Can dogs eat anchovies? Maybe you’ve wondered if you could share some with your dog after opening a can of anchovies to add the little fishes to a pizza or with the intention of whipping up a Caesar salad dressing. If humans can eat anchovies, can dogs safely eat them too?
The answer is yes, dogs can eat anchovies safely. Anchovies are actually considered to be kind of an unheralded superfood and are especially high in beneficial Omega 3 fatty acids.
Just remember that a lot of store-bought anchovies might come packed in a lot of salt, so always closely read the label of any cans or jars of anchovies before feeding them to your dog.
As always, you must ask your regular vet before sharing any human food with your canine friend. Here’s what you need to know about anchovies and dogs.
How Are Anchovies Good For Dogs?
Anchovies are small fish that pack big nutritional benefits. They’re very high in beneficial Omega 3 fatty acids, which can be helpful for your dog’s skin and joint health along with having anti-inflammatory properties.
Anchovies can also help to improve your dog’s heart health.
How Can I Safely Give Anchovies To My Dog?
The biggest issue to be aware of when deciding to feed anchovies to your dog is the potentially high sodium content of the food. This is usually due to the way that commercial anchovies come packed in salt.
So make sure to read the label before feeding any anchovies to your dog, and it’s safe practice to quickly rinse any anchovies first to lower the sodium level of any serving.
When it comes to the amount of anchovies you can safely feed to your dog, vets widely recommended that small dogs stick to around two or three anchovies per day and larger dogs limit their anchovy content to five fish a day.
In general, anchovies can be a great nutritional option for your dog, but always speak to your vet first to figure out exactly how many your dog can safely consume.
Does your dog show an appetite for anchovies? How many do you feed to your dog at once? Tell us all about it in the comments section below!
