Is Tuna Good For Dogs?

In this post, you will learn all about dogs and tuna fish; Is tuna good for dogs? We will also touch on the difference between raw and canned tuna.

As well as this, we will also look at the risks and benefits of feeding tuna to your dogs.

When it comes to our pet dog, they are one of the most treasured family members. You want nothing but the best for them.

When it comes to food, you want to know what your dog can and cannot eat, which is essential to a healthy dog. So let’s get into it. Is tuna good for dogs?

If you look at any big dog food companies, you will find tuna in most of their ingredients. There are some dog experts, however, who have made arguments in regards to the safety of feeding fish to dogs.

Can Dogs Eat Fish?

Fish has less saturated fat than most red meat; this makes sense as it’s just another type of meat. It can be a useful food component for dogs who are overweight.

Many articles say dogs can safely eat fish. Feeding fish to a dog as part of a balanced and healthy diet isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

We need to consider the types of fish that play a part in our dog’s diet. Ocean whitefish and sardines are incredibly healthy for your dog, but can dogs eat tuna? This is more of a controversial subject.

Is Tuna Good For Dogs? What To Be Aware Of

There is a lot of information about dogs eating tuna. Some articles will tell you it’s ok others say in a certain amount, and others say no. As you can probably see from the results you see when searching for is tuna good for dogs?.

Vets and pet nutritionists mainly agree that dogs can eat tuna; others say you shouldn’t feed your dog tuna.

Let’s look at the three main reasons why you shouldn’t feed your dog tuna:

Parasites and Contamination

Before we look at parasites and contamination, it’s important to note you should never feed your dog raw tuna or any raw fish for that matter.

Before feeding any fish to your dog, you should make sure it’s properly cooked. It will avoid any concerns about parasites. There have been several reports recently about contaminated dog food; this usually comes from raw meats and meats that haven’t been cooked properly.

Thiaminase and Vitamin B1

The main reason for not feeding your dog raw tuna comes from an enzyme called thiaminase.

When tuna is raw, it contains thiaminase, and this enzyme is harmful to your dog because it consumes thiamine(vitamin B1), which your dog consumes.

If the tuna is cooked properly before serving, it will break down the enzyme.

One of the main reasons many professionals agree on is the high levels of mercury found in tuna. The high level of mercury comes from tuna’s ability to grow bigger and live longer than other fish like white fish.

This, in turn, allows the amount of mercury to be much higher in tuna.

When it comes to feeding your fish to your dog that contains mercury, there is a possibility to give your dog mercury poisoning. Mercury poisoning in dogs can be deadly if not treated quickly.

There are 15 main species of tuna, and only a third are edible. The five edible types of tuna are:

• Yellowfin
• Skipjack
• Albacore
• Bigeye
• Bluefin

So out of these five types of tuna, which would be the best to feed to your dog?

The two I would recommend are Skipjack or Albacore. The reason for this is these two contain the lowest mercury levels.

Is Canned Tuna Good For Dogs?

A simple answer to this would be yes, but we need to consider several things. It doesn’t matter to which type or brand of tuna; when it comes to canned tuna.

What we need to pay attention to is what the canned tuna is served in. It is usually oil or water. The added salt is our main concern here; this is part of the preservation process.

With added salt comes higher levels of sodium that can hurt your dog’s kidneys. I would always recommend using fresh well-cooked tuna if you choose to feed it to your dog.

Do Dogs Benefit From Eating Tuna?

Dogs can benefit significantly from eating tuna. I will list the main benefits below for you:

• When your dog eats tuna, it consumes a plethora of essential minerals, including potassium, phosphorus, and magnesium, to name a few.
• This is an excellent source of Omega-3 fatty acids; this helps with your dog’s coat, eyesight, and a healthy heart.
• Tuna also helps to facilitate muscular growth within your dog.
• Tuna is a great way to add protein to your dog’s diet. The main reason dog owners prefer tuna is that it provides lean protein and protects against unwanted fat.
• Feeding your dog tuna is a great way to build a more robust immune system. This is because tuna is naturally enriched with several vitamins, like B6, B3, B12, and many more.

What’s The Best Way To Serve Tuna To Your Dog?

As we mentioned above, you can see that you can buy tuna in many different forms.

If you intend to serve cooked tuna to your dog, then the best thing to do is buy tuna steaks and cook them yourself. Just remember to skip seasoning the tuna steaks and make sure all bones have been removed.

Dogs love bland meat and will lap up every bite; the most important part here is to make sure you remove the bones. Dogs are ill-equipped to handle fish bones and will choke if they swallow one.

How Much Tuna Should You Serve To Your Dog?

It’s worth noting that tuna can not be treated as a portion of regular food for your dog; tuna should only be fed to your dog once in a while. When you serve tuna to your dog, the size and portion should be minimal.

As we mentioned earlier, much of the caution comes from the amount of mercury and sodium. Both mercury and sodium in high quantities can be harmful to your dog’s health.

When it comes to sodium, it usually induces vomiting and seizures. On the other hand, Mercury causes slow and severe health complications in the long term for your dog.

I would recommend that you initially introduce small portions of tuna to your dog. When you first start feeding your dog tuna, you should monitor if tuna has any physiological or allergic reactions for your dog.

Most health issues related to tuna should be evident within the first 24 hours. After this period, you can decide which is the appropriate course of action for your dog.

Conclusion

As controversial as tuna might sound for both dogs and humans, this fish has excellent benefits for both if eaten in moderation. Remember, when choosing tuna for your dog, you should opt for the one who has lived a short life.

The tuna you choose should also not be seasoned at all and contain no bones.

Originally published at https://doolallydogs.com.