Fried fish is a popular delicacy, but that does not mean that it is safe for your dog. Your parameter for judging the safety of any food for your pooch should not be its tastiness or how much your canine enjoys it. Rather, it should be based on scientific findings and the vet’s recommendations.
No, dogs cannot eat fried fish. Firstly, it is such a bad idea to feed dogs fried fish that typically contains an unhealthy amount of oil, which can lead to stomach upset for your pooch. Secondly, it is possible that your canine eats the wrong fried fish, which can also have negative health implications, including pancreatitis.
Fried fish is a common part of the meal of human beings, and many dog owners are tempted to give it to their four-legged furry friend. Yet, this is not a good idea. In this article, you will discover the reasons you should not give fried fish to your pooch and safe options in case you want your dog to have it once in a while.
Can Dogs Eat Fried Fish?
Your dog will find fried fish tasty and delicious. Yet, this does not mean that it is safe for your pooch. Indeed, fried fish, unlike the raw ones, are usually free of parasites.
Still, it is not recommended that canines eat it because it is capable of posing some serious health issues, like diarrhea and obesity.
Health Implications Of Fried Fish For Dogs
Note that dogs do not have a similar digestive system as human beings. Therefore, their ability to process fried fish is not the same as humans.
Particularly, dogs do not have the capability to process excess oil effectively. This reality makes canines vulnerable to the following health issues when they eat fried fish:
Diarrhea
You should not be surprised to discover that your dog is struggling with diarrhea after consuming fried fish. This is plausible due to the limited ability of your pooch’s digestive system to digest fried fish and its unhealthy amount of oil.
Eating fried fish can also irritate the stomach of your pooch, which can lead to diarrhea and other digestive issues.
Vomiting
When dogs eat food that irritates them, they are naturally prompted to vomit to ease the situation. The difficulty your pooch experiences while digesting fried fish can lead to this issue.
Apart from vomiting, you can also find your canine showing signs of nausea and stomach pain. Vomiting is one of the most common health issues dogs will face while eating fried fish.
Pancreatitis
Fried food is generally not safe for dogs, which is the reason you should not allow your dog to eat fried fish. The consumption of this food can lead to pancreatitis.
Other health issues associated with dogs eating fried fish include fever and loss of appetite. You do not want to see your pooch suffering because of your negligence, which is why you should avoid fried fish.
Stroke
It is not safe to risk letting your dog eat fried fish, and one of the health issues that can result from this is stroke. Due to the excessive amount of oil in fried fish, your dog can suffer heart-related diseases, and their complications can lead to stroke.
The potential imbalance of fat in the body of your four-legged furry friend that fried fish can cause makes it a high-risk food.
Obesity
An overweight dog is not the delight of the owner. Such dogs are susceptible to other health issues like jaundice, and taking care of them is not the simplest of tasks.
Allowing your dog to eat fried fish is one of the ways to make your canine obese. This is due to the excess oil that is present in a typical fried fish, which your dog will struggle to digest.
Can Dogs Eat Any Fried Fish?
As explained earlier, the consumption of fried fish is not recommended for dogs. Yet, your dog can enjoy certain health benefits by eating some safe species. They include:
- Tuna
- Tilapia
- Salmon
- Atlantic Mackerel
Health Benefits Of Fried Fish For Dogs
Fried fish can only offer your dog health benefits when eaten in moderation. When you are cautious, your pooch can enjoy the following benefits by consuming fried fish:
A Healthier Coat
Fried fish is a great source of omega-3 fatty acids, which contributes to the coat health of your dog. Therefore, including it once in a while in the meal of your canine can be beneficial.
Healthy Skin
The omega-3 fatty acids found in fried fish are also beneficial to the skin of your dog. This should not make you allow your pooch to consume it in excess quantity because that can lead to gastrointestinal issues. Dogs with unhealthy skin can benefit from adding a moderate quantity of fried fish to their meal.
Anti-Inflammatory
Fried fish in moderate quantities can help dogs batting inflammatory bowel disease. It is also beneficial to canines struggling with arthritis. Fried fish can also offer this impact because it contains omega-3 fatty acids.
Safe Fried Fish For Dogs
There are several kinds of fish that are safe for the consumption of your pooch. Usually, fast-growing and wild-caught ones are the best.
Below are some types of fish that are safe for the consumption of your canine, especially when they are steamed, grilled, or plain-cooked instead of fried:
Tilapia
Tilapia is a popular fish that contains nutrients like proteins and omega-3 fatty acids. Consequently, consuming it can be helpful to the circulatory system of your pooch.
It also has health benefits for the skin, brain, and joints of your dog, which makes it an excellent choice, especially in healthy quantities.
Tuna
It is almost impossible to find a commercial dog food that has fish in it where that fish is not tuna. Tuna is a fantastic treat for canines in its cooked form.
It is also consumed in its raw form, but the danger of infections makes this option highly risky. Tuna is tasty and nutritious because it contains calcium, protein, and omega-3 acids.
Salmon
This is the best option, especially when it is wild-caught. It contains selenium, vitamin B-12, and other minerals that make it both delicious and nutritious for your dog. Smoking or frying is not recommended because it can increase its salinity.
Atlantic Mackerel
Atlantic Mackerel is safe for your dog in small quantities because it contains omega-3 fatty acids. Yet, you should avoid frying it when giving it to your pooch to reduce the chances of stomach issues.
What Fried Fish Can Dogs Not Eat?
By now, you would have noticed that fried fish is not altogether bad if you could apply caution when giving it to your dog. Generally, the fish content of the meal of your pooch should not be more than 10%. Yet, you should also be careful concerning the type of fish your canine can eat.
Dangerous Fried Fish For Dogs
You should be aware of some types of fried fish due to their potential harm to dogs. The quantity your canine can have is the most important factor to consider, but the type of fish also matters.
Here are some types of fried fish that can have negative impacts on the health of your pooch:
Shark
The danger of eating fried sharks is that this type of fish is often harvested at an old age. By then, the chances are high that they contain an unhealthy amount of mercury, which can lead to permanent neurological issues for your pooch.
Young pups are especially vulnerable to the impact of excess mercury. Therefore, it is not risky to allow your dog to eat this fish.
Tilefish
Just like sharks, tilefish are also usually harvested at an older age, making them potential sources of accumulated mercury. Besides, they are usually the home of several parasites, which they often harbor in their internal organs, muscle tissues, and skin.
So, fried tilefish is not a safe option for your dog. Even when it is consumed in moderation, it can still wreak havoc, which should make you cautious.
Swordfish
This fish is usually found in areas where there are little or no regulations concerning the quantity and quality of diet given to the fish.
Therefore, the chances are so high that they will contain unhealthy antibiotic residue and other toxic substances. Its consumption has the potential to have negative impacts on the health of your dog.
King Mackerel
Spanish Mackerel or King Mackerel is not safe for your dog because they are likely to contain an unhealthy amount of mercury, which can affect the neurological health of your canine. Eating it in moderation can be beneficial due to its omega-3 fatty content.
However, the fact that it is usually harvested at an old age makes it dangerous because of the accumulation of mercury in its body by that stage.
Albacore Tuna
Albacore Tuna has the same issue as the rest, which is mercury accumulation at an old age. Therefore, you will be taking a huge risk when you allow your pooch to consume this fish. A visit to the vet is close when you take this risk.
