You’re cooking salmon and want to share a bite.
Give your dog only a little plain, thoroughly cooked salmon with every bone removed.
Cooked, plain, and boneless salmon can be an occasional treat. Never serve it raw.
Raw salmon can carry flukes infected with the bacterium that causes salmon poisoning disease.
Raw salmon is a real danger
Illness can be delayed, so call your vet about raw-fish exposure rather than waiting for signs.
The fluke is Nanophyetus salmincola; the bacterium is Neorickettsia helminthoeca.
Cook salmon thoroughly before serving it.
How to prepare salmon for dogs
Bake, poach, or steam it plain, with no seasonings. Then take out every bone.
Pin bones are small and plentiful, so run your fingers along the flesh and pull them out with tweezers.
It takes patience, and it's worth it.
A bone lodged in your dog's throat or GI tract is a veterinary emergency.
Offer a small amount as an occasional treat.
The amount depends on your dog’s diet, size, and health.
Let the salmon cool and flake it before serving.
It's easier to chew and easier to measure, and your dog will not complain about the extra step.
Why cooked salmon is worth sharing
Salmon supplies protein and the marine omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA.
These nutrients are part of a wider diet, rather than a reason to give large fish portions.
Salmon and your dog's gut
Keep portions modest, because a rich meal can upset a sensitive stomach.
Watch for stool changes after any new food.
Where supplements fit
A daily gut supplement may complement food.
Safe cooking, bone removal, and suitable portions remain essential.
Our dog food safety guide explains which everyday foods are safe for dogs and which to keep off the plate.
Frequently asked questions
Can dogs eat smoked salmon?
Choose fully cooked, plain salmon.
Cold smoking does not make raw fish equivalent to fully cooked fish.
How soon do symptoms show up after a dog eats raw salmon?
Signs may appear within a week to a month after eating infected fish, so don't wait for symptoms after a suspected raw-fish exposure.
How much cooked salmon can my dog have?
Offer a small amount occasionally within the planned treat allowance.
Appropriate portions depend on the individual diet.
Can puppies eat raw salmon?
No.
Offer only fully cooked, plain, boneless fish in a portion appropriate for the puppy’s diet.
