Can Dogs Eat Salmon?

Yes, dogs can eat salmon, and it’s one of the healthiest sources of protein and omega-3 for your dog (and for yourself!). It’s rich in healthy fats and protein, easy to digest, easy to make, and one of the best dinner ideas for a special treat.

I’m not sure why there’s so much controversy over salmon poisoning or the idea that smoked salmon can contain parasites, but it seems that many dog owners are worried about making some kind of mistake when feeding their dogs salmon.

First of all, remember—how many times have you bought salmon from your local fish shop or supermarket chain, and did it turn out okay? It probably did! So you don’t really need to worry unless you’re buying it near the expiry date (I used to do this—hello, recession!). Even then, the supermarket vouches for the date, and you can always try the sniff test to see if it smells fishy!

I’ve written a lot about fish and seafood on this website because we eat it a lot, and one of the reasons my husband and I started Dog Inspector is because we once gave our dog Ricco a fish head that caused an allergic reaction—we just didn’t know! Now we double-check everything, and I enjoy sharing this with you! So let’s start with salmon, please!

Can dogs eat raw salmon?

Raw salmon that you buy from the market to bake in the oven or grill is not something you should give to your dog.

This is a very popular question among dog owners, as it’s happened many times that greedy dogs have stolen raw salmon from the pan or kitchen counter and devoured it whole. While it’s not toxic and highly unlikely to contain any parasites, raw salmon is not recommended for your dog. It can cause diarrhea, has some risks, and isn’t the best way for them to eat salmon!

So, what about sushi? I’ve written about some sushi being safe for dogs, but salmon in sushi is also raw—how come that’s okay? It’s about the amount—a tiny piece in a roll or sashimi is generally safe, plus sushi-grade salmon is 100% prepared for human and dog consumption, as it’s always frozen to kill any bacteria.

No need to panic, salmon poisoning is very rare

One of the biggest concerns people have with giving dogs salmon is the fear of salmon poisoning. But let’s break down why this issue, while real, is actually pretty rare and not something most dog owners need to lose sleep over.

Salmon poisoning is caused by a bacteria called Neorickettsia helminthoeca, which hides out inside a parasite named Nanophyetus salmincola. This parasite is a little flatworm that embeds itself in the muscle of salmon, which sounds pretty alarming, right? But here’s where it gets specific: for this parasite to even exist, it needs to pass through a snail called Juga plicifera that’s almost exclusively found in the Pacific Northwest—think Washington, Oregon, and some parts of the Canadian Pacific Coast.

Because of this very specific life cycle, the risk of salmon poisoning is mostly limited to dogs living in the Pacific Northwest who might come across salmon washing up on shore.

In fact, sushi restaurants typically use farmed or frozen salmon, which wouldn’t carry this parasite at all. It would be incredibly rare for a sushi restaurant to serve fresh-caught, wild salmon from the Pacific Northwest, especially without being frozen first (freezing kills the parasite).

A study on actual salmon poisoning in dogs

There’s another study about salmon poisoning that looks into 29 cases of dogs affected by Salmon Poisoning Disease (SPD). Again, in this study, they examined dogs that got the same bacteria I wrote about above in the Pacific Northwest. Dogs living in or visiting places like northern California, Oregon, and Washington are at risk, especially if they’re the kind to dive into rivers or explore beach shores. In fact, the study showed that Labradors and male dogs were more likely to have SPD, likely because they’re so often out and about!

Symptoms of the SPD are:

• vomiting
• diarrhea
• lethargy
• fever
• and some even develop neurologic symptoms, like muscle twitching or seizures.

Diagnosing SPD isn’t simple—it requires a combination of tests, including looking for parasite eggs in the dog’s stool and running PCR tests on lymph tissue to find the bacteria.

But the treatment is successful! The study found that tetracycline antibiotics were the most effective for dogs with SPD, while other antibiotics, like penicillin, didn’t work as well.

Fortunately, with quick acting and proper antibiotics, the outcome was pretty good with many dogs recovering fully!

So the next time you’re worried about salmon poisoning, remember that unless your dog is snacking on raw, wild salmon along the shores of the Pacific Northwest, the risk is extremely low.

Can dogs eat cooked salmon and what are the health benefits?

Cooked salmon is hands-down one of the best fish options to share with your dog. Not only is it safe and easy to prepare, but it’s also rich in nutrients that support your dog’s health.

And yes, dogs can eat salmon skin, as long as it’s cooked. Salmon skin is high in healthy fats, which are good for their coat and skin, but it should be given in moderation, as it can cause runny poop.

If it helps, I don’t give my dog salmon skin because it usually causes diarrhea. It’s also the part that touches the pan, so it may have some olive oil, possibly a bit of lemon from baking, and is generally high in fat. For these reasons, I don’t recommend it.

If you’ve been wondering whether dogs can eat smoked salmon, the answer is no—it’s not recommended. Smoked salmon is way too salty to be healthy for dogs, and sometimes it even has extra seasonings like garlic and herbs that can be harmful to them.

Health benefits of cooked salmon for dogs:

You can check out some other great sources of omega-3 in our Fish & Seafood category! I wrote about that:

• lobster is great for bougie dogs
• that shrimp is high in cholesterol but also safe for dogs
• cooked calamari is great for dogs as it has lots of omega-3 fatty acids
• that oysters and scallops are healthy for dogs as they have zinc, magnesium and potassium
• and that tilapia is safe for dogs, but often labeled as low-quality fish

How much salmon can I give to my dog?

I follow this logic—I usually eat 125g of salmon for dinner, and then I eyeball it and give my dog about 1/5 of my piece. If it’s a larger piece then I’ll probably give him no more than 30g.

Salmon is very healthy but I still follow the rule that 10% of my dog’s diet should be extra things including lean protein, and the rest should be his dog food.

If you have a larger dog, then you can give them more! Just monitor the portions and make sure that you don’t add any garlic or lemon before you give some to your dog.

Love, life, and fur forever!

FAQs

Can dogs eat canned salmon?

Yes, dogs can eat canned salmon. The better option is salmon in brine, but even salmon in oil is safe to share in small amounts if you drain the oil well. Canned salmon is healthy and doesn’t have extra additives that we consider dangerous for dogs, so feel free to share it in moderation.

Can dogs eat salmon patties?

Salmon patties are generally not recommended for dogs. Most recipes include ingredients like onions, garlic, spices, and breadcrumbs, which aren’t healthy for dogs and can feel heavy on their stomachs. Even with onions and garlic, a salmon patty won’t be toxic to dogs, so if your dog ate some without you noticing, don’t panic. It would take a large amount of onions and garlic to reach toxicity, but they’re still not good for dogs.

Can dogs eat salmon every day?

It’s not a good idea to give your dog salmon every day. Just like we don’t eat salmon every day because it would make our diet unbalanced, our dogs need different nutrients in their diet. So once a week is more than enough for both us and our dogs.

Can dogs eat frozen salmon?

Dogs can eat frozen salmon, but only when it’s thawed and properly cooked. Cooked frozen salmon is safe for dogs, just like any other frozen fish.