Adding Fish to a Dog's Diet * Baggy Bulldogs

Why feed your Dog Fish?

Fish are excellent protein sources for dogs
while being relatively low in saturated fats and calories.
This fact alone makes fish a fantastic source of nutrition for dogs.
However, there is more.

An even bigger benefit for fish in your Dog’s diet
is the fact that fish is one nature’s most natural sources
of Omega 3 essential fatty acids.

Fatty fish such as salmon have high levels of Omega 3,
which is good for aiding your dog’s joints and all round mobility.
Fish is also known to have beneficial properties
for your dog’s skin and coat.
Omega 3 fatty acids don’t occur
in the average canine diet (meat or kibble),
so adding them to your dog’s daily diet can reap big rewards

Types of Fish to feed

Some of the fish that are good for dogs include
ocean whitefish, lake whitefish, herring, pollock,
cod, mackerel, walleye, flounder, arctic char and salmon pike.

You can also steam, bake or grill these types of fish at home
for your dog (do not use seasoning or butter).
When feeding your dog a piece of fish, keep it plain and simple,
remember to buy boneless fillets and
inspect the fish before and after cooking
to be sure no bones were missed.

You can also buy salmon oil or fish oil capsules or pills for dogs.
But why choose pills over the natural option?
For certain types of fish it is recommended
to first freeze them for 24 hours or cook them
to remove any kind of bacteria.
Canned fish can make a healthy treat for your dog.
When choosing canned/tinned fish,
look for fish packed in water without added salt.

Salmon is very good for Dogs
due to the high level of the antioxidant selenium,
making for a healthier skin and a shinier healthier coat
and decreasing the risk of joint inflammation.

A rich source of vitamins and minerals
including Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids,
it’s often recommended by vets
as it is easily digestible and ideal for dogs with allergies
as it is naturally hypoallergenic.

Omega 3 essential fatty acids contained in oily fish
have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
In addition, Omega-3 fatty acids can greatly aid skin itching
and other minor dermatological complaints in many dogs.

If you purchase Omega 3 supplements
you’ll often find that cod liver oil is the main ingredient
(fish oil/salmon oil is better than cod oil).
By feeding a dog on a diet that includes fish,
you can ensure your pet is receiving these
supplemental benefits as nature intended.

Herring are very high in the long-chain
Omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA.
They are also a good source of vitamin D.
Like other fish, Herring can help with a dog’s skin and coat,
decrease inflammation, and aid the immune system.

Herring is a low calorie source of both protein and fat.
Fun fact the Herring is also known as the Bulldog fish
cause of its characteristic protruding lower jaw,
that looks like the jaw of a bull dog.

Are there any negative effects
of adding fish to a Dog’s diet?

Naturally, too much of anything is a bad thing.
Imbalance of vitamins or too many calories
is something dog owners should try to avoid.

Heavy metals accumulate in long-lived fish
like tuna and swordfish and can raise some health concerns,
particularly when it comes to mercury.

Because of the high levels of mercury found in these fish,
it might be wise to avoid giving your dog tuna and similar fish to eat.
Make sure to buy high quality fish
or try fish capsules or fish oils.

Benefits
of adding fish to a Dog’s diet

Adding fish to your dog’s diet
can make a very big difference.
I would highly recommend adding fish
to your dog’s diet especially for Bulldogs
and dogs with skin/coat problems or allergies.

But in general, for all dogs,
adding fish to a Dog’s diet has the following benefits:
a shiny coat, improve digestion, reduce join paints, less shedding,
reducing or even completely healing: cysts or skin inflammation,
itching and dry skin.

Tell us your experience with adding fish to your Dog’s diet
What types of fish do you feed or what kind of oils/pill do you give?
Share your knowledge and experience in the comments.