How to Feed Whole Raw Fish for Dogs

Wondering if it’s safe — or even beneficial — to feed your dog whole raw fish?

The short answer is yep, it is, especially when you compare whole fish to fish oil.

Personally, I fed all my dogs whole raw fish, and they all love(d) it. My Boxer mixes Missy and Buzz did, and so does my Feist mix Wally as well as my 3 month old Lab puppy Pepper.

And as someone who’s been raw feeding since 2015 in both the US and Germany, I can tell you that raw fish can be a powerful addition to your dog’s diet— if you know how to do it right.

I’ve been making my own raw meals since 2016 and became a certified raw dog food nutrition specialist in 2020 through a course taught by Dana Scott and Dr. Marion Smart, two giants in the natural pet food world.

In 2024, I started working for BARFER’S, a leading raw dog food brand in Germany, and have helped hundreds of raw feeders feel confident about feeding the dog in front of them — including when it comes to feeding fish safely.

Now, oily fish plays an important role in balancing fatty acids in a raw diet. If you want to understand how I build meals beyond just protein choice, start with my raw dog food framework here.

So I really love feeding my dogs whole raw fish because it’s a such a great source of:

• Omega-3 fatty acids
• Vitamin D
• Protein
• Some iodine

Just to clarify, when I say whole raw fish, I’m talking about the entire fish with bones, scales, fins, and the head.

Having said that, they also have some calcium (bones), and animal fiber (fins).

Side note: If whole fish seems too far of a stretch for you or your dog, you can also feed Vitamin D-rich phytoplankton as an alternative.

Can Dogs Eat & Digest Fishbones?

The question people ask me most about feeding whole raw fish for dogs is “But can dogs really eat fish bones?”

Yes, but only when the fish bones are raw.

My dogs Missy, Buzz and Wally have been eating whole raw fish with the fish bones since 2016 without any issues. And even my Lab puppy Pepper had her very first whole raw fish at 3 months of age!

That’s because raw fish bones are soft and pliable – just like raw meaty bones from chicken or rabbit. 

So if your dog ate raw fish and you’re wondering what do I do?

Nothing. Your dog will be just fine.

Now, what you don’t want to feed is cooked fish bones because as with all bones, cooking changes the bone density and makes them brittle and sharp.

If your dog ate a whole cooked fish meaning your dog ate fish bones cooked, my tip is to feed them slippery elm syrup.

It coats your dog’s digestive tract and also their trachea, and makes passing the whole cooked fish easier – both ways (vomiting and pooping it out).

So as far as how to cook fish for dogs – don’t! At least not with the bones.

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Whole Raw Fish for Dogs: Can Dogs Eat Fish Heads?

Yes.

Not only can dogs eat fish heads, they should!

That’s because a raw fish head comes with its eyes and the brains.

Both count as secreting organs that are really hard to source by themselves.

And following the feeding model of like cures like, the eyes and the brains are great organ meats to feed your dog for their eye and brain health.

Here’s a video of my pup Wally eating a whole raw fish including its head:

Best Whole Raw Fish for Dogs

Ok, so what’s the best raw fish for dogs that can you feed whole?

The answer is oily fish like mackerel, herring, trout, anchovies, sardines and smelt.

I prefer to cut up larger fish like salmon into smaller pieces and have fed raw salmon heads to my dogs Missy and Buzz before.

The only reason why I’m not feeding my dog Wally salmon heads is because he is allergic to salmon.

Now, one thing to keep in mind is that smaller fish has much less mercury than larger fish.

So that’s another reason why I wouldn’t feed larger fish like salmon on a regular, weekly basis.

As far as which kind of fish to feed YOUR particular dog whole, use common sense and feed an appropriate size.

So for example, feed your Chihuahua a whole sardine, smelt or anchovy as opposed to a whole mackerel.

And do the opposite with your Pitbull!

Not sure how much fish your dog’s ratio actually needs?

Where to Buy Whole Raw Fish for Dogs

As far as where to buy raw fish for dogs, this depends on where you live.

If you’re in the States, you can get oily fish like mackerel, herring, sardines, anchovies and smelt from raw dog food retailers like Raw Feeding Miami.

Hare Today and My Pet Carnivore carry mostly ground fish, but they do have whole sardines.

If you’re elsewhere in the word, check your local grocery stores and research your country’s raw dog food retailers and what kind of fish they’re selling.

The only other country I’ve actively fed whole raw fish for dogs besides the US is Germany and France.

In Germany, I can get whole mackerel from cit Tiernahrung. On our roadtrips to France, I’ve found fresh sardines and mackerel at Carrefour grocery stores.

Frozen Raw Fish for Dogs

As far as feeding whole frozen raw fish for dogs, some dogs will do fine with that approach and others won’t.

I will say though that it works nice as a refreshing, cooling dog snack when it’s hot outside.

But if your dog has a sensitive tummy, I wouldn’t offer frozen raw fish, but let it thaw before feeding it.

Now, do you have to freeze raw fish you intend to feed your dog?

Again, it depends.

If it’s from the Pacific or if it’s wild fish you caught yourself, you’ll want to freeze it for 3 weeks before feeding it.

Freezing raw fish for dogs gets rid of potential parasites.

If you bought the whole raw fish from a raw dog food retailer like Raw Feeding Miami, Raw Paws Pet Food, Hare Today or My Pet Carnivore for example, you don’t need to freeze it prior to feeding it.

How to Feed Whole Raw Fish to Dogs

As far as how to feed it, that depends on the size of the whole raw fish and what kind of raw dog food you feed.

If you make your own homemade raw dog food, the best way to feed your dog a larger whole raw fish is as an in-between snack.

For smaller whole fish like anchovies, smelts and herrings, you can add them into your dog’s food containers at raw dog food meal prep.

Now, if you’re feeding commercial raw dog food that doesn’t have any fish in it, you can just add a smaller whole fish into your dog’s bowl at feeding time.

Or if it’s a larger raw fish, again, I’d feed it as an in-between snack.

Here’s a video of Wally eating a whole raw mackerel on my YouTube channel.

Whole Raw Fish for Dogs: Bottom Line

So there you have it – whole raw fish for dogs is nutritious, fun for your dog to eat and safe!

Remember, dogs can eat whole raw fish with bones as long as the bones are raw.

But don’t feed your dog any cooked fish bones!

The eyes and the brains in whole raw fish are secreting organs that are valuable for your dog’s eyesight and neurological health.

Do you have any questions or comments about feeding your dog whole raw fish?

Leave them in the comment section below this blog post and I’ll answer them!

Related Reading

• Fish oil for dogs
• Minnows for dogs
• Can dogs eat raw fish?
• Whole prey duck for dogs
• Raw salmon heads for dogs
• Can I feed my dog (canned) tuna?
• What’s the difference between mackerel and herring?

Barbara Rivers

Barbara Rivers is the founder of K9sOverCoffee and a raw feeding educator with over a decade of hands-on experience.

She has fed raw in the US and Europe since 2015, after her Boxer mix Missy’s cancer diagnosis led her to move away from processed kibble and commit to species-appropriate nutrition.

As a former professional dog walker, she developed deep insight into canine behavior, conditioning, and the essential link between proper exercise and long-term health.

Barbara completed online training with veterinarian Dr. Marion Smart and Labrador breeder Dana Scott and works for one of Germany’s leading raw dog food brands, BARFER’S.

In 2026–2027, she is completing a year-long raw nutrition certification for dogs and cats at THP School, founded by raw feeding pioneer Swanie Simon.

Through her blog and weekly newsletter, she provides clear, experience-based guidance to help dog owners feed raw safely and confidently.