It's easy to stick to the basics like chicken or beef, but many dog owners miss out on one of the best additions for their dog's health: fish. This simple ingredient is a fantastic way to boost their diet with high-quality protein and healthy fats, all without adding a lot of unnecessary calories.
Great choices include high-quality options like wild-caught cod and salmon. Choosing wild-caught sources helps ensure the fish is cleaner and has fewer environmental toxins.
Salmon, in particular, is rich with healthy omega-3 fatty acids, which are amazing for reducing inflammation and promoting healthy skin and a shiny coat. Both cod and salmon are also full of antioxidants and provide a natural dose of vitamin D. These essential nutrients work together to support your dog's immune system, protect joint health, and contribute to their wellness.
Read on to discover some of the top, and often overlooked, benefits of including fish in your dog's diet.
Top 7 Benefits of Fish-Based Dog Food
If your dog goes crazy for the taste of fish, you should be just as excited about it as they are. Of course, you’ll love it for a different reason, the incredible nutrition it provides.
We often hear about the health benefits of fish for people, and it turns out, our dogs can reap many of those same rewards.
#1 Omega-3 Fatty Acids
One of the biggest benefits of fish is its high level of omega-3 fatty acids. These are healthy fats that your dog’s body can’t produce on its own, so they must get them from their food. Omega-3s are excellent for controlling inflammation and supporting good blood flow throughout their body.
For growing puppies, omega-3s are essential. The specific types found in fish, known as EPA and DHA, play a huge role in healthy brain and eye development. As your dog gets older, these same fatty acids continue to be beneficial. They help keep joints mobile, can ease the discomfort of arthritis, and even support sharp thinking and memory in their senior years.
It's also important to remember that it’s all about balance, as the American Kennel Club notes, dogs need both omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. What truly matters is the balance between these two essential nutrients.
#2 Healthy Heart
The healthy fats in fish are also incredible for your dog's heart! Omega-3s help maintain a steady, regular heartbeat and can even reduce the risk of heart disease.
Plus, fish is naturally low in the less healthy types of saturated fat, which helps improve blood flow and keep cholesterol levels in a healthy range. All of this works together to support a strong, healthy heart for years to come.
#3 An Excellent Source of Protein
Fish is an excellent source of protein, which every dog needs for strong muscles. This protein provides essential amino acids, which are the very things your dog's body uses to build new tissue and transport other nutrients.
Many types of fish, like cod and flounder, are lean. This means they offer a powerful amount of protein, much like chicken or turkey, but without the higher fat content often found in meats like beef and lamb.
#4 For Better Joint Health
The healthy fats found in oily fish are excellent for your dog's joints. These fats, including omega-3s, work to lower inflammation throughout the body, which can ease joint pain and support the natural process of cell repair.
For even more joint protection, fish is a natural source of glucosamine and chondroitin, which are two key nutrients that help protect cartilage from wear and tear.
Adding fish to your dog's menu is a great way to help manage existing conditions like arthritis and promote healthy joints and tendons for the future.
#5 A Powerhouse of Vitamins and Minerals
Fish is a natural source of iron, zinc, calcium, magnesium, iodine, and selenium—all of which play important roles in your dog's daily health. Oily fish, in particular, deliver a great dose of vitamin D, an essential nutrient for healthy growth.
The healthy fats in fish actually are another great benefit because they help your dog’s body absorb all these other vitamins and minerals more effectively.
#6 Great for Digestive Health
Being so easy to digest, fish naturally helps maintain a healthy and balanced digestive system. This makes it an excellent choice for dogs with sensitive stomachs or those with certain liver or kidney issues.
One of the most valuable parts of the fish is actually the skin. It contains a high amount of vitamins A, E, and D, as well as essential fatty acids. On top of that, the skin is incredibly easy for the stomach to handle, making it particularly good for a dog who isn't feeling well.
#7 A Taste Your Dog Will Love
Beyond all the health benefits, another simple reason to consider fish is that many dogs just love how it tastes. The unique flavor can be a welcome change in their meal rotation and is often a big hit with dogs who are selective about their food.
If you decide to try a fish-based diet, you'll find many excellent options available. You can choose from foods that highlight specific fish, like whitefish, salmon, or tuna, or Healthy Dogma PetMixes that mix fish with other multiple healthy ingredients such as sweet potatoes, nutritional yeast, bananas, carrots, and more, to create a balanced meal.
- Homestyle PetMix with Fish:
Made for all adult dogs, this food makes it easy to change up their meals. While the main protein source changes from one flavor to the next, the foundational ingredients always stay the same.
This means you can rotate flavors (beef, chicken, lamb) to keep your dog interested in their food, all while being gentle on their digestive system.
- Fish Dinner PetMix:
Give your dog a meal they'll get excited about with Healthy Dogma's PetMix Fish Dinner. The first thing they'll notice is the delicious, meaty chunks of freeze-dried wild-caught Alaskan Salmon and Whitefish.
Healthy Dogma also includes soothing oats to help nourish their skin and coat from the inside out. But the goodness doesn't stop there. This recipe is rich in other healthy ingredients you can trust, like whole eggs, carrots, broccoli, and apples. It's the easiest way to give your dog a meal with all the quality of being homemade, all you have to do is add water.
