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Can Dogs Eat Tuna?
Can dogs eat tuna? The simple answer: Yes, you can feed your dog fish. But there are various hidden factors to be aware of. Fish bones can be very dangerous and when selecting canned tuna you have to make sure you pick one that has been packed in water and not oil.
There are a variety of fish-based dog foods on the market, so research does show that it’s safe to feed your dog tuna. Dogs can handle both cooked and raw tuna.
Is It Safe to Feed Your Dog Tuna?
Can dogs eat tuna? As always, the golden rule is to do things in moderation. In long-lived fish like tuna heavy metals accumulate over time and the percentage of some metals present in the fish, such as mercury, can raise health concerns.
Dogs are carnivores, so their digestive system is more geared towards processing meats, which is good news if you want to treat your dog with a bit of tuna. But it is not advisable to feed your dog raw fish. Fish can carry various parasites that are usually killed by cooking. Your dog might have a robust digestive system, but it’s better to not take the risk.
The Health Benefits of Tuna
Tuna is a great protein alternative for dogs with a sensitive constitution. It is easier to digest and less likely to cause digestive upset. You will spot it in the ingredient list of many specialized foods. You could feed your dog salmon or mackerel as well, but tuna has just as many health benefits and is bit more affordable.
When buying canned tuna, check that there are no additional seasonings, especially not onions or garlic. These two ingredients are toxic to dogs. Also, canned tuna based in oil can cause unpleasant stomach upset in dogs. Look out for the water-based ones.
Tuna includes many minerals beneficial to dogs including phosphorus, selenium, magnesium and potassium. It also is a great vitamin source with B12, B6 and B3 as well as omega-3 fatty acids, promoting good heart health. It’s a great option for dogs with food allergies. Read this article to check if your dog is allergic to anything
Disadvantages of Tuna
Can dogs eat tuna? Yes, but it’s best to keep tuna as a rare treat because of the high levels of sodium and mercury. The main health risk, is the high mercury content. Also note, a tuna steak usually contains more mercury than canned tuna. And canned white albacore contains more mercury than white canned or chunked light tuna.
Canned tuna contains a high level of sodium, which can cause pancreatitis when consumed in high quantities. The salt content can also make your dog excessively thirsty, it will then gulp down lots of water that can lead to a bloated stomach or in the worst case scenario a twisted stomach, which can be fatal if not treated.
How Much is Too Much?
Rather keep pure tuna as an occasional treat instead of working it into your dog’s daily feeding routine. When used in homemade dog food recipes, you will notice that the quantities will always be low in comparison to the other ingredients.
You could spoil your dog with a tuna treat once a week if it is not already present in its daily diet. There are various factors to keep in mind when feeding your dog tuna, such as its age and general health condition. If your dog is leaning towards the overweight side of the weight spectrum, rather steer clear of feeding it tuna.
The Best Way to Feed Tuna to Your Dog
Can Dogs Eat Tuna?
Keep it simple and as close to the tuna’s natural form as possible. When using canned tuna remember to buy the water-based one without additional seasonings. Drain the tuna before feeding it to your dog and don’t give it the leftover juice from the can.
There’s no need to season it or spice it up, you can give it to your dog bland, the dog won’t taste the difference. The tuna flakes can get stuck between your dog’s teeth, give it dry kibble or a biscuit to scrape off the lingering fish from the dog’s teeth.
It is best to first check with your veterinarian before incorporating tuna into your dog’s diet. Can dogs eat tuna? Yes, but some dogs don’t like the taste, so you have to first see how your dog responds to a little bit before incorporating tuna into your dog’s diet.
Warning: don’t ever feed your dog raw salmon. Dogs are the only known species that can catch salmon poisoning disease from consuming raw salmon. If untreated, a dog will most likely die within two weeks of digesting raw salmon.
Other Fish Safe for Dogs
Tuna is definitely the easiest fish to incorporate into your dog’s diet. You can conveniently grab an affordable tin of it at the supermarket. Some other fish types that you will find in fish-based dog foods: Ocean and Lake Whitefish, Flounder, Walleye, Herring, Salmon Pike and Arctic Char.
If you spot any of these in the supermarket and you feel like giving your dog a special treat you can bake, grill or steam these types of fish. Just remember to buy boneless fillets and don’t add any seasoning. Plus, steer clear of excessive greasing with oil sprays, butter or oil.
Homemade Dog Food: Tuna-based Recipes
Can dogs eat tuna? The conclusion is, most definitely, yes. The following are a few recipes that you can prepare at home to spoil your dog on special occasions or to enhance its general diet.
Tuna, Egg, and Greens
Ingredients:
½ cup of canned light tuna, water-based
1 egg yolk
2 tablespoons of sprouts, Alfalfa or Clover
½ teaspoon of Nutritional Yeast
½ cup of cooked brown rice
Directions:
Chop the sprouts up finely. Mix the egg yolk, nutritional yeast and sprouts together and then add the tuna. Add the mixture to the brown rice. This recipe is enough for one meal for a dog of between 20 to 25 pounds.
Tuna Roll
Ingredients:
1 small can of tuna, water-based
1 tablespoon of olive oil
1 celery stick
1 carrot, large if possible
1 teaspoon of lemon juice
4 tablespoon of cottage cheese
Directions:
Chop celery stick and carrot into small pieces. Mix all the ingredients together, adding the lemon juice last. Place the mixture in blender and blend until fine pulp. Mold and shape the mixture into a tuna roll and cut into small pieces when chilled. Add one piece of tuna roll to your dog’s kibble once a week.
Detox Tuna Recipe for Skin Health
Ingredients:
1 cup of light tuna
¼ cup of Cottage cheese
(alternative: 1 raw or boiled egg)
1/8 cup of sprouts, Clover or Alfalfa (a handful)
½ cup of lettuce
½ cup of cooked barley
½ teaspoon of ginger powder
1 teaspoon of Nutritional Yeast
1 teaspoon of Parmesan cheese
1 Omega 3 fish oil capsule (1 000mg)
1 Evening primrose oil capsule (500mg)
Directions:
Squeeze out the liquid of the Omega 3 fish oil capsule and mix with the evening primrose oil capsule. Add the tuna to the oil mixture. Finely chop the barley, lettuce and sprouts. Mix into tuna mixture. Sprinkle the Nutritional Yeast and Parmesan cheese unto the mixture. Feed ½ a cup per 10 to 15 pounds of body weight to your dog once a day instead of its regular food.
Please note: this mixture is not recommended if your dog is prone to food allergies.
Tuna Training Treats
Ingredients:
2 small cans of tuna, water-based
2 eggs
1 to 1 ½ cup of flour, preferably rice flour
Handful of Parmesan cheese
Directions:
Do not drain the tuna. Mash the tuna in a bowl to remove clumps. Place in blender to liquefy. Add a little bit of water if needed to liquefy completely. Pour the blended tuna into a bowl and add the flour. The consistency should be close to a cake mixture. Spread into a lightly greased or sprayed pan. Sprinkle lots of Parmesan cheese on top. Bake at 350°F for 15 minutes. When ready the edges will pull away and the texture will be like putty. Cut into small squares, about the size of a penny. Can freeze the treats. Use as rewards when teaching your dog a new trick.
Tuna Fudge
Ingredients:
2 small cans of tuna, water-based
1 ½ cups of whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon of garlic powder
2 lightly beaten eggs
¼ cup of parmesan cheese
Directions:
Do not drain the tuna. Mix all the ingredients together with an electric mixer or in a blender until well blended. Spread the mixture onto a lightly greased cake pan. Cover and bake at 350°F for 20 minutes. Cut into small squares. Store in the refrigerator or freeze. Give to your dog as little treats or mix a few squares into its kibble once a week.
Conclusion: Can Dogs Eat Tuna?
In moderation tuna can be a healthy addition to your dog’s general diet. But before adding it, make sure you have checked with the vet if it’s safe to do so. Most dogs will be very pleased with the delicious treat per occasion.
Have you tried adding tuna to your dog’s diet? What reaction did you get?
Read more about other human foods that are pet friendly:
– sweet potatoes
– pineapple
– Brussel sprouts
How To Choose The Best Dog Food For Yorkies
What is the best dog food for Yorkies? Yorkies are cute little fluff balls, but we need to be aware of what we can feed them and what we cannot. Because of their size and metabolism, they would for example not typically have a diet similar to what a Pit Bull might eat.
Yorkies are a small breed, so we need to figure out how much they need to eat and how often in order to support their metabolism (smaller dogs’ metabolism differs from larger dog breeds’ metabolism, and need feed accordingly).
The Best Dog Food For Yorkies When Health Is An Issue
When it comes to allergies, there’s lots to love about Yorkies. Not only are these dogs’ coats hypoallergenic, the breed itself has few issues with allergies. When allergy issues do occur, they tend to be triggered by factors such as the environment and food.
Working with your veterinarian, environmental allergies can be relatively easy to diagnose and treat.
Food allergies however, are another story. While an increasing number of dog owners are receiving a food allergy diagnosis, true food allergies are fairly rare in dogs. An increasing number of vets now think that both dogs and cats that are being diagnosed with food allergies may actually have food intolerances. Your poor suffering Yorkie won’t much care about the distinction.
Both conditions result in unpleasant symptoms for sufferers. In either case, vomiting and diarrhea commonly occur. Other symptoms that can indicate that a true food allergy is occurring include:
- Itching
- Skin issues
- Ear infections
But despite these additional clues, a definitive food allergy diagnosis is very difficult to come by. Food allergy testing can be done with blood and “scrape” (skin) testing. Scrape testing involves anesthesia, which can be both stressful and risky for small animals. It’s also not as effective as an elimination diet for allergy testing.
This type of testing is also recommended to verify food intolerances. What does an elimination diet involve? Your Yorkie will be placed on a diet that will have him/her consuming foods that it has never been eaten before. If there are no adverse reactions to this new (usually venison or duck combined with green peas) diet, it’s assumed that something in the previous one triggered the allergy or intolerance. Your veterinarian will want to keep your Yorkie on the elimination diet for a solid four to six weeks.
I know it’s hard, but the diet must be strictly adhered to in order to see results. This means picking up the dishes of any other pets to keep the Yorkie from snacking. Any treats during this time should be vet approved hypoallergenic ones.
After the elimination diet period ends, what is the best dog food for Yorkies going forward? Assuming that the elimination diet has confirmed a food problem, you’ll have three choices:
- Keep the Yorkie on a special vet prescribed diet
- Purchase only foods that don’t contain ingredients of the previous diet
- Prepare special meals from scratch
Of these choices, the first is probably the best in terms of convenience and safety. Be warned that a more limited diet can lead to food boredom. You may have to change hypoallergenic food brands more frequently. And it’s possible for pets to develop allergies to hypoallergenic foods. You should expect to work closely with your vet when working with foods for either allergy or intolerance problems.
Like other small breeds, Yorkies can also be prone to hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) and urinary tract disease. The best dog food for Yorkies in order to avoid these issues includes proteins, complex carbohydrates, and simple sugars among its ingredients. And rather than have your Yorkie wolf down one or two larger meals during the day, try feeding smaller amounts throughout the day.
The Best Dog Food For Yorkies In Terms Of Nutrition
The Best Dog Food For Yorkies
There are a number of “nutritional” pet foods on the market these days. And the concept of such food remains fairly controversial. Many veterinarians feel that multiple generations of pets must be observed before it can be determined if a manufactured and controlled diet benefits health and increases longevity.
While considering what’s the best dog food for Yorkies, consider this. Even many “all natural” and “special diet” foods contain many dyes and fillers. These and other ingredients such as soy are now believed to be the causes of many food allergies.
Because of this, some pet food experts are now suggesting that you allow nature to be your food guide. Admittedly, it would be a disaster if your little Yorkie took to the woods and attempted to “live off the land”. But your pup’s distant ancestors ate mainly meat, and your Yorkie is genetically hardwired to most benefit from a high protein diet.
But not all of your dog’s nutritional needs will be met by a specific meat, or even by meats alone. If you’ve decided that the best dog food for Yorkies is what you prepare, take a look at the dog “food pyramid” below to see what needs to be included.
Meat
This should comprise more than 50 percent of any dog’s diet. These meats should consist of red meat, poultry (with skins removed), organs (like the heart and liver), and fish. Any meat given should not include fatty portions. If including “meaty” bones here, beware choking and cutting hazards.
Eggs
Highly nutritious and safe to eat every day. Our little Yorkie pals should eat only half an egg or less on a daily basis.
Dairy
Avoid cow’s milk. Most dogs can tolerate goat’s milk. Plain yogurt is an even better option. And while fatty cheeses should be avoided, ricotta and cottage cheese are good choices.
Fruits
Dogs love fruits such as apples, berries, melons, and bananas. They can be served raw. Do not give your pups either grapes or raisins, as such food causes renal (kidney) failure in dogs.
Vegetables
While vegetables are not an essential part of a dog’s diet, they’re a good source of fiber. For digestive purposes, vegetables should be cooked.
Grains
Never make grains more than 50 percent of a dog’s diet. “Good” grains include oatmeal and barley. Dogs like cooked rice, and it’s a great way to settle an upset stomach. But rice has no nutritional value for dogs and should be served very sparingly.
So have you decided that the best dog food for Yorkies is an “au naturel” one?
If so, the daily doggie menu would look like:
- Two to three ounces of meat
- One half or less of a hard boiled egg
- One ounce of a fruit or vegetable
- One half ounce or less of a dairy product
When you looked at this this menu, you may have had the same initial reaction that I did: “I don’t eat this well on a regular basis!” And aside from the fact that the constant nutrient calculating, shopping, and preparation may not fit into humans’ busy lifestyles, there are other reasons why this “cave dog” diet might not be the best dog food for Yorkies.
One drawback is that many preparers leave important daily nutrients out of these meals. This means that they try to compensate with supplements, leading to other problems. And some dogs have medical issues that make closely mandated prescription diets a must. So while a natural diet is doable for those who can do it properly, it certainly isn’t the only way to feed your Yorkie nutritiously.
Start by regarding the basic needs of smaller dogs. Remember that they need to consume more calories per pound than larger breeds. This is especially important for puppies. Consider the effect that food products you’re feeding to your Yorkie may have on its skin and hair health. You may not be showing this dog, but you still don’t want to subject yourself or your pet to a dull matted coat and itchy, flaking skin.
Yorkies are fortunate not to suffer from some of the aging problems of other breeds. But this is a breed that is prone to urinary tract issues, a common condition in many aging dogs. Be sure to consult with your vet before changing foods for this and other medical reasons. Otherwise, the best dog food for Yorkies in good health is one with a high protein content and few carbohydrates.
What Ingredients Should And Shouldn’t Be In Dog Foods?
One of the drawbacks of commercial pet foods is that manufacturers are permitted to make substitutions if they can show that they can reach nutritional minimums in doing so. So if a manufacturer can reach “X” amount of a protein percentage by substituting a vegetable instead of an animal protein, they’ll do so as it’s far cheaper for them.
As a result, you’ll see lots of soy being used in pet food. Unfortunately, soy is now believed to be a leading cause of pet food allergies. So pay close attention to ingredients on labels. Ones that you want to see (in order of importance) include:
- Meat
- High quality meat “meal” (Avoid meat meal that includes the words “by-products” in its name or fails to identify the specific source animal.)
- Fish or fish meal
- Fruits, vegetables
- Ascorbic acid, vitamins, minerals
Ingredients that you don’t want to see:
- Brewers rice
- Soy flour
- Cereals
Is The Best Dog Food For Yorkies Wet Or Dry?
The small mouths of Yorkies means both tooth crowding and cleaning issues. As a result, dry kibble is recommended to prevent tooth decay. Both wet and dry foods provide equal amounts of nutrition. Wet food can be temporarily helpful if a dog is suffering from an upset stomach.
Snacks
Who doesn’t like treats? And whether you’re a human or a pet, treats can be very useful both to produce certain kinds of behavior and as a reward. But some are better for pets than others. As with foods, avoid ones that contain lots of dyes, cereal, and soy.
Good ones contain large amounts of meat and don’t forget that you can make your own healthy pet treats. Just remember that even healthy treats are not substitutes for food.
Summary
So what is the best dog food for Yorkies? Start by finding a good food brand appropriate for the dog size in general, and modify according to your specific dog’s needs. Be willing to check labels thoroughly, follow dog food news to be aware of trends and problems, and keep your veterinarian informed of food changes and issues.
Be aware that you may have to change “best” foods several times over a dog’s lifespan. Do slowly and with patience. The results will not only be an avoidance of food woes, but a great looking and healthy Yorkie.
The Best Dog Food For Pitbulls – What To Feed Them And How Much
What is the best dog food for pitbulls? Pitbulls sometimes have a bad reputation as dangerous dogs that you should keep away from. But we know better! We know they are actually awesome dogs!
Pitbulls were originally bred to bait bulls (i.e. the name) and were later used as farm dogs. Despite their reputation, Pitbulls are actually also known as “nanny” dogs, because they gentle and protective of children.
But what do we actually feed these beautiful animals? Pitbulls are medium sized dogs (although some can become quite large!) with sizes ranging from approximately 30 pounds to 70 pounds (however Hulk, the largest Pitbull in the world tips the scale at a whopping 180 pounds!). So we need to take into consideration their size and activity level to figure out what is actually the best dog food for Pitbulls, as their dietary needs will differ greatly from smaller breeds such as Yorkies or bigger breeds such as Labradors.
Besides their size and activity level, we also need to pay close attention to any possible health issues or allergies that might be specific to Pitbulls, as feeding a Pitbull food that contains the wrong ingredients could cause your pup to experience health issues that can easily be avoided.
Food Allergies To Watch Out For
Before we dig into which dog food is the best dog food for Pitbulls, we need to make sure what food to avoid that could potentially cause allergies.
Pitbulls are generally healthy, but of course as with any breed there are some health issues you need to be mindful of. When it comes to food, there are some food that your Pitbull could potentially be allergic to. This could include corn, rice, wheat and beef. If your dog is showing signs of itching and discomfort on their skin, that could be an indication that they are allergic to these foods. Should you notice these symptoms, you should take immediate action to avoid your Pitbull digging and chewing at the itchy areas untill they bleed.
To treat the allergy, remove the food that has been causing the allergic reaction from their diet. Your veterinarian should also be able to tell you what your dog is allergic to and whether it can be treated with medication.
How Much Should You Feed Your Pitbull?
Every dog is different. You need to consider the age and the size of your dog to determine how much you should feed it. For example Pitbull puppies will need a lot less calories than an adult would.
The Pitbull breed is considered an active breed, meaning they would typically need a bit more calories on average to fuel their active lifestyle. When looking for the best dog food for Pitbulls, calories is a key consideration to look at.
Key Stats
Dog Breed Group – Terrier Dogs
Height – 1″5 to 1″7
Weight – 30 pounds to 85 pounds
Recommended Calories
The World Small Animal Veterinary Association’s (WSAVA) Global Nutrition Committee has put together a table that shows how much calories an average dog would need based on their size.
Weight (Kg)Weight (lb)Kilocalories/day
For the full table, you can go here.
Remember that these figures are just estimated averages. You will need to experiment a little to see what the is right amount for your own dog. If your dog has any health problems, you should consult your vet for advice on what food and how much you should be feeding your Pitbull.
An important thing to remember is that the dog food with the most calories is not necessarily mean it is the best dog food for Pitbulls. The food also needs to be nutritious! Some food might be high in calories but low in nutritional value.
How To Know If You Are Over Feeding Your Pitbull
While we want to make sure we give our pups the best dog food for Pitbulls possible, we also want to make sure we do not over feed them.
Your Pitbull should have a waist when you look down at it. You should also be able to feel its ribs beneath its muscle if stroke your hand over it (if you can see the ribs, your Pitbull might actually be under-weight!). If you cannot easily feel its ribs because it is buried under a role fat, your Pitbull is overweight.
If your dog is overweight it could cause serious long term health issues, such as joint problems and heart problems. However be careful to not just suddenly put your pup on a excersize regime, as the extra weight could cause joint issues.
To get your overweight pup into shape, we recommend you first take it to the vet to get a thorough check-up to make sure your dog is in good health and there are no other issues that might be causing the weight issue (for example, Pitbulls can have Hypothyroidism, which could cause weight gain). Once you are sure your dog is healthy, you can start to increase its excersize while maintaining a healthy diet for your dog.
The Best Dog Food For Pitbull Puppies
Is the same food that your Pitbull adult eats also the best dog food for Pitbull puppies? Pitbull puppies need dog food that is specifically designed for puppies. It is recommended that your puppy dog food should have more fat and protein in than dog food for adult Pitbulls. That is because a fast growing puppy needs more energy from their food to help fuel their growth. Pitbull puppies should typically be fed three times a day to help maintain their high metabolism.
The Best Dog Food For Pitbull Adults
Pitbulls are very active dogs, so it is recommended that the best dog food for Pitbull adults be high in protein to be able to fuel their active lifestyle. Typically an adult Pitbull should be fed two to three times a day. Feeding your Pitbull one large meal once a day is not recommended, as that would be harmful to their digestive systems.
Snacks For Pitbulls
It is okay to give your Pitbull a healthy snack or treat on occasion. Be careful not to overdo it with snacks and treat though, as you will be giving your Pitbull more calories than it should get, resulting in weight gain. Be especially careful of getting into the habit of giving your Pitbull table scraps. This will not only cause weight gain, but it will also teach your dog bad habits.
For snacks and treats, you can consider giving your Pitbull healthy dog biscuits or dog sausage treats in small amounts. If you want to give it really healthy snacks, consider giving it vegetables. They will like the crunchiness of fresh vegetables, and fiber will be good for their digestive systems.
Wrapping Up
The best dog food for Pitbulls need to be high in energy and nutritional value to ensure a healthy pup. Fortunately Pitbulls are generally a healthy breed, so you do not need to worry too much about feeding it special “health food”. If you do notice that your pup is showing some signs of allergies or health issues, it might be a good idea to consult your vet on what food to cut from their diet or whether special treatment is perhaps required.
I hope this article helps you on your mission to find the best dog food for Pitbulls to help keep your pup happy and healthy! If you have any thoughts or tips that you would like to share, please feel free to leave us a message in the comments section. We would love to hear from you!
