Should Fish Be Part of Your Dog's Raw Diet?

Fish gets recommended a lot in raw feeding circles, and for good reason - but feed more fish is not quite the whole story. Which fish, how much, and how it is prepared all matter more than people expect. Here is how to actually get the benefit without the risks.

Why Fish Earns Its Spot

Fish is one of the best natural sources of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA), the same fats behind reduced inflammation, healthier skin and coat, and joint support. It is also a genuinely different protein source from the poultry and red meat that make up most raw diets, which matters for dietary variety and for dogs rotating away from a suspected chicken or beef sensitivity.

Size Matters More Than People Think

Here is the part that trips people up: bigger, longer-lived fish accumulate more mercury over their lifespan, since mercury builds up the further up the food chain (and the longer the fish lives) you go. That is why smaller, shorter-lived, oily fish - sardines, herring, mackerel, smaller salmon - are the better everyday choice, while something like large tuna or swordfish has no real place in a dog's regular rotation. Our Salmon Bites, Salmon Puree, and Salmon Head are all sourced from farmed or wild BC salmon in reasonable portion sizes, not the large predatory fish that raise mercury concerns, and Smack's Rockin' Rockfish and Caribbean Salmon Fusion recipes lean on wild Pacific rockfish and herring specifically because they are smaller, lower-mercury fish.

The One Real Raw-Fish Risk Worth Knowing

Raw fish - particularly some freshwater and Pacific species - can carry an enzyme called thiaminase, which breaks down thiamine (vitamin B1) in the body. Fed occasionally as part of a varied diet, this is not a meaningful concern; fed as the overwhelming bulk of a dog's diet day after day, it theoretically could contribute to a thiamine deficiency over time. The practical takeaway is simple: fish should be a rotating component of a raw diet, not the sole protein source fed exclusively for weeks on end - which lines up with good raw-feeding practice generally, since rotating proteins is healthier than any single-protein diet regardless of species. Pacific salmon specifically also carries a separate, unrelated risk (salmon poisoning disease, from a parasite) if eaten raw and caught in certain Pacific Northwest waterways - commercially processed and properly sourced salmon like ours is not the wild-caught-by-you scenario this risk applies to, but it is worth knowing the distinction exists.

Bones, Skin, and How to Feed It

Fish bones are genuinely different from mammal bones - they are soft, thin, and pliable rather than dense and splinter-prone, which is part of why whole small fish (sardines especially) are considered a safe way to feed bone-in fish. Skin-on is fine and adds extra fat content; just watch total fat if your dog is managing weight, since fattier fish add up calorically fast in small portions.

If Whole Fish Isn't Practical

Not every household wants to handle whole fish, and that is completely fine - the omega-3 benefit does not require it. Our Omega 3+ (Canadian Harp Seal Oil) delivers the same EPA, DHA, and DPA profile fish oil does, without needing fish in the bowl at all - genuinely useful for a dog with a fish sensitivity, a customer who would rather not handle whole fish, or anyone who wants the omega-3 benefit without adding another ingredient to rotate and store.

The Bottom Line

Fish belongs in a raw rotation - smaller, oilier species specifically, fed as one protein among several rather than the whole diet. Our Salmon products and Smack's fish-forward recipes are a straightforward way to work it in; Omega 3+ is the answer if whole fish just is not practical for your household.