Can Dogs Eat Tuna? 3 Toxic Ingredients You Should Know
Can dogs eat tuna?” sounds like a no brainer question with a positive answer until you look more carefully at the canned tuna fish labels in your grocery store and find out that the tuna packed in water has additional ingredients like salt that are not safe to give to your dog and you may think twice about whether you want to add tuna to your dog’s dish.
This article gives you the toxic ingredients in canned tuna so you can find the products that are healthy to give to your dog so you don’t put your dog’s health at risk with human food.
Can Dogs Eat Tuna? 3 Benefits for Your Dog
- Heart health – Your dog gets benefits from omega-3 fatty acids to promote heart health.
- Protein – Your dog can benefit from tuna because it’s a source of lean protein and has minerals like magnesium, phosphorus, potassium and selenium.
- Vitamins – Your dog benefits from vitamins like B6, B12 and D.
Note: Tuna packed in water for your dog is recommended by the ASPCA to avoid added fat.
3 Questionable Ingredients for Your Dog in Canned Tuna
- Sodium – Pyrophosphate used in canned tuna is a synthetic, edible salt used to control the pH amounts in food. Overconsumption of salt may cause your dog to have electrolyte imbalances, elevated phosphorus levels and may also result in osteoporosis.
- Mercury – Tuna has a high amount of mercury which raises the question, “can dogs eat tuna?” Mercury is toxic for dogs because it can cause harm to your dog’s nervous system, kidneys, cardiovascular system and digestive tract.
- Soy – You may want to read your labels on canned tuna more carefully because Dog Health News was surprised to find soy listed as an ingredient. The jury is out on whether soy is good or bad for dogs and humans, so the best advice is to give your dog soy in moderation and check with your vet. Soy is also used in dog food manufacturing as a vegetable source protein at an affordable price so the cost of mass produced dog food can be kept lower.
Bottom Line: Can Dogs Eat Tuna? or Are You Putting Your Dog at Risk?
- Read the label first – After you take the time to read the ingredients on your canned tuna, you may just say no and find a healthier treat for your dog. Between the mercury and salt content as well as the risk that your dog may be allergic to soy, you may take tuna off the list for your dog as a source of protein.
- Moderation – As long as you don’t overdo the portions you give your dog, an occasional sprinkle of low salt canned tuna with a large bowl of water may not be harmful to your dog.
- Ask your vet – Before you take a chance on tuna as a treat for your dog, ask your vet, can dogs eat tuna?
This article gives you an overview of the ingredients in canned tuna so you can make an informed decision about what you give your dog to keep him healthy and not find out too late that your human food resulted in your dog’s health problems.
Share this article with your friends and family so they have the information they need about canned tuna and can make healthy choices for their dog.
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