Can Dogs Eat Fish Sticks?

Most fish is generally considered a healthy source of protein for dogs. But can fish eat fish sticks?

This article will answer that question, explain the potential hazards of feeding fish sticks to your dog, and provide an alternative recipe.

Can Dogs Eat Fish Sticks?

Yes, dogs can eat fish sticks, but they shouldn’t consume them regularly. Many of the store-bought varieties should be avoided because they offer very little nutritional value. They might even pose some health risks due to the excess fat it absorbs from deep-frying and the spices used to flavor them.

The Benefits of Feeding Your Dog Fish

Fish can be a good source of protein, especially for dogs that are allergic to common dog food ingredients like beef and chicken.

Additionally, many fish species are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential in maintaining a healthy coat, reducing the risk of arthritis and other inflammatory conditions, and a host of other critical bodily functions.

Potential Hazards of Giving Your Dog Fish Sticks

The problem with store-bought fish sticks is that they’re usually made of white fish species, which offer very little nutritional value compared to fatty fish like salmon and mackerel.

Additionally, feeding your dog fish sticks brings up these health concerns:

Excess Fat

Frozen fish sticks are usually battered and deep-fried. That makes it absorb cooking oil in amounts that could be harmful to your dog.

Consuming excessive amounts of fat in one sitting can lead to indigestion, pancreatitis, painful bloating. Also, a high-fat diet fat can lead to obesity and chronic inflammation.

Salt & Spices

Depending on the brand you get, store-bought fish sticks are usually made with flavoring agents. That might include garlic and onion powder, which are toxic to dogs.

Additionally, frozen fish sticks are typically high in sodium because they’re seasoned with salt for flavor and contain baking soda for crispness.

Dog Treat Alternatives for Fish Sticks

The best way to safely add fish sticks to your dog’s regular diet is to keep them away from the frozen or commercial variety and make them yourself.  You can avoid excess fat by baking them in the oven and then skipping the salt and spices altogether.

Alternatively, you can make your own homemade dog treats using fish. Here’s an excellent, easy-to-make recipe that your dog will love:

Homemade Salmon Dog Treats Recipe

This DIY salmon dog treat is incredibly simple, and you can make them into tiny portions to use as training treats or larger pieces as special rewards. Either way, these are better alternatives to frozen fish sticks.

Ingredients:

• 1 can Pink Salmon (14.75 oz.)
• 1 cups All Purpose Flour
• 2 eggs

Procedure:

• Pour all the contents of your pink salmon can into a nice sized bowl, water and all. Do not drain!

• Crack two eggs into the salmon and fold the mixture until the eggs are combined into the fish, which should break down into flakes.

• Add the flour and mix to create the dough.

• Put the dough onto a lightly oiled baking sheet.

• Press it down or roll it out with a rolling pin until it is approximately 1/4-inch in thickness. Put a little flour on the dough as well to prevent it from stick to the pin.

• Use a knife to score a grid pattern onto the flattened dough, so it’s easier to break into smaller pieces later on.

• Bake in an oven pre-heated to 350°F for 35 minutes.

• Remove the tray from the oven, remove the salmon sheet, and place it on a cooling rack.

• Allow it to cool completely before breaking it into smaller pieces and storing in an sealed container.

Notes:

• Check the label to make sure your pink salmon doesn’t have any potentially harmful extenders and preservatives.

• You can tweak the baking time based on whether your dog prefers softer or crunchier treats.

Final Thoughts

Store-bought frozen fish sticks are not toxic to dogs but are not healthy additions to their regular diet, either.  Although your pup will be fine sampling a piece or two occasionally, there are much better dog treats and alternatives you can give to reward good behavior or simply to spoil them with.