how much salmon can a dog eat

Question
Hi Patti,

I read your answer to a dog owner who asked how much salmon can her dog eat. However, what I want to know is the ratio. I have a 135lb German Shepard and a 4lb Chiwawa. I did buy them a fish oil supplement but thought giving them canned salmon would be better.  But I don't know how much, based on their weight and how often to give it to them with their dry food. Is this something you can help me with.  Thank you,  Karen

Answer
Hi Karen,

I don't know which previous answer of mine you are referring to, I get quite a few messages. If you'd like to copy and paste it, and send it to me, I'd be happy to comment on it for you.

Fish oil supplements will have a higher concentration of therapeutic nutrients, than any piece of fish will contain. Also, studies have shown that fish meat (not oil) may be contaminated with methyl-mercury.

How much fish oil to give your dogs will vary from brand to brand. How much to give should be on the label of whatever fish oil you've bought. You don't want to over-do the recommended levels of fish oils by too much. Pets taking high doses (3-4 times the label dose or greater) can bleeding disorders.

If your dogs are thriving on their current dog food diet, keep their current food as the primary food, and use canned Salmon as a supplement to the dog food, not a replacement. If you have a choice of canned Salmons, choose Chinook Salmon. It's value is considered to be high protein, low fat, and high Omega-3 fatty acids. Wild caught Salmon is healthier than farm-raised. Canned Salmon often includes the fish skin and bones. The calcium-rich bones are cooked and soft enough to be blended into your dogs food. Cover and refrigerate any leftover Salmon.

Whenever you add a new food to a dog's diet it's best to start out slow, to see how well it's tolerated or if it causes diarrhea. Maybe start with just a teaspoon or two for your Chihuahua, and a tablespoon or two for your Shepard, and see how it goes.

If you decide to use a fish oil supplement and also add canned Salmon to your dogs diet, go on the low side of the recommended fish oil dose.

I should mention that if you decide to feed your dogs Salmon, it shouldn't be raw. Dogs that eat raw Salmon can develop Salmon Poisoning Disease (SPD). Symptoms include: lethargy, anorexia, vomiting, bloody diarrhea and enlarged lymph nodes. If left untreated, SPD has a mortality rate of up to 90%.

I hope I've been a help.
Best of luck,

Patti