Can Dogs Eat Haddock? Vet-Approved Nutritional Facts & FAQ

Many dog owners today are looking for healthier food options for their pets, including fish. Most fish are high in protein and other nutrients and can be an excellent addition to a dog’s diet when properly prepared and fed in appropriate amounts. One question you might have is whether haddock, a fast-growing saltwater fish species, is a healthy fish to feed your dog.

Yes, haddock can be a healthy option. Haddock is loaded with protein as well as omega-3 fatty acids and several other nutrients beneficial for your dog. If you’re searching for more facts about haddock and how to feed it to your precious canine, keep reading.

What Are the Health Benefits of Haddock for Your Dog?

Like many fish, haddock has a wide range of beneficial nutrients for dogs. That’s one of the main reasons haddock is used in many commercially-made dog foods. Some of the health benefits of feeding haddock to your dog include the following:

1. Haddock Is High in Protein

Protein is an essential nutrient, and haddock has plenty. Protein helps build and maintain strong muscles and other body tissues and is essential for repairing your dog’s tissues after normal activity or injury.

2. Haddock Has Several Vitamins

Dogs need many vitamins to stay healthy and strong, and haddock contains several nutrients, including vitamins B6 and B12, which play important roles in metabolism and normal nervous system function. Haddock also has selenium and phosphorus, which support normal cellular function and bone health and help protect cells from oxidative damage that can lead to various health issues.

3. Haddock Contains High Levels of Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Omega-3 fatty acids support normal brain and nervous system function. They also help maintain healthy skin and coat, and play a role in controlling inflammation in the body.

Does Eating Haddock Have Risks for Your Dog?

One of the reasons haddock is a good choice of fish for your dog is that, compared to many other species, it generally contains relatively low levels of mercury, which reduces the risk of certain heavy metal exposures when fed occasionally and in appropriate amounts. The few potential health risks of Haddock include the following:

Does Haddock Contain High Levels of Mercury?

Many pet owners today are worried about the increasingly high levels of mercury in seafood and are avoiding species like Bigeye Tuna and Swordfish. The good news is that, compared with many large predatory fish, haddock generally contains relatively low levels of mercury. That makes haddock one of the safer fish species to feed your dog.

How Should You Serve Haddock to Your Dog?

Preparing haddock for your dog isn’t difficult, but there are several guidelines you should follow to reduce any health risks associated with feeding fish to your dog. For example, haddock should never be given to your dog raw due to the risk of bacteria and parasites. Also, when preparing haddock for your pup, it should be thoroughly deboned to remove the risk of choking or digestive tract injuries caused by fish bones.

There is no need to add butter, salt, or spices when cooking haddock for your dog. Broiled, steamed, baked, or grilled without added oils or seasonings are appropriate cooking methods, and be sure the fish is thoroughly cooked and then cooled before feeding it to your dog.

How Often Can Your Dog Eat Haddock?

Although haddock is healthy for dogs, feeding it to your dog every day isn’t recommended. That’s especially true if your dog already eats a well-balanced diet. When feeding any fish to your dog, including haddock, follow the 90/10 rule.  That means 90% of your dog’s diet should be complete and balanced dog food, and no more than 10%should consist of snacks and treats, haddock included. The head, tail, fins, and scales of haddock should not be fed to your dog due to their risk of choking and digestive tract injuries.

If you are feeding haddock as part of a limited-ingredient or elimination diet, or one for dietary sensitivities, be sure to talk to your vet about providing other foods or supplements to meet all the nutrient requirements your dog needs.

Can Puppies and Pregnant Dogs Eat Haddock?

When prepared following veterinarian-recommended guidelines, small amounts of cooked haddock may be offered to puppies and pregnant dogs. Before feeding anything new, including fish, check with your veterinarian first.

Final Thoughts

Haddock can be a healthy addition to your dog’s diet,  but unless your canine companion has a specific health issue that requires a veterinary-prescribed diet containing fish, haddock should be given to them in moderation, following the 90/10 rule.

Haddock generally contains relatively low levels of mercury but high in protein, B vitamins, and minerals such as selenium and phosphorus. Before feeding it to your furry friend, it should be thoroughly deboned, cooked, plain, and chopped into pieces. If you wish to serve haddock to your dog more often and in larger portions, contact your veterinarian for advice. Most dogs do not need cooked fish added to their diets if they already eat a complete and balanced high-quality dog food.

• See also: Can Dogs Eat Hamburgers? Vet Reviewed Risks & FAQ

Featured Photo Credit: BBA Photography