Fish, Cat Food Or Dog Food Too?

We always want to relate an animal to some food. If we listen to a dog, we think about meat, if we listen to a cat, we think about fish. Okay, that shouldn’t be a rule of thumb, as if you offer your cat a piece of ham, he’s sure to eat it with great gusto.

But have you ever tried giving your dog some tuna or a piece of salmon? Any cat would be very happy, but if you’ve never given your pet this kind of food, maybe he won’t like it?

Benefits of Fish for Dogs

Fish is a very important source of protein and is also low in saturated fat. Hence, it will help to control your pet’s weight. 

Furthermore, it is an excellent source of Omega 3, which can bring multiple benefits to your pet. Let’s look at some.

Benefits of Omega 3 for your dog

Omega 3 is essential for our health, but the body of dogs is not able to produce these fats, so they need an external source to obtain them. Fish is the best source of Omega 3 there is.

Dogs need Omega for their joints as it acts as a kind of collagen and lubricant  that will make your pet have the strongest and most robust joints. Thanks to this, it brings another benefit: it prevents arthritis. A dog with good joints will not suffer from arthritis.

In addition, it is good for the animal’s coat and skin as it keeps them hydrated, and its coat is shiny and in good condition, as well as keeping it looking good.

Lastly,  Omega 3 boosts your pet’s immune system as it will prevent illness, disease and infection in your dog. 

So, yes, give your dog fish.

What kind of fish should you give your dog

While all fish are good, it is recommended to give your pet those that contain the most Omega 3. It is found particularly in blue fish. You should choose a fish that can be cleaned without leaving any bones, which can harm your pet.

The most recommendable fish are salmon and tuna.

The Benefits of Tuna

It is rich in lean protein and therefore will help regulate your pet’s weight. It’s packed with minerals like selenium, potassium and magnesium, plus vitamins B3, B6 and B12,  And as we’ve said before, it’s one of the fish that contains the most Omega 3. If you choose to give canned tuna to your dog, it is better to select canned ones in water, to avoid unnecessary fats that the oil in which it is preserved has.

The Disadvantages of Tuna

Tuna is not a food that can be part of your pet’s daily diet due to its high mercury content. Natural tuna has a higher content, while canned tuna has a high sodium content. Both elements are harmful to your pet’s health.

You should mainly watch your sodium levels. In canned goods you can find some products with low sodium content. A large amount of sodium can cause pancreatitis in your pet.

The Benefits of Salmon

Salmon is also a great source of Omega 3 and different minerals such as potassium, magnesium, zinc and vitamins A, B and D. Unlike tuna, it has a low mercury content, so you can offer it to the salmon. your pet whenever you want. Canned or frozen salmon has a lower mercury level than tuna and therefore it is more recommended.

Salmon bones are a great source of calcium and are very easy for your dog to digest, offering him many benefits.

the drawbacks of salmon

Never offer your pet raw salmon as this can poison them. Dogs are the only animals that can become poisoned with salmon, and that’s because some salmon have the bacteria  Nanophyetus s almincola,  which can infect you through a parasite called  Neorickettsia helminthoeca, and which can cause a deadly infection in your dog.

So, if you decide to feed your dog salmon, cook it at a minimum of 62°C to make sure it’s safe to eat.