Fish for dogs

Can my dog eat salmon?

Can dogs eat salmon?In moderation

Only cooked through, boneless and unseasoned, no more than once a week.

Yes, dogs can eat salmon if it is thoroughly cooked, boneless and unseasoned. Salmon provides protein and omega-3 fatty acids, but at around 206 kcal per 100 g (farmed, cooked) it is high in energy. Raw salmon, smoked salmon and gravlax aren't suitable; as an extra, give a small portion no more than once a week.

How much salmon can your dog eat?

Enter the weight – the amount updates straight away. You can adjust age, activity and neutering below.

Your dog's weight

Life stage

Puppy under 4 monthsPuppy 4–12 monthsAdultSenior (approx. 8 years and over)

Activity

Neutered?

YesNo

How the calculator works

Daily requirement: Resting energy requirement 70 × 15 kg^0.75 ≈ 534 kcal × factor 1.6 ≈ 855 kcal.
Treat allowance: at most 10% of that = 86 kcal for all treats combined.
Calorie limit: 86 kcal ÷ 206 kcal/100 g = 42 g of salmon.
Guide value for dogs 10–25 kg: 3 × cube of cooked salmon (approx. 2.5 cm) at 17 g each = 51 g (guide value from the source).
Recommendation: the smaller of the two, rounded down to half portions → 2 × 17 g = 34 g ≈ 70 kcal.

Sources: 10% rule from the WSAVA guide to treats · kcal value: USDA FoodData Central. Daily requirement as in the dog calorie calculator.

Result · 15 kg · Adult

Up to 2

× cube of cooked salmon (approx. 2.5 cm) on a snack day

(≈ 34 g, 70 kcal)

How often: A small portion no more than once a week, not as a daily side. All treats together should make up no more than 10% of daily calories – so fewer other treats on salmon day.

Treat allowance 86 kcal (10% of 855 kcal) · 1 cube of cooked salmon (approx. 2.5 cm) ≈ 17 g

Limited by: calories

Here the calories set the limit: more won't fit into the treat allowance of 86 kcal. The guide value for dogs 10–25 kg would be 51 g.

According to PetMD, per week: 28–57 g for dogs up to 9 kg, 57–113 g for 10–23 kg, 113–170 g for 23–41 kg; the AKC advises no more than once a week. We use the lower value in 17 g cubes.

This applies if it's the only snack that day – if your dog gets other treats too, give correspondingly less.

The app calculates recipes in grams, kcal and portions to suit your dog's weight, age, activity and allergies.

Table

Salmon for dogs: amount by weight

Maximum amount on a snack day for an adult, neutered dog with normal activity – if it gets no other treats that day.
Weight	Maximum per snack day	kcal
5 kg	1 cube of cooked salmon (approx. 2.5 cm)≈ 17 g	≈ 35
10 kg	1½ × cube of cooked salmon (approx. 2.5 cm)≈ 25 g	≈ 52
20 kg	3 × cube of cooked salmon (approx. 2.5 cm)≈ 51 g	≈ 105
30 kg	4 × cube of cooked salmon (approx. 2.5 cm)≈ 68 g	≈ 140
40 kg	5 × cube of cooked salmon (approx. 2.5 cm)≈ 85 g	≈ 175

All snacks together no more than 10% of daily calories (WSAVA recommendation). If your dog gets other treats too, give correspondingly less.
Guide value per weight class – small up to 10 kg, medium 10–25 kg, large over 25 kg: According to PetMD, per week: 28–57 g for dogs up to 9 kg, 57–113 g for 10–23 kg, 113–170 g for 23–41 kg; the AKC advises no more than once a week. We use the lower value in 17 g cubes.

Different weight, puppy or senior? Go to the calculator

Emergency note

Eaten raw salmon or other raw fish?

Call your vet and say which fish it was and where it came from. Raw salmon and related fish from the Pacific coast of North America can transmit salmon poisoning disease, a bacterial infection caused by Neorickettsia helminthoeca. Raw fish can also contain salmonella, listeria or parasites.

Possible symptoms

Fever
Vomiting
Diarrhoea, often with blood
Weakness
Weight loss
Swollen lymph nodes
Discharge from the eyes or nose

When to see a vet?

Call as soon as your dog has eaten raw salmon – even a small amount can make it ill if the fish is infected. Salmon poisoning disease usually shows about a week later, sometimes only after up to 33 days; if your dog falls ill during this time, mention the raw fish to your vet. It can be treated with antibiotics, but according to the AKC, untreated it is fatal in around 90% of cases.

In an emergency: call your vet or an animal hospital

Outside opening hours, an emergency vet service or an animal hospital can help. Note down the amount, the time and the packaging, and don't try to make your dog vomit yourself. Poison information centres mainly advise on poisoning in people and only help with animals when they have capacity – the first point of contact for your dog is your vet.

Press release from the German Federal Chamber of Veterinarians (2012, in German)Foods that are toxic to dogs

What's in it

Provides protein: cooked farmed salmon has around 22 g of protein per 100 g.
Contains the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA – together about 2.1 g per 100 g of cooked farmed salmon.
Contains vitamin B12, vitamin D and selenium.
Contains little mercury, unlike tuna or swordfish.
Often used in dog food as a protein source for dogs that don't tolerate chicken or beef.

What to watch out for

Raw or undercooked salmon can transmit salmon poisoning disease, an infection with the bacterium Neorickettsia helminthoeca. It occurs mainly in fish from the Pacific coast of North America and is often fatal if untreated.
Raw fish can also contain salmonella, listeria and parasites – a risk for the people in your household too.
Fish bones are small and brittle: they can get stuck in the mouth, throat, stomach or intestine and pierce the wall.
Salmon is high in energy – cooked farmed salmon has 206 kcal per 100 g – and according to the AKC can have more calories than chicken or turkey. Too much encourages weight gain.
Fish cooked in a lot of oil or butter can cause digestive upsets and pancreatitis; seasonings such as garlic are dangerous for dogs.
Smoked salmon is pre-salted and usually cold-smoked, so it isn't cooked through. Gravlax is cured raw with salt, sugar and dill or other spices.
Tinned salmon is often salted or packed in oil.
Like any new fish, salmon can trigger an allergic reaction or digestive upsets.

Preparation

How to prepare salmon

How to do it

Buy fresh boneless salmon fillet, or pick out all the bones
Steam, bake in the oven or poach in water, without oil, butter, salt or seasoning
Cook it all the way through until it reaches at least 60 °C inside
Leave to cool, then flake it and check again for bones as you go
The first time, give only a small piece and keep an eye on digestion

Better not

Raw salmon, sushi or salmon tartare
Smoked salmon and gravlax
Tinned salmon in oil or with salt
Salmon with butter, oil, garlic, onions or sauce
Fish bones, or salmon leftovers with bones in
Salmon more than once a week

How often?

A small portion no more than once a week, not as a daily side. All treats together should make up no more than 10% of daily calories – so fewer other treats on salmon day.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about salmon

Can dogs eat raw salmon?

No. Raw or undercooked salmon can carry a fluke that transmits the bacterium Neorickettsia helminthoeca and causes salmon poisoning disease. It occurs mainly in fish from the Pacific coast of North America and is often fatal if untreated. Raw fish can also contain salmonella, listeria and parasites. This applies to sushi too.

Can dogs eat smoked salmon or gravlax?

No. Smoked salmon is salted before smoking and is usually cold-smoked, which doesn't fully cook the flesh. Gravlax isn't cooked at all, but cured with salt, sugar and dill or other spices. So neither is cooked through, and both are salted; the AKC explicitly advises against smoked and raw fish.

Can dogs eat tinned salmon?

Only with caution. Tinned salmon is often salted or packed in oil; don't give it if it's in oil. If at all, choose salmon in water with little sodium, rinsed thoroughly and with the bones removed.

Can my dog eat salmon skin?

Yes, if it is thoroughly cooked and unseasoned, and only in small amounts. Don't give raw salmon skin, and don't give skin from the pan with butter, garlic or onions either.

Can dogs eat salmon bones?

No. Fish bones are small and brittle; they can lodge in the mouth, throat, stomach or intestine and pierce the wall. Pick out all the bones before giving salmon. If your dog has eaten bones, call your vet.

Can my dog have salmon oil?

Salmon oil is a supplement, not a snack. Whether your dog needs it, and how much, depends on its weight, age, health and food – many complete foods already contain fish oil. Possible side effects are diarrhoea, vomiting and flatulence. Use a product for dogs, not fish oil for people, agree the amount with your vet and stop using oil that smells rancid.

Can puppies eat salmon?

Yes, following the same rules: thoroughly cooked, boneless and unseasoned. The AKC cites the omega-3 fatty acids in salmon as supporting development in puppyhood. A complete puppy food already covers their needs, so salmon remains a small extra; give only a little the first time.