becomes Ill After Eating Fish
There are too many symptoms to list here; however, we highly recommend calling the vet if your dog gets sick after eating fish.
And if your dog has eaten fish bones and is choking, this is an emergency. It’s time to call the vet right now. If your dog has eaten bones or other parts of the fish (such as the fins, etc.) and he’s not showing symptoms, we still recommend calling the vet. It’s possible your fur baby could develop an intestinal obstruction, which requires veterinary intervention.
So, fish is safe for dogs unless they eat raw fish, fish bones, and more. So, keep raw fish away from your dog and only serve him deboned, filleted fish. It’s safe and healthy for your canine companion!
Connect with a verified veterinarian in minutes. Licensed vets are available 24/7 to answer your questions. No need to worry about your furry family member.
Kim
Kim is a talented author, who loves animals especially dogs. She engaged in writing books and articles relating to animals a decade ago. Kim resides in Chicago with her husband and son. The family is the proud owner of a dog and a parrot (Jack and Lily). Kim wanted more than these two pets, but her husband put his foot down... She often visits elementary schools to talk to the kids about what she learned about pets and how they could learn from them.
Review symptoms, medications & behavior to keep your pets healthy with a Vet Online in just minutes.
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