If you have read any other articles from our blog you will be aware that dogs want to eat everything. That being said, I am sure you also know that just because they will try to eat anything they find, it doesn’t mean that they should.
As a dog myself, I feel that I am the ideal expert to tell you exactly what foods dogs should and shouldn’t be eating.
I have years of experience as a hungry pooch and have eaten my fair share of foods that I’m not supposed to, meaning I know from personal experience how bad it can be for a dog to eat something they aren’t meant to.
In this article, I want to explore one of the favorite foods of many humans – cooked salmon. I will be taking you through a guide over whether dogs can eat cooked salmon, as well as looking at reasons why salmon might be good for them, and in what quantities (if any) they should be allowed to eat.
Can dogs eat salmon?
We want to let you know right off the bad that dogs can eat salmon! Salmon can be incorporated into your dog’s diet as a source of protein.
It also provides a great alternative to other sources of protein like chicken, turkey, and other meats.
Your pooch will likely appreciate the change every now and then – we dogs get sick of having the same foods over and over again, too, you know!
Is salmon good for dogs?
Not only is salmon safe for your dog but it is also packed with a number of amazing health benefits for them too.
All humans know that salmon is good for them, with the recommendation from human doctors that they should eat at least 2 servings of oily fish like salmon every week.
Salmon has a similar effect on us, too. Salmon provides omega-3 which is a fatty acid. Omega-3 can support the immune systems of us dogs, helping them to get strong enough to fight illnesses. Omega-3 found in salmon may also help to prevent and decrease inflammation.
As if that wasn’t enough, the omega-3 in salmon also acts as a cosmetic product for us dogs, helping to keep our fur smooth and shiny! Salmon also provides a high-quality protein source. For this reason, it can be used interchangeably with other sources of protein in our diets.
Salmon is especially good for dogs who may have an intolerance for other protein sources like chicken. In fact, my beagle friend, Todd is allergic to chicken and so his human feeds him salmon instead!
Can cooked salmon hurt dogs?
Now that you know that salmon is good for your pooches, you may be wondering how you should prepare it for us. More specifically, you may begin to worry whether certain types of salmon could be bad for us.
Cooked salmon cannot hurt dogs provided it is cooked well, there are no undercooked parts of the salmon, and that it is plain. By plain, we mean free of seasonings, sauces, spices, and oils.
As well as being plain and well cooked, you also need to ensure that the salmon is totally free of bones! This is very important because salmon bones are actually very dangerous for dogs. they can splinter, causing damage inside your dog, and also act as a choking hazard.
Even if the salmon fillet you buy says that it is ‘boneless’ you should still check it thoroughly before and after cooking, and especially before you give it to your pooch for any small bones that may have been missed.
We have already told you about the importance of ensuring that the salmon is well cooked, but the reason for this is so important that we wanted to deal with it separately.
Raw salmon, or even slightly undercooked salmon can contain a parasite called Neorickettsia Helminthoeca Parasite. This is quite the mouthful, but don’t worry, all you need to know about this is that it can be fatal to dogs.
It can cause salmon poisoning disease that can make your dog very sick at best, and kill them at worst. For this reason, cooking salmon really well is absolutely vital.
How much salmon can I give my dogs?
Salmon should be given to your dog in small amounts, no more than once a week. We dogs are similar to humans in the sense that one or two portions of salmon are more than enough for us to reap the wonderful health benefits.
The portion size you serve will depend on the size of the dog. They will not need as much salmon as you would give them chicken, and it may be a good idea to also serve the salmon alongside some dog-safe, vet-approved veggies and other foods.
Be sure, your dog will likely gobble up whatever amount you put down, no matter if they’re hungry or not – hey, we’re a greedy lot! But that doesn’t mean you should overfeed them. Think of salmon as a treat, and serve it accordingly.
You may also want to give your dog some canned salmon. This is fine, provided there is no sauce and it is not kept in oil.
Only get salmon that is ‘no-drain’, or canned with water. It will already be adequately cooked, but may still have skin and bones in there, so be sure to remove these first before decanting it into your dog’s bowl.
Summary
To summarize, I am happy to report that dogs can indeed eat salmon. As a dog myself I can attest to the fact that not only is it mighty tasty, but it also has some wonderful health benefits.
I mean, just look at how shiny my fur is – that is all because of the salmon!
Be sure to cook the salmon well, and also to remove any sharp bones that may be inside there.
Cook it without any seasoning and oils to be sure that it is safe for your furry four-legged friend, and only serve it around once a week!
Take it from me, your pooch pal will love you forever!
