Fish sticks are such a treat for fish lovers! The texture of the crunchy outer crumb coating wrapping the delicate white fish is a snack everyone likes. It is pretty rare to find a person who dislikes fish sticks apart from vegetarians and vegans!
So the question is if fish sticks taste so incredible to us, why is it a surprise to see your dog drool at the sight of fish sticks? Of course, it would help if you felt unsure whether to feed your friend fish sticks, and most of you will probably sulk in guilt for depriving your pet of what they want.
Well, can dogs eat fish sticks? There’s no need to worry! You can sit back and relax, maybe munch on fish sticks with your dog because it is alright to give them fish sticks! But before you jump up and down in joy, don’t run along to satisfy your dog’s cravings just yet! Before you reach to fry some fish sticks, let’s cover the dos and don’ts of feeding fish sticks to our canine buddies first.
Can Dogs Eat Fish Sticks?
Yes! They can. Fishes are a great form of nutrition containing omega-3 fatty acids that will help and improve your dog’s health in terms of skin, fur quality, and bones. Feeding your dog fish can reduce their chance of arthritis, and stiff and aching joints, and prevent inflammatory diseases! This can reduce trips to your local vet! Fish is also an excellent alternative for dogs allergic to meat or chicken.
How Often Should I Feed My Dog Fish Sticks?
Not often at all. Even though fish sticks are not toxic or harmful to dogs, they do not contain the nutrition our canine friends need to be healthy, happy, and active! Making fish sticks a part of your pet’s diet will cause health problems because the ingredients used to create and process fish sticks contain high amounts of fat, herbs, and kitchen spices which can be lethal for your dog. The number of fish sticks you serve to your pet must be moderate, even better if given as treats.
Can I Add Fish Sticks To My Dog’s Diet?
Fish sticks are mostly made out of processed white fish, lacking nutritional value. Examples of white fishes are cod, hake, haddock, or Pollock. These fish are then coated in batters or breaded with kitchen ingredients such as flour, herbs, spices, and more. Fish sticks are commonly prepared by deep or shallow frying, grilling, or baking. All these methods contain the use of kitchen ingredients and a good amount of oil to fry, grill, or bake, none of which are suitable for your pet’s health.
Types Of Fish Sticks To Avoid!
Avoid fish sticks that come in breading as it contains ingredients that can be toxic for your pets. Frozen fish sticks, which are usually battered or fried, are also ones to be aware of because of their excessive fat. Regular consumption of such fat by dogs will increase the chances of obesity, indigestion, chronic inflammation, pancreatitis, and painful bloating.
To make fish sticks taste delicious, herbs and spices such as onion powder or garlic flavoring are commonly used. These two flavorings are a strict NO for your dogs as they are highly toxic and can cause diarrhea, stomach poisoning, and vomiting.
Fish sticks that come in bread contain a high amount of salt and preservatives, which can be unhealthy for a dog. A high amount of salt can dehydrate your pet or cause salt poisoning. Salt may look innocent but can be quite deathly for your pet if its level is not monitored.
The salt found in typical dog food is enough for your dog’s health. However, extra intake of it from other food, such as fish sticks or other dog treats, may cause severe problems to your pet and, in some extreme cases, even death.
The oil used to cook the fish sticks will make your pet feel sick and inactive and even cause skin problems such as shedding of fur and skin diseases.
All of these are causes as to why fish sticks are not suitable for dogs regularly. So if you plan to share your fish sticks with your drooling pet, make sure to check the ingredients list first!
Dog-Friendly Fish Sticks!
Fish sticks you cook at home are safe to feed your dog. Since you are solely responsible for providing your pet without any worry, you can be at ease about feeding fish sticks just as long as the fish sticks aren’t seasoned and layered with onion and garlic powder, salt, or other preservatives.
It is also essential to determine how the fish will be cooked to be safe for your canine friend’s health. Therefore you must avoid cooking in oil, especially deep or shallow frying. Instead, try poaching or baking by using minimal or no oil.
If you are making fish sticks from scratch, make extra sure to take out all the bones before molding them into stick shapes to prevent your dog from choking.
Fish Treats?
Homemade food always beats the quality of store brought ones! So if you’re bored of fish sticks, make some fish treats at home! Avoid using white fish; instead, you can go for Tuna, Salmon, Flounder, Arctic Char, Hank, Walleye, Mackerel, or even Sardines but at a moderate level.
These fish are packed with helpful nutrition and good proteins! A fun fact about feeding fish high in protein and nutrition improves a dog’s memory and cognitive functions. This will help your dog serve its true purpose as an active, playful mate you wish to have.
You can bake your fish treats with a thin coat of flour and eggs and a pinch of salt. Poaching or boiling can also be a great alternative to avoid unwanted salt and powdered flavors, allowing your pet to receive the absolute best nutrition that it needs!
Canned tunas are also loved by dogs and are a safe form of fish for them to eat. An important thing to remember when buying canned tuna is to check the ingredients and avoid those cans that are layered in oil, which increases fat. Also, never feed your dog raw fish or fish parts like bones as they are tiny pieces and can lead to choking.
If you want to feed fish skin, make extra sure to cook it thoroughly to avoid microparasites entering your dog’s body.
Final Thoughts And Opinions?
The chance for your pet to fall gravely ill from eating fish sticks is minor only when they are fed these as treats or on rare occasions. Fish sticks are an unhealthy choice for a dog’s regular diet for all the reasons mentioned above. Apart from this, a small piece of Fish stick won’t harm your best friend once in a while. Now go and enjoy sharing fish sticks with your pet. After all, sharing food creates a more loving relationship.
