Sustainable Ways to Feed Your Dogs: Healthy Fish Treats & Alternatives

Nobody likes fish breath…

But my dogs both love fish!  Luckily the humans here are willing to put up with stinky doggy breath so that the boys can enjoy their tasty fishy snacks.  I mentioned the other day that I made my dogs dehydrated fish treats.  Making them made our apartment smell horrible, but the boys have been enjoying the treats so much that dealing with the stench for a few hours felt like a small price to pay. 

How Else Can you Feed Fish?

Don’t want to deal with smelling fishageddon, but still want to offer your pooch a scaly snack?  Don’t worry, fish doesn’t have to be dried to be enjoyed by dogs!

I feed fish most often as treats.  Many raw feeders feed fish (yes, raw), but there are some precautions you’ll want to take to avoid parasites.  Do some research on Salmon Poisoning Disease before feeding fish raw.  If you eat fish yourself, you can offer your pet pieces of plain, cooked fish.

I know there are many different types of fish.  I see sardines recommended most often for dogs, and this is what I often offer mine.  You can feed tinned/canned sardines, but make sure to buy them packed in water and not in oil.  My local market sells frozen sardines as well, which is what I often use to make the boys treats.

What are the Benefits of Feeding Fish Anyways?

Omega-3 fatty acids!  Need I say more?  Maybe not, but I type a lot!  Omega-3 fatty acids, such as DHA and EPA, benefit dogs in a number of ways.  The most important way, in my opinion at least, is that they are great for your dog’s joints and can help improve mobility.

My beloved Kitsune is only 7 years old, and it’s my hope that we have many many many (I can’t say many enough times here) more years together – but already he has been experiencing some joint issues/arthritis.  This is the main reason why I like feeding him fish.

But wait, there’s more!  Omega-3s can also help reduce inflammation, and may help to boost the immune system.  This can be beneficial to dog’s suffering from allergies.  Omegas also help support brain health.  Probably the most commonly known benefit of giving your dog Omega-3s is that they are great for the skin and fur.

Supplemental Feeding Only

Are you getting sick of my “in moderation” comments yet!?  In general, the key to a healthy dog diet is verity!  Fish alone won’t provide everything your pet needs to thrive.  In addition, fish now commonly contains Mercury, so you don’t want to feed it in excess.  If you want the benefits of Omega-3s without having to deal with feeding fish, there’s always fish oil supplements.  But supplements are a story for a whole ‘nother post…

Does your dog like fish?  How do you prepare it for them?

This post is a part of the 2016 Blogging from A to Z challenge!  You can learn more about our challenge theme hereOpens in a new window.