Fish can be fed to both kibble and raw fed dogs. These fish listed are some of the best sources of omega-3 fatty acids and are the cleanest to feed because:
1️⃣ These fish are small and less likely to have mercury contamination and other toxins compared to larger fish.
2️⃣ They aren’t large bottom feeders, meaning they don’t eat a lot of junk from the floor of the ocean.
Examples of fish to avoid are flounder, eels, haddock, bass, grouper, snapper, and some catfish.
Benefits of feeding fish are:
• Shinier coat
• Helps with dry, flaky skin
• Reduces inflammation (hot spots, itching, allergies, redness, arthritis, and other forms of serious disease)
• Balances out the abundance of omega-6’s that are most commonly found in all kibble and factory farmed meats (an abundance of omega-6 creates inflammation)
• Improves brain function
You can feed these fish as shown, the smelt usually come without heads. I never recommend cooking fish because that’s when bones splinter, become hard, and the omega-3’s are depleted. Therefore ruining the point of feeding the fish in the first place.
Freeze any fresh meat for at least 1 week before feeding if your freezer is able to reach below -10* Fahrenheit. If your freezer only reaches 0* Fahrenheit, then freezing for 2-3 weeks is best to kill off any harmful bacteria or parasites that may be in the food. Sourcing wild caught fish is preferred. However, avoid feeding salmon from the Pacific Ocean between California and Alaska because there is a parasite found in some salmon along that region. I recommend feeding salmon less than the other fish since it is larger.
I feed my dogs fish several times a week depending on the meal and size of the fish. I feed Vitamin E when feeding fish as well. Vitamin E is an antioxidant that “neutralizes free radicals which can lead to cellular oxidation and damage” (Dr. Jean Dodds). This supplement also reduces infection and inflammation.
Sources: Dr. Jean Dodds, Dr. Barbara Royal, Dr. Peter Dobais, Deckelbaum et al., 2006