Can Dogs Eat Tuna?

Tuna fish is very nutritious. It contains lots of protein, omega-3 fatty acids, B vitamins, calcium, choline, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, and selenium. And dogs love the taste.

For dog owners who wonder can dogs eat tuna: Yes, dogs can eat tuna, but it is important to make sure they get the right type and a safe amount. One of the concerns about feeding dogs tuna is that it may contain mercury.

And that may be bad for your dog’s health. There are 5 commonly eaten types of tuna. Albacore, Bigeye, Bluefin, Skipjack, and Yellowfin. Of those, Skipjack and Albacore tend to have less mercury.

Is Tuna Fish Good For Dogs

Is tuna good for dogs? The answer is yes. But in small amounts. Many brands of dog food have tuna in them.

That’s because the protein from tuna is good for dogs that have sensitive stomachs and can’t tolerate poultry protein well. Tuna also contains many vitamins and minerals that help to keep dogs strong, healthy, and happy without getting their stomachs upset. Plus, the tuna sold in stores and found in dog food doesn’t have a toxic level of mercury in it.

So it is not dangerous for your dog. The key is not to give your dog large amounts of tuna every day. This will keep mercury from building up in its body.

Can Dogs Eat Canned Tuna?

Canned tuna is available in supermarkets nationwide. And your dog can eat canned tuna, preferably albacore or skipjack, in appropriate portions. Whether the tuna is packed in oil or water, it can be a healthy, protein-rich meal for your dog.

Ideally, you should look for canned tuna with no salt added. Tuna is a saltwater fish, so it naturally has salt in it. If it is sold in a can with added salt, that may be too much salt for your dog’s digestive system.

Plus, you should look for tuna packed in water instead of tuna packed in oil if you are going to feed canned tuna to your dog.

Tuna In Commercial Dog Food Is Safe

You do not have to be concerned that commercial dog food that contains tuna is unsafe for your dog to eat because of the mercury level. Researchers have studied this issue and done repeated tests on dog food containing tuna. The results show that the mercury levels found in commercial dog food are not a concern.

The researchers point out that there have been no reported cases of any dogs suffering mercury poising after eating any type of commercial dog food containing tuna. Still, to be safe, dog owners should not feed their dogs excessive amounts of any type of dog food that contains tuna.

Don’t Feed Dogs Raw Tuna

To protect the health of your dog, never feed it raw tuna. Raw tuna may have bacteria and parasites that can wreak havoc with your dog’s digestive system. Raw fish contains an enzyme called thiaminase.

That enzyme can make the Vitamin B in the food that your dog eats inactive. But cooking the tuna destroys the thiaminase and makes the tuna taste better for your dog. Overall, it will be much safer for your dog if you cook the tuna before feeding it to the dog.

So if you want to protect the health of your dog, take a few extra minutes to cook any tuna you plan on giving it to eat as a snack or a meal.

Dogs Health Benefits From Eating Tuna

Can dogs eat tuna? Yes. Plus, eating tuna provides dogs with many health benefits.

Tuna’s high protein and omega-3 fatty acid content help maintain healthy heart function and blood pressure. The selenium it contains protects cells from damage by mercury. Its high content of B vitamins, choline, iodine, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, and selenium helps improve the overall health, strength, energy level, endurance, and vitality of any dog.

Reference:

https://www.petplace.com/article/dogs/pet-health/can-dogs-eat-seafood/