Can dog's eat... Salmon?

Yes, dogs can eat salmon. You should only feed small amounts of cooked salmon at any one time, as it is an oily fish. Eating high amounts of oils, especially if your dog isn't used to eating oil based products, can lead to gastrointestinal upset. The oils cause irritation of the mucosa of the intestines, leading to symptoms such as diarrhoea, vomiting and inappetence. 

#Health benefits of salmon for dogs

The health benefits of salmon are fantastic. Salmon is protein dense and packed with vitamins and minerals. This combination is excellent for skin and coat health, brain function, immune support and more.

Salmon is high in protein, important in repair and replacement of the body. Protein is fuel for the body, and a high protein meal gives dogs the feeling of being full, so they can avoid temptation to steal tibbits or beg for extra food. This may be extra helpful if your dog is trying to lose some extra weight, or cannot have sugary treats, for example in diabetic dogs.

Salmon contains Omega 3 oils. These oils are superfoods for the body. Omega oils have anti-inflammatory properties and give your dogs coats that lovely shine we love to see. Omega oils are important in maintaining good brain and eye health, which is essential for your dog at all stages of their lives. Dogs who suffer from skin allergies or skin issues benefit from omega oil supplementation, and it's been shown that feeding omega oils reduces the amount of medications dogs with skin allergies need to take.

Salmon contains anti-oxidants, such as astaxanthin. Anti-oxidants help reduce inflammation and damage to cells in the body.

Vitamin b12, a vitamin found in salmon, is useful for brain and nervous system health, which is important in young, developing puppies and also dogs in their senior years, who may struggle with cognitive decline. Learn more about the benefits of vitamin B for dogs.

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#Can dogs eat cooked salmon?

Yes dogs can eat cooked salmon if you cut it into small portions and feed reasonable amounts. Your dog can eat salmon cooked through a variety of ways- poached, steamed, grilled or roasted are all safe as long as the salmon is fed plain with no extra sauces or condiments.

##Can dogs eat smoked salmon?

Smoked salmon is cured, meaning it's covered with salt and then cooked for a deep smokey flavour. This means smoked salmon is actually quite high in salt content. Not all dogs (especially those with health issues such as heart disease) can eat large amounts of salt. Therefore only feed very small amounts of smoked salmon e.g. a 1cm by 1cm cube at one time, and monitor for any side effects.

Side effects as a result of eating lots of salt, tend to be related to the gastrointestinal tract-vomiting, diarrhoea or loose stool. You may find your dog doesn't like the smoked salmon, and prefers fresh cooked salmon instead. Fresh cooked is preferred as it has no extras, so you get all the health benefits, without any risks.

##Can dogs eat salmon skin?

Yes, dogs can eat salmon skin as long as it's cooked well, with no toppings or extras such as sauces or oils as this can cause stomach upset. Feed salmon skin in small amounts at a time. Cooked salmon skin has a crunchy texture, so add it as a meal topper for extra crunch.

##Can dogs eat raw salmon?

No, we do not advise feeding raw salmon to your dog. Raw salmon has a few health risks to your dog which outweigh the health benefits. Raw salmon has uncooked bones present, which whilst small are needle sharp, and there is a small risk of laceration or trauma to the mouth, oesophagus and gastrointestinal tract.

If you're from the regions of the Pacific Northwest, there is a small risk the raw salmon could be affected by a parasite called Neorickettsia helminthoeca. This parasite can make your dog most unwell, so is one of the reasons we avoid feeding raw salmon to dogs. Thankfully this parasite seems to be limited to this particular part of the world, so the risks are much lower elsewhere.

Raw salmon may also be contaminated with bacteria, and some bacteria such as E coli, salmonella and listeria. This can create illness in both you and your dog if infection takes hold after eating raw salmon.

#How much salmon can my dog eat?

The amount of salmon your dog can eat depends on their size, if they are a small breed around 20g once a week is plenty, if a large breed around 50-60g is a good size portion to feed. You can feed cooked salmon as a treat, or mixed into a main meal. If feeding salmon for the first time, try a little piece on its own first, to see if your dog has any negative reactions to eating salmon.

#Can puppies have salmon?

Yes, puppies can eat cooked salmon as a treat alongside their regular diet. You should wait until your puppy is at least 8 weeks old before feeding salmon. They need to be weaned off milk and eating solids before they can enjoy eating salmon as a treat.

When preparing the salmon for your puppy, it's important you remove all bones from the salmon. This prevents choking hazards, or lacerations of the gastrointestinal tract from the sharp edges of the salmon bones.

The salmon needs to be fully cooked and not prepared with any oils or condiments, as some ingredients used in cooking can be toxic to your dog such as garlic or onions.

When feeding a puppy salmon, there is a small risk of allergies or sensitivities to this food type. For this reason, we suggest you offer a small amount of salmon at first to see if there are any issues. You can watch your puppy for any reactions or digestive issues after eating the salmon.

Signs of an intolerance or allergy (which is a very rare occurrence) include:

• Vomiting or Diarrhoea
• Itchy Skin or redness of the skin.
• Lethergic or low mood after feeding.
• Wheezing or difficulty breathing.
• Bloating or stomach pain.
  

If your pup is displaying any of these symptoms do not feed any more salmon, and contact your veterinarian for help. Puppies who are sensitive to one food type may have other food allergies or intolerances. Veterinary advice will be invaluable in working out a diet for your puppy to stay healthy and happy.

If no reactions are observed you can feed your pup around 30-60g of salmon a week. When they reach the weight brackets in the table above you can feed more.

##When to avoid salmon

Salmon can be a great food to feed your dog, but there are some occasions when you should avoid feeding it to your dog.

The first is the quality of the salmon- if you would personally not eat it, then it's not fit to feed to your dog. Any strange smells, or discolouration suggests the salmon has spoiled and is not fit for consumption. You may think that your dog has a stronger digestive tract, given they originally were wild animals, but the modern day dog's digestive tract is just as sensitive as ours!

Some dogs have specific concerns that mean salmon, which is a rich source of oils, may not be the best choice of food. Dogs who have a condition called pancreatitis, need low fat diets. A high fat treat would upset this balance and may cause a bout of painful inflammation and digestive upset. Conditions such as Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Liver disease and hyperlipidemia may be affected if you are feeding salmon as a treat. Always ask a veterinarian if you are considering adding an extra food type into the diet, even as a treat.

#Summary

Salmon is one of the true ‘super foods’, and has so many incredible health benefits that both you and your dog can benefit from. Try to add a little cooked salmon once a week into your dog's diet to fully unlock the nutritional boosts it can bring.