Can Dogs Eat Salmon Skin? (Cooked, Raw, or as Treats?)

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Salmon and all its bits,  including the head, tail, and, of course, skin, can provide your dog with a very reliable source of essential for healthy nutrients. Keep in mind, however, that oil-rich foods such as salmon should not be given excessively to the dog as this can lead to complications and health problems. So let’s try to answer the question “Can dogs eat salmon skin?” in detail.

Do you have a specific question about benefits of salmon skin for dogs? Then use the table of contents below to jump to the most relevant section. And you can always go back by clicking on the black arrow in the right bottom corner of the page. Also, please note that some of the links in this article may be affiliate links. For more details, check the Disclosure section at the bottom of the page. 

Can dogs have salmon skin?

The simple answer is yes; dogs can eat cleaned, properly cooked salmon skins in small amounts. Although it seems unbelievable, most fish skins are perfectly edible for us as well as our pets— if the meat of the animals is safe to eat, their skin is also typically edible.

Technically fish skin is the most nutritionally-dense part of their bodies: it contains higher amounts of essential fats, vitamins, and minerals than the pretty steak we like to cook for dinner.

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Is salmon skin bad for dogs?

Some fish such as trout or salmon,  have a lot of parasites called rickettsia that trigger “salmon fish poisoning.” If it takes root in the pup’s gut, this parasite can be dangerous and possibly even lethal to your canine.

Fortunately, however, this condition can be treated as long as you look for its symptoms and seek medical attention as quickly as possible.

The salmon you purchase may also be impacted by the ocean’s waste materials. There’s a chance this can also affect your dog’s health.

Dog ate salmon skin. What to do next?

Signs of salmon poisoning typically involve fever, vomiting, appetite loss, diarrhea, lack of strength, dehydration, and swollen glands.

If your dog has eaten salmon, bring your dog to the vet and mention all the signs of poisoning you’ve noticed before. The treatment is relatively straightforward, and it should be possible for your dog to emerge from this scot-free (and even better than new).

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Salmon skin and dogs. Safety tips

Rules to avoid fish skin poisoning

  • Buy as smaller salmon as possible. Younger fish are less in size and were relatively less exposed to toxins dissolved in the water. You can use younger fish to make food and treats for both you and your pup while decreasing the risk of ingestion of toxins.
  • Salmon fish from regions such as Scandinavia and Canada has a better chance to be toxin-free. The water around these areas is less contaminated. It can be explained by overall lower pollution rates and lesser sea traffic. Therefore, salmon supposed to be comparatively less likely to be hazardous.
  • If you purchased a fresh fish, freeze it for a while. Or buy the frozen salmon right away. This helps to considerably lower the risk of ingestion of parasites and toxins. There must be a word of caution here. While salmon can be excellent for your dog, it is still very fatty. As an outcome, giving your dog a lot of salmon skin can lead to your pet’s painful and potentially fatal condition, recognized as pancreatitis. So while dogs may consume salmon skin you have to keep an eye on the serving size even it’s your pup’s favorite meal in the world.

Can dogs eat cooked salmon skin?

Yes, cooked salmon skin is safer for dogs to eat. In fact, it is recommended to cook the skin thoroughly first, even if it can be served to your dog.

But avoid bone-in salmon because bones may split in the mouth of your pup and fall in the throat or the gastrointestinal tract.

How to cook salmon skin for dogs?

Cooking dramatically reduces your dog’s chances of getting negatively affected by the parasites.

It can be grilled or baked or even fried if you think that your dog will be ok with the extra fat.

The best way to serve the treat: peel the cooked skin from a salmon filet and cut it into bite-sized parts. (if you are curious about other types of raw or cooked bones check our guide about bone broth benefits for dogs, some caveats included, of course).

Salmon skin dog treats

Alternatively, give a properly cooked dehydrated salmon skin treat to your dog, like we’ve found in Amazon, a massive hit amongst the pups who love fish.

This treat is better for medium- and large-sized dogs to avoid choking. And has an additional perk: as reported by buyers it’s possible to clean pup’s teeth chewing it (saving a ton on cleaning at the vet with anesthesia). A great deal of deliciousness, health benefits that apparently includes free teeth cleaning! Check more about this product .

Is salmon skin good for dogs?

Salmon skin benefits for your pet

  • it is unbelievably rich in omega-3 fatty acid, which is hugely beneficial for the skin of your pup and gives your dog’s coat luster. A balanced addition of omega-3 fatty acids in the nutritional regimen of your dog will make your best friend look amazingly healthy, like a movie star amongst all the rest furry peasants.  
  • Some dogs may also want salmon due to fish’s nutritional properties. Salmon use can assist dogs to get rid of allergies.
  • Salmon skin can help boost the immunity of your dog against terminal conditions like heart-related diseases and cancer in the long run.
  • It was documented that the intake of salmon skin can help with signs usually associated with arthritis and closely related joint issues.
  •  Eating salmon skin can also help your pup with skin or paws itching. If you see your pup is in continuous distress and scratches continuously, you may want to offer him salmon skin, (or you can also look for fleas though).
  • As weird as it may seem at first, the consumption of omega-3 fatty acids can help to avoid obesity and assist your pet get rid of the extra pounds of fat.

Salmon skin and dogs. Summary

Salmon skin is generally good for dogs, so please do share it openly with your pup. In most cases, salmon–including the skin–is healthy for pets to eat as long it was cooked properly.

If you were barbecuing and had some grilled salmon skin leftovers, don’t hesitate to share it with your favorite four-legged friend. He has most likely deserved that delicious treat.

Credits: thanks for the cover photo to Congerdesign from Pixabay.

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