7 Reasons Salmon Is Safe For Dogs To Eat

Salmon is indeed safe for dogs to eat. It’s an excellent source of fat and protein, precisely what most dogs need to thrive. Furthermore, it also includes a range of nutrients that can support your dog’s health.

There are several benefits to giving your dog salmon. These include the nutritional qualities associated with salmon, as well as other benefits. For instance, salmon is known to be good for dogs with allergies, as it is not a common allergen.

Of course, salmon can have some potential downsides, too. Salmon can become contaminated with chemicals like much of our seafood can. However, proper sourcing and reducing the number of servings per week can help prevent this from becoming a problem.

Let’s take a look at all the reasons you should add salmon to your dog’s diet:

Benefits of Salmon

1. Protein

Salmon is full of protein, like most types of meat. Dogs require quite a bit of protein in their diet to thrive. Protein facilitates various biological processes, such as growth and metabolism. Therefore, every dog requires a bit of protein in its diet.

Luckily, dog foods that follow AAFCO guidelines will contain enough protein. However, some of these foods contain less than others. Therefore, dogs on a lower-protein food will likely benefit from added protein in their diet, which may be accomplished with salmon.

On average, salmon is comparable to other high-protein foods, such as beef and chicken. However, salmon is lower in fat than most meats. Therefore, it works well for dogs that need higher protein without extra fat (such as overweight dogs).

2. Healthy Fats

While salmon is lower in fat than meat like beef, it does contain some fat. The fat included in salmon is high-quality, though. Many of these fats are omega fatty acids that improve your dog’s health. Specifically, salmon contains a lot of EPA and DHA – two types of omega-3s.

These fats may help lower inflammation throughout the body. Furthermore, they may help with your dog’s skin and coat health. Many claim omega 3s may improve mental decline, eye health, and arthritis symptoms.

However, the science on omega fatty acids is still out in many cases. There are constantly new studies on this substance, though, so we’ll likely know more in the future.

3. Tasty

For one reason or another, salmon tends to perform better on doggie taste tests than other meats. One study compared whether dogs preferred salmon-based kibble or chicken-based kibble. In the end, the large majority of dogs chose the salmon.

Therefore, for dogs that are picky eaters, salmon may encourage their appetite. Plus, salmon is decently healthy, unlike many appetite aids. Therefore, you don’t have to feel bad about giving it to your dog.

4. Digestible

Salmon is relatively easy for many dogs to digest. Therefore, it is an excellent option for dogs with sensitive stomachs, as it may not cause as much indigestion. Much of the protein and fats found in salmon are digested and absorbed by the dog – which can’t be said for all foods.

There have been many studies done on digestibility. One study found that salmon is more digestible than chicken. Therefore, your dog gets more from salmon than most other meats.

5. Healthy Skin and Coats

Salmon contains a lot of omega fatty acids. This is the main reason they are so healthy. These fatty acids are known for moisturizing skin. Therefore, they may help dogs with dermatitis and similar issues. If your dog has itchy or red skin, you may want to switch to a salmon-inclusive food.

Many vets also recommend omega fatty acid supplements for dogs with skin issues. However, you can get many of these acids from salmon, so many owners decide to go to the source.

Plus, when your dog has healthier skin, it’ll have a healthier coat, too. For instance, it’s often skin conditions that cause fur loss. Therefore, by improving your dog’s skin, you can improve its coat.

6. High in Vitamins and Minerals

Salmon are relatively high in a wide variety of vitamins and minerals. These micronutrients are essential for your dog’s health as well. Balanced dog food will contain all of the nutrients that your dog needs. However, many dogs benefit from a bit extra, as well.

There is a long list of vitamins and minerals within salmon. In particular, it is high in B vitamins, niacin, thiamin, folic acid, and other nutrients.

Salmon isn’t the most nutrient-dense food out there. However, it is plenty nutritious enough to fall into the “healthy” category.

7. Allergies

Dogs do not develop allergies in the same way humans do – usually. Instead of being born with an allergy, dogs develop allergies after exposure to a particular protein for an extended period. Therefore, dogs often become allergic to the protein in their food after eating it for years. These allergy symptoms can slowly develop, or they can develop all at once.

Also, dogs are often most allergic to common dog food ingredients. The most common dog food protein sources are chicken and beef. For this reason, dogs are often primarily allergic to chicken and beef (though it depends on what they eat).

Of course, salmon does not fall into this category. Salmon is more expensive than other meat options. Therefore, it isn’t used as commonly as other ingredients, which means salmon is rarely an allergy.

Up Next:

• Salmon Fish Facts
• What Foods Can Dogs Eat Safely, and Which Are Dangerous?

The photo featured at the top of this post is © O_Lypa/Shutterstock.com