Salmon is a fish you see regular processed in dog food. Dogs with a meat allergy are often put on a fish diet. This mostly results in eating salmon or cod. But it actually is a good question to ask if Dalmatians can eat salmon?
Yes, they can safely eat Salmon as long as it is well cooked, does not contain fish bones, and do feed in small portions. There are some good things about salmon in your Dal’s diet, but also some bad to be aware of though. We will go into more detail on what is good and bad about Salmon in the next paragraphs because Dalmatians have special needs when it comes to their diet.
Salmon in Your Dalmatians Diet
If there is one fish that is common in many dog foods, it is Salmon. It’s not strange when you read all the good things about Salmon and what it can do for you.
You probably think it is just as good for dogs as it is for humans.
Dalmatians need lots of protein. Salmon is high in protein and comes with loads of extra benefits. There are some things to keep and mind, and if you do, then Salmon can be a great treat for Dal’s.
Keep the portions of Salmon small and not give it to him every day. Give him Salmon once a week. That way, it will be a special meal for him.
Surprise them they love to eat different kinds of food. Wouldn’t you hate it if you eat the same every day?
Salmon, What is Good or Bad About it For Dalmatians?
| What is good about salmon | What is bad about salmon |
| Helps to keep a healthy skin | Contains average levels of purine |
| Helps his coat stay healthy and shiny | The fish bones are not digested very well and can do harm to dogs |
| Is excellent for the heart and immune system | Raw Salmon contains a parasite (Nanophyetus salmincola) that is poisonous for dogs |
| Can help to reduce stiffness in joints | |
| Reduces inflammation | |
| Helps brain development for Dalmatian puppies | |
| Helps older Dalmatians concentrate | |
| Amino acids keep your dog young, healthy and active | |
| A good alternative for dogs that have skin problems or allergies |
Studies show that Omega-3 fatties can be beneficial for dogs with kidney disease.
What is Purine? And Why is it Bad For Dalmatians
Purine is a protein. It’s best to be cautious with the purine levels in a Dalmatian’s diet. They cant handle purine very well. Salmon contains purine, but far fewer proportions than other fish like codfish, herring or mackerel.
Dogs need protein in their daily diet. With Dalmatians, you need to be careful with the levels of purine the meal contains. The purine levels should be as low as possible.
Most dog breeds break down purine into a dissolvable chemical and excrete through urine without problems.
With Dalmatians, the purine breaks down into uric acid. The uric acid can form kidney stones that can start to irritate, inflame, or worse.
Male Dalmatians are more often affected by these stones than females.
Why Should a Dalmatian not Eat Fish Bones
There are dog owners who prepare Salmon or another type of fish with the bones in it. Minutes later, they have to rush to an animal emergency care or vet because the little bones are hurting their dog.
The bones of the fish can be brittle and fragile. As fragile as they are, they can still irritate your throat when he swallows one.
It can even make your dog choke, harm his intestines or stomach.
When you prepare fresh Salmon for your dog, make sure you remove all the little bones from it.
What is Bad For Dalmatians in Raw Salmon
Never ever feed your Dalmatian or any other dog raw salmon. Keep raw Salmon out of reach to your dog. Even if you throw rests in the trash can, make sure that he can’t accidentally on purpose lick or retrieve any from it.
Preventing your dog from getting sick is better the curing.
Salmon is a carrier of the parasite Neorickettsia helminthoeca. A research from 1911 showed that injecting or eating the parasite can cause salmon poisoning disease (spd) to dogs. Within 5 to 10 days the ingested parasite matures in the small intestine and starts to lay eggs. That is about the same period as symptoms of the poisoning start to arise.
What are the Symptoms of Salmon Poisoning Disease?
Symptoms of salmon poisoning usually appear after about 5 or 6 days after consuming raw Salmon. The symptoms might not all happen or happen at once.
These are the symptoms to look for:
- A Decrease in appetite
- Vomiting
- Fever
- Diarrhea
- Lack of energy
- Weight loss
- Dehydration
- Swelling of lymph nodes
- Secretion from nose and eyes
- Depression
If you spot the symptoms of salmon poisoning, you should contact your vet as quickly as possible. The salmon poisoning can be fatal in about 6 to 10 days if left untreated.
What to Know Before Serving your Dalmatian Salmon?
- Can a Dalmatian be Allergic to salmon?
- How much salmon can I give my Dalmatian?
- Can puppies eat salmon?
- Is salmon skin good for dogs?
- Is too much salmon bad for dogs?
- Can Dalmatians eat smoked salmon?
- Is canned salmon good for dalmatians?
Can a Dalmation Be Allergic to Salmon?
Dalmatians can be allergic to fish, though It is not a very common allergy. In fact, it is far less common than meat allergies. Salmon allergy for humans is a well-known allergy. Dogs are often diagnosed with a fish allergy rather than a salmon allergy. Fish is far less favored in a dog’s diet, which makes research more difficult.
Here is a list of foods, from regular to rare, that are known to cause allergic reactions in dogs.
- Beef
- Dairy
- Wheat
- Egg
- Chicken
- Lamb
- Soy
- Pork
- Rabbit
- Fish
Fish allergies are getting more common as people start to add more fish to their dog’s diet as a result of more meat allergy diagnosis.
What Are The Symptoms of Fish Allergy?
If your Dalmatian is on a fish diet and you see him behave differently, he might suffer from an allergy. When you remove fish from your this diet then reasonably quickly you will see behavior go to normal again.
Here is a list of symptoms of fish allergy to look for, if you notice any of them contact your vet immediately:
- Obsessive scratching
- Licking Obsessively
- Obsessive chewing
- Skin infection
- Ear infection
- nettle-rash
- Running nose
- Separation from eyes
- Vomiting
- diarrhea
- Loss of hair
- Sudden severe allergic reaction
What to do When Your Dalmatian Has a Fish Allergy?
Sometimes it can take a while before you find it’s the fish that is causing the problems for your Dalmatian. When you do figure out, it’s the fish immediately take him off the diet if you have not already done so. If you can’t replace the fish in his meals for a particular reason, then contact your vet to help you find a solution.
First thing: When you take him off his fish diet, you should see some improvement after a couple of days. Yet it can take a month before your pal is completely recovered. Sometimes it can take even longer.
Second thing: After you figured out that your Dalmatian is suffering from the fish in his food, consult your vet for help. Taking him of his diet will help in the long run. Your vet might be able to help your dog through the first period.
How Much Salmon Can I Give My Dalmatian?
Salmon is considered a high-quality dog food. It is high in protein and Omega-3 fats that are an essential ingredient for any dog. Dalmatians however can’t handle purine very well, and Salmon has moderate levels of purine.
It is better not to make Salmon a daily diet for Dalmatians. Better make it a delicacy that he can have every once in a while.
If you properly cook the Salmon and keep the portions small, there is no reason why you can’t give it to them. They will love it when treated with something special.
Can Dalmatian Puppies Eat Salmon?
Should you want to get a dalmatian puppy into your home, then know that the first weeks it is best to continue on the diet he has. Contact the breeder to find out.
After some time, you can start mixing in other types of food to get him accustomed to it.
You can mix in little bits of Salmon. But do keep the portions very tiny. Puppies have a small stomach you can overfeed them very quickly.
Can Dalmatians Eat Salmon Skin?
Salmon skin is the healthiest part of the Salmon. It contains more Omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin D, vitamin B, and essential minerals than other parts of the Salmon. This is good news for most dog breeds, as they can eat it just fine.
More of everything also means more purine. So it is better not to serve your Dalmatian the skin.
Just stick to the flesh part of the Salmon. There is no need to overdo it.
Is Too Much Salmon Bad For Dalmatians?
Not for every Dalmatian. I said before that Salmon contains average levels of purine. You should be careful with foods that contain medium to high levels of purine as dalmatians can’t digest them very well.
That said, not every Dalmatian will get kidney stones from eating Salmon. Some can handle it better than others. Having enough water next to his food is essential for preventing kidney stones.
But why take the risk. You’re not doing your Dal any favors here.
Can Dalmatians Eat Smoked Salmon?
Smoking is a slow process. The temperatures simply don’t go high enough to kill all the parasites in the Salmon. We talked earlier about these parasites that can cause death to a dog.
This is why giving smoked Salmon to a dalmatian, or any other dog is not a good idea.
Secondly, smoked Salmon often has loads of salt added to it. This also is not good for dogs.
Is Canned Salmon Good For Dalmatians?
Short answer: No. Can Dalmatians eat canned Salmon? Yes.
Again give it to him as a treat, but not too often.
Canned Salmon usually have some additives to it that improve its shelf life. These additives are harmful to your k9 in the long run.
Second is often canned Salmon has some sort of oil added to it. The amounts of fatty added can harm your Dalmatian’s health as well. So if you do want to give canned Salmon, make sure it is water-based.
If you can prepare fresh Salmon then this is the better choice for your furry friend.
Conclusion
The best way to prepare human food like Salmon is by cooking it first.
Next time you treat your family with a nice salmon for dinner set a little portion aside for your Dalmatian.
Cook it well so there will be no raw inner parts left. After cooking, let it cool down a little until you can grab and hold it with your fingers because you don’t want your dog to get its tong burned. Cooking the fish will kill all the bacteria and parasites. This will make sure that he is not digesting any and get sick.
It’s good for him, and he will really like it. Give it once a week, and it will be a special treat for him.
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