Have you ever asked yourself that very question, Can I feed my dog tuna? Since youβre reading this article, youβve probably heard that fish is good for your dog. And thatβs certainly true, fish does have a ton of health benefits.
But have you ever wondered which types of fish are ok to feed to your pup, and which ones arenβt?Β After all, there are so many different options.
Benefits of fish for dogs
In general, fish is very nutritious for dogs because itβs high in healthy Omega-3 fatty acids which:
- Reduce inflammation
- Are good for the skin and the coat
- Support the immune system
- Are good for the brain
However, some fish are less healthy than others because of the polluted waters, caused by industrial waste, they swim in. Fish that are particularly prone to heavy metal toxicity are larger fish that eat a bunch of smaller fish.
Unfortunately, tuna is a larger fish. That means that it absorbs a much higher amount of heavy metals, and particularly mercury, than smaller fish does.
Can I feed my dog tuna: Feed your dog tuna in very small quantities
Since tuna is less clean as far as heavy metals are concerned, itβs best not to feed it on a regular, let alone daily, basis. However, since itβs a readily available source of fish that you can find canned at pretty much every grocery store, I believe that itβs ok to feed every now and then.
Itβs the cumulative exposure over many years thatβs harmful. At that point, mercury poisoning can happen and:
β¦causes problems ranging from nervous system disorders to endocrine issues, reproductive problems and accelerated aging.Β Quote from Dogs Naturally Magazine, Can Dogs Eat Seafood?
I personally am a raw feeder and as such I feed raw fish very regularly. It makes up about 10% of my dogβs raw meat diet. But Iβll only buy a can of tuna a few times per year when Iβm out of other types of fish and will mix it in with my pupβs raw meals.
The main reason why I buy canned tuna as opposed to raw tuna is that few of my local grocery stores carry raw tuna.
That being said, canned tuna thatβs ok to feed to your dog is the kind thatβs canned in water or olive oil. Youβll want to avoid the kind thatβs canned with spicy condiments because those can pose a serious health risk to your dogβs body. The excess amount of salt and other spices arenβt good for dogs, and will likely also cause diarrhea.
Healthier fish alternatives for your dog than tuna
In case youβre wondering which types of fish are ok and safe to feed on a regular basis instead of tuna, I listed them below.
Iβve fed them all but had to cross a few off my list of fishy options after I received theΒ results of a food sensitivity testΒ for my current pup Wally, a Feist mix:
- Salmon
- Thread Herring
- Mackerel
- Anchovies
- SardinesΒ
- Green Lipped Mussels
Raw dog food recipe with fish (thread herring)
Hereβs a sample raw dog food recipe that includes fish. Everything but the ground lamb is from Raw Feeding Miami (the lamb is from a local grocery store):
- Thread Herring
- Beef Heart
- Ground Lamb
- Monstermash (secreting organ mix)
- Duck Feet
For more raw dog food recipes, check out my ebooksΒ 20 Raw Meals for Dogs, Raw Meal Prep for Dogs: The Ultimate Guide for Beginners, Raw Dog Food Recipes and Tips for Dogs with Allergies.
Where to buy the healthier fish alternatives for your raw dog foodΒ
I get my pupβs raw fish mainly from local grocery stores, and two online raw dog food retailers,Β Raw Feeding MiamiΒ andΒ Raw Paws Pet Food.
Update 2020: I also recently bought (ground) lake trout from My Pet Carnivore.
One time, I was able to find raw salmon heads at an asian fish store β that was a great deal and my former pups Missy & Buzz loved them!Β
See my articleΒ For the more adventurous Raw Feeder β Salmon Heads for DogsΒ for more information on this topic!
15% off (fishy) orders from Raw Feeding Miami & Raw Paws Pet Food
If youβre interested in placing (fishy) orders from Raw Paws Pet Food and/or Raw Feeding Miami, I have a little something for you! Both companies were kind enough to offer my readers, you!, a 15% discount code. So please enjoy!
Use code K9Savings for 15% off your order fromΒ Raw Paws Pet Food.
Save 15% off your order from Raw Feeding MiamiΒ by clicking this link.
LeaveΒ yourΒ comments or questions in the comment section below!
Join the K9sOverCoffee Community today! Get your free raw dog food recipe, excerpted from β20 Raw Meals for Dogsβ!Related Reading:
For the more adventurous raw feeder: Salmon heads for dogs
I found a supplier of raw green lipped mussels for dogs
How to make raw dog food at home
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