Sharing your food is one of the best ways to bond with your dogs. They’ll often stare at you whenever you’re munching a snack or meal, and feel very happy when you give them a piece of what you’re eating. These are part of a healthy relationship between dogs and their owners.
But as a pet owner, you need to understand that not all human foods are safe and healthy for your dogs. Dogs’ and humans’ bodies are built differently, and foods that are filling and healthy for you might be harmful or even toxic for your furry friends.
The answer to the question posted here is: no, your dogs should never eat fish sticks because of the following reasons:
Too Many Carbs
The crunchy golden exterior of fish sticks might be one of the reasons why you love eating them. However, the ingredients and its cooking method to achieve that kind of texture can be harmful to your dogs.
Fish sticks are breaded or battered using enriched bleached wheat flour. This ingredient is highly processed and contains a lot of carbohydrates that your dogs don’t need. In short, feeding fish sticks to your dogs is giving them empty carbs.
Triggers Allergies
Because they’re battered with wheat flour, dogs with wheat or gluten allergies might experience symptoms after eating fish sticks. Some of the common symptoms of wheat or gluten allergies are diarrhea, itchy skin, frequent licking, lethargy, and chronic ear infections.
Harmful Ingredients
Some of the ingredients used in the batter of fish sticks are dangerous for dogs. For example, most fish sticks use onion and garlic powder to add flavors. These ingredients are highly toxic to dogs as they can damage their red blood cells and cause anemia.
Additionally, fish sticks also use a lot of salt to satisfy human taste buds. Your dogs don’t need too much salt in their diets, and feeding them foods with high salt content can lead to poisoning.
Oily
Fish sticks are deep-fried after being battered. This cooking method isn’t healthy for dogs because fish sticks absorb an excessive amount of oil. Eating foods with exorbitant amounts of oil (regardless of the type of oil used) in one sitting can cause uncomfortable bloating, chronic inflammation, and indigestion in dogs. Over time, oily foods can also cause canine pancreatitis.
Can Dogs Eat Frozen Fish Sticks?
No, dogs should never eat frozen fish sticks. Store-bought frozen fish sticks aren’t toxic to dogs, but they’re not the healthiest option for them either.
Frozen fish sticks contain excessive amounts of seasonings, salt, and preservatives. They’re also deep-fried before being packed, which means that they contain unhealthy ingredients that can affect your dogs’ health.
Can Dogs Eat Breaded Fish Sticks?
No, you should never offer breaded fish sticks to your dogs as they’re unhealthy. The batter used to make breaded fish sticks usually contain onion and garlic powder — two ingredients that are highly toxic to your fur babies.
Can Dogs Eat Fish?
Yes, dogs can absolutely eat certain types of fish but in moderation. Fish (best served steamed or boiled to dogs) is a healthy source of protein that helps strengthen bones, improve nerve function, and heal your dogs’ wounds.
But since dogs’ bodies aren’t built to consume fish every day, make sure to give them fish once a week. Fish is healthy, but your dogs still need to consume other food to maintain a well-balanced diet.
Can Dogs Eat Canned Fish?
Yes, as long as it’s not packed in oil. You should also check the label and make sure that the canned fish doesn’t contain excessive amounts of salt and other harmful ingredients.
How About Raw Fish?
No, you should never give your dogs raw fish. Raw fish contains harmful microorganisms and parasites that can make your dogs very sick. One of the most common parasites found in raw fish is roundworms. When ingested, roundworms can affect your dogs’ intestines and cause vomiting, dull hair, and severe weight loss.
Can Dogs Eat Fish Bones?
No, you should never feed fish bones to your dogs. Fishbones are brittle and can easily get dislodged in your dogs’ mouths, stomachs, and intestines. In extreme cases, feeding your dogs with fish bones can lead to internal damage to their organs and will require expensive surgery for treatment.
Can Dogs Eat Fish Skin?
Yes, you can offer fish skin to your dogs but in moderation. Fish skin is actually healthy for your dogs because it has omega-3 fatty acids and other nutrients.
Are There Dog-Friendly Alternatives To Fish Sticks?
Yes, there are. To fulfill your dogs’ desire to eat something crunchy, feed them salmon instead. Simply bake the salmon for 450°F in your oven for about 15 minutes and add it to your dogs’ main meals or use it as a snack. Just make sure to let the salmon cool for about half an hour and slice it into small bite-sized pieces before giving it to your dogs.
What Other Types Of Fish Are Healthy For Your Dogs?
Fish sticks aren’t the best choice for your dogs, so opt to feed them boiled or steamed fish instead. Listed below are some of the healthiest fish you can feed to your furry friends:
Tuna
Tuna is an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids, which supports healthy brain development in puppies and helps reduce symptoms of arthritis in senior dogs. This nutrient also gives your dogs a healthier coat and skin.
Mackerel
Mackerel is another healthy fish for your dogs. Mackerel is packed with protein that is essential in your dogs’ diet. It also contains vitamin A that helps your dogs digest and absorb calcium and maintain healthy eyesight as they age.
Herring
Herring offers several vitamins and minerals beneficial for your dogs. This fish is packed with healthy levels of vitamin D, protein, fat, and omega-3 fatty acids. All of these work together to improve your dogs’ skin and coat quality, boost their immune system, and decrease chronic inflammation in their bodies.
Sardines
Adding small amounts of sardines into your dog’s regular meals no more than once a week can provide a lot of benefits. Sardines can improve your dogs’ dental health, keep their kidneys healthy, and support proper muscle development. Sardines also contain DHA that can minimize the signs of aging and boost their cognitive and renal functions.
Talk To a Vet
If you’re looking for healthier alternatives to fish sticks, reach out to a vet immediately. They can provide pieces of advice to help you determine the best (and worse) foods to give to your dogs. With their help, you’ll be able to share food with your pets without consistently worrying about their health and safety!