Is salmon allowed and healthy for dogs?
Salmon is fresh and healthy – or rather, fish and healthy. From our own diet with its numerous health benefits, you may be wondering if your dog can eat salmon too? Yes, dogs can eat not only →sprats but also salmon – and even daily. Salmon is an ideal source of protein in their food and provides your dog with important nutrients. Here you’ll learn what to consider when feeding salmon and why it’s so healthy for your furry friend.
Why is salmon so healthy for dogs?
In addition to healthy protein for the energy they need every day, salmon brings other important vitamins and minerals for your four-legged friend:
Omega-3 fatty acids: The essential fatty acids are needed by the body for life (such as for brain function and immune system) but cannot be produced by the body itself. That’s why it’s essential to get them through food. Fatty acids are also important for →skin and coat health as well as for a healthy cholesterol level and for reducing inflammation.
By the way! If your dog suffers from skin and coat problems such as excessive hair loss, itching, dandruff, or a dull, lackluster coat, the right food can help.
For skin and coat problems:
Food to strengthen skin and coat
Vitamin D: Salmon also provides important vitamin D, which supports bone metabolism. A deficiency can cause →joint problems and osteoporosis. Dogs with a vitamin D deficiency are also more susceptible to infections, because vitamin D protects the immune system.
Vitamin B12: For the formation of new blood cells and nerve cells your dog’s body needs vitamin B12. If there is a deficiency, it can lead to impaired nerve function – weakness, anemia, and disorders of the central nervous system can be the result.
Vitamin E: This important vitamin helps the body protect against free radicals. Vitamin E especially protects and strengthens skin cells.
Vitamin A: Vitamin A benefits healthy cell growth and vision.
Even during training, your dog can benefit from these advantages! Our snacks with salmon are not only super tasty, but also provide important fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals!
Healthy snacking has never been so tasty!
Which type of salmon is best for dogs?
Not all salmon is the same – this fishy-fresh treat is divided into wild salmon, farmed salmon, and Alaska pollock.
Wild salmon is – as the name suggests – salmon from open waters. Active and naturally grown in its habitat, this salmon is by far the healthiest choice for your dog. Free from medication, with the best taste and low in fat. The only thing is the risk of parasites. However, cooling, cooking, or searing makes these harmless.
Farmed salmon are raised in fish farms in Norwegian fjords. As idyllic and natural as this method may seem at first, this option contains less omega-3 fatty acids and more fat.
Farmed salmon – and you can already guess – is basically the opposite of wild salmon. Over generations, salmon has been bred for years so that it is markedly different from tasty wild salmon. Like poultry in caged farming, farmed salmon has very little space and is therefore inactive and has a high fat content. Although your dog cannot get parasites thanks to antibiotics used in farming, they do ingest some medication through the food, and the content of important omega-3 fatty acids is also lower.
Alaska pollock is the salmon that wishes it was one, but simply isn’t. So you could say this is a true salmon substitute . Next time you see "Alaska pollock" in the supermarket, now you know what it really is: A cod in a salmon disguise. Huh? Exactly, because the pink-orange chemically colored cod meat looks like salmon, which is why it’s often used as a substitute.
The comparison of the three types is clear: wild salmon is the winner here – both due to its natural development and its nutrient composition. However, it’s also the most expensive, so you’ll have to dig a little deeper into your pocket.
Raw or smoked: How should I feed salmon to my dog?
The fresher, the better – or something like that! Salmon and fish in general should be fed as fresh as possible. If the sea dweller has been stored for a while, there’s a risk that bacteria and germs may develop, which can be transmitted to your dog.
Salmon can easily be fed raw – but only if it’s kept consistently chilled and fed directly. Especially with BARF, it’s all about feeding fresh meat or fish, refined with fruit, vegetables, herbs, and →oils.
You'll love to try BARF!
No joke – no dog wants old salmon! If the fish is not quite as fresh anymore, but still edible, you can offer it to your dog cooked or fried. Just remember that the bones must always be removed and you should avoid seasonings. For your four-legged friend, the pure taste of natural salmon is very appealing anyway!
Our four-legged friends tolerate fresh salmon best when it has been naturally raised or grown up in the wild.
And what about smoked salmon? In large portions, it’s far too salty for your dog. Plus, the smoking process introduces harmful substances into the meat, so this type of salmon isn’t suitable for regular feeding. A small bite here and there won’t hurt and isn’t toxic either, but it’s best to stick to fresh salmon.
Most dogs absolutely love the intense flavor of salmon . If you don’t want to change your dog’s food, our →salmon oil is the perfect way to enhance your dog’s meals and provides valuable polyunsaturated fatty acids!
How often can my dog have salmon?
Salmon can have a place on your dog’s menu every day. You can choose a healthy complete food for your four-legged friend, such as our →wet food salmon with rice, peas, and potatoes or the →dry food with Scottish salmon, dill, spinach, and fennel. Here you can be sure your dog will be treated to the best culinary delight and enjoy the health benefits of salmon!
If you feed salmon in addition to regular food, you don’t need to adjust the food amount for one or two small pieces. To avoid overfeeding and →overweight, however, you should reduce the amount of food according to the feeding recommendations.
Can my dog eat salmon skin?
Salmon skin is an especially vitamin-rich treat for your dog. But be careful: dogs with a little extra weight shouldn’t eat too much of the tasty skin, as it is very high in fat. With our delicious →salmon skin rolls your dog will enjoy extra-long chewing fun!
