Best Ways to Cook Salmon for Dogs (Solved & Explained!)

The best way to cook salmon for dogs is to boil a fresh, boneless piece of fish. You should remove any small remaining bones and serve unseasoned and not hot. 

Here we are going to cover the best ways to cook salmon for dogs, covering everything you need to know about the cooking methods, extra ingredients and how often you should be serving salmon to your dog.

What are the best ways to cook salmon for dogs?

The best way to cook salmon for dogs is one that is healthy and safe for them. There is no ultimate cooking method for salmon for dogs, but some are quicker and easier than others.

Perhaps the best method of preparing the salmon for your dog is to boil it as this will help to retain as many nutrients as possible either in the skin, the meat or both.

To boil the salmon place the fillet or chunks into a wire basket and place this inside a pot of boiling water. Leave the salmon to cook for around 12 minutes before checking if it is ready (if it flakes with a fork).

Once the salmon is cooked take the pot off of the stove, carefully remove the wire basket and allow the fish to cool.

Another easy way to prepare the salmon for your dog is to grill it or bake it, whichever you prefer. Both of these methods require no added oil and are relatively simple to do.

To prepare the salmon like this place the fish on a non-stick tray and place it under the grill for 8 minutes or in the oven for 20 minutes at 375 degrees. Remove from the grill or oven and let cool.

You can also choose to fry, poach or even broil the salmon for your dog. The most important things to remember are that you should not use any oils, salt or pepper when preparing the fish and to remove any and all bones.

Do you have to cook salmon for dogs?

Although your dog may be ok to eat the salmon raw it is always best to cook any meat that they consume just to be on the safe side.

Cooking the salmon will help to remove any parasites, bacteria or other harmful things in the meat that can potentially be detrimental to your dog’s health. 

You should always ensure that the salmon is fully cooked and that there are no raw spots before feeding it to your dog.

Can dogs eat salmon every day?

Dogs can eat salmon every day and this is often a very common component of an allergy-prone dog’s diet. So, for this reason, salmon is often in many branded dog foods.

Although your dog can eat salmon every single day, if they do not necessarily require it then it is best to mix salmon into their diet along with other fish and meats to ensure a balanced diet.

Despite the fact that it is uncommon, dogs are capable of developing an allergy to a food if they eat it too often.

What kind of fish is best for dogs?

The best types of fish for a dog to consume are oily fish. These will provide your dog with a lot of good nutrients as well as be a good source of fatty acids (such as omega 3).

Types of oily fish are sardines, tuna, salmon and mackerel. 

Is cooked salmon bad for dogs?

Although salmon is a good food to feed to your dog it is only so if you get the portion sizes correctly and properly cook the fish. 

If the salmon is not thoroughly cooked then it may still contain harmful bacteria and/or parasites which can make your dog sick.

If you are feeding your dog an abundance of salmon then it can lead to pancreatitis. 

Can dogs eat cooked salmon skin?

Yes, dogs are able to eat cooked salmon skin and it is a nutritious snack for them. However, you should always ensure that the salmon skin has not been seasoned with anything, including additional oils.

Just like the rest of the fish, you will need to make sure that the salmon skin has been entirely cooked through before feeding it to your dog to reduce the risk of them getting ill.

Can dogs eat packaged salmon?

Packaged salmon is perfectly fine for your dog to eat. You will need to inspect it to make sure that it contains no bones, big or small, before feeding it to your dog.

You will also need to cook the salmon. So, if the prepackaged salmon is raw then you will need to cook it yourself. If it is already cooked then ensure it is completely plain before giving it to your dog.

How common is salmon poisoning in dogs?

Unfortunately, dogs can get salmon poisoning by eating a fish infected with parasites or harmful bacteria. However, transmission between dogs is very rare.

In most cases, you will notice symptoms in your dog one week after they ate the infected fish. In rarer instances, the symptoms can take up to one month to appear.

It is important to get your dog treated as soon as possible if you suspect salmon poisoning.

How to prevent your dog from getting salmon poisoning

The best way to prevent your dog from getting salmon poisoning is to never feed them fish that has not been prepared properly. 

Cooking the salmon the entire way through will help to remove any parasites that can potentially give your dog salmon poisoning.

Is salmon or chicken better for dogs?

Although both chicken and salmon are healthy for dogs salmon is much better if you have a dog with allergies.

Salmon is also very high in omega 3 which helps with inflammation, organ health and skin health.

Can dogs eat fried salmon?

Does can eat fried salmon as long as it is plain, unseasoned, boneless and not coated in any batter or breadcrumbs.