Hi there, I was wondering if it's okay to add a few sardines to my dog's dry food? A friend of mine who also has a dog sometimes adds sardines to his food to give him a soft coat.
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Yes, almost all fish are good for our dogs and cats (I'd avoid those with too many bones if your dog is a beginner).
As long as you don't give them tinned food (or only very occasionally), as it contains SALT...
Some dogs love tuna and cod liver oil, but there is really way too much salt in them!
For our dogs:
As a source of essential fatty acids, including Omega-3s, raw fish is a must-have in our domestic carnivores' bowls.
Omega-3s:
Found in certain vegetable oils, especially linseed oil, in shellfish, and in fish—particularly oily fish. The oilier the fish, the richer it will be in Omega-3s.
Omega-6s:
Found in certain vegetable oils like grapeseed oil, some fish like sardines, but also in meat and eggs.
Regarding fish, you can give them some every now and then, but as your dog is on dry food, they won't be used to it (and won't necessarily have the same immunity as a dog on a raw diet).
Personally, I’d recommend putting the fillets or whole fish in the freezer at -20°C for 24 hours (check out the advice for fish in a BARF diet).
A dog fed naturally on a raw diet with fish, meat, veg, oils, and other supplements is used to it! Their gut flora is prepared.
Fish from the counter or the fishmonger to keep it natural (not tinned):
– Sea bass
– Salt-free anchovies
– Basa (boneless)
– Mackerel
– Pollock (fillets)
– Sea bream
– Roach
– Herring (salt-free)
– Coley (fillets)
– Mackerel
– Whiting
– Hake (fillets)
– White bream
– Sardines
– Sprats (salt-free)
– Trout
– Salmon (organic or high-quality)
If your dog is a bit taken aback by these fish appearing once a week, or if they struggle to digest raw food alongside dry food (as they don't have the same digestion time)—dry food takes longer to digest.
Like Just Animal, you can add organic wild salmon oil or krill oil. They are both excellent.
If you want more links for oils that are good for your dog, or even fruit and veg for vitamins:
http://www.b-a-r-f.com/
I don't think that should be a problem at all, personally. The breeder of our first dog (an Irish Setter) told us to add a spoonful of olive oil to her meals to keep her coat nice and shiny and soft, and it really does help...
Yes, you can! Sardines are brilliant for them! Just be careful if your dog is prone to putting on weight; you shouldn't overdo it. Make sure you go for a high-quality brand in olive oil!
