Can Dogs Eat Salmon? How to Feed Salmon to Your Dog Safely

Salmon can be a nutritious food for dogs, especially for overweight dogs and those sensitive to other proteins like chicken or beef due to food allergies or inflammatory bowel disease. Salmon is rich in omega-3 fatty acids—essential for your dog’s health—including immune system functioning, brain health, and supporting healthy skin. The fish is also a good source of vitamin A, vitamin D, several B vitamins, potassium, magnesium, and zinc.

You can find salmon in many commercial dog foods and dog treats, or cook it yourself. Save salmon as a special treat, or add it to your favorite homemade dog food recipe. Here’s how to incorporate this fatty fish into your dog’s diet:

• Cook the salmon. Raw salmon or even undercooked salmon can be dangerous for dogs to eat. Salmon poisoning disease occurs when the parasite Nanophyetus salmincola, typically relatively benign, gets infected with the organism Neorickettsia helminthoeca. Cook the salmon until the flesh is opaque and flakes easily and the internal temperature reaches at least 145 degrees Fahrenheit to kill any contaminants. If you think your dog may have eaten raw fish, call your veterinarian and watch for signs of salmon poisoning, including swollen lymph nodes, vomiting, and diarrhea.
  
• Keep salt to a minimum. Salt in large quantities isn’t safe for your dog because it can lead to dehydration or sodium iodine poisoning. Avoid seasonings with high sodium content and smoked salmon, which gets cured with salt. Canned salmon is fine if packed in water instead of a high-sodium brine or oil.
• Remove bones if necessary. Boneless fresh salmon shouldn’t be a problem for dogs to eat, but always run your hands over the raw salmon filet to check for small bones. Cooked bones can be a choking hazard, especially for puppies and older dogs. You can leave the skin on, but keep in mind that salmon skin has a higher fat content than the flesh.
• Use supplements. Salmon oil supplements for dogs are an excellent alternative if you don’t want to bother with boning and cooking salmon filets.

Certain human foods can cause adverse reactions in canines, so always consult your veterinarian to determine whether it is safe to add these foods to your pet’s diet. This article is for educational and informational purposes and is not a substitute for medical or dietary advice.

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