You love trout and can’t wait to sink your teeth into every catch. But what about your dog?
He works hard by your side, keeping you company during long trout fishing trips, so it’s only fair that he should share part of the reward.
But the last thing you want to do is feed your dog something bad for him, even if he tells you it’s a good idea. So let’s settle the debate once and for all: can dogs eat trout?
Raw Trout
According to the American Kennel Club, it’s not safe to feed dogs raw trout (or raw fish of any kind).
There are a couple of reasons for this:
- Bacteria: raw fish may contain harmful bacteria that can make your dog sick with Salmonella or other illnesses.
- Bones: fish bones are small and brittle, which can spell disaster if one gets lodged in your dog’s throat. Fishbones can cause:
- Choking
- Perforated digestive tract
- Perforated mouth and gums
Even if you’ve fed your dog trout in the past, it’s not worth the risk to continue doing so.
Cooked Trout
Although raw fish can make your dog sick, cooked fish is part of a healthy canine diet and is included in many commercial dog foods.
When selecting and preparing trout for your dog:
- Choose fish with low mercury levels
- Skin and de-bone the fish
- Cook using little or no oil since too much oil can cause pancreatitis
- Don’t use any spices
Talk to your veterinarian about how much fish to feed your dog as part of a balanced diet.
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