Can dogs eat ahi tuna?
In this short blog, we will discuss the question “can dogs eat ahi tuna?”. In this post we will also talk about the problems of using ahi tuna for dog food, in addition to the conditions that this type of food should be offered to dogs.
Can dogs eat ahi tuna?
It is not recommended to feed tuna to dogs. So, dogs cannot eat this food if there is no indication from the veterinarian. Tuna is a common food in the diet of humans, in oriental food dishes it can be used to make sushi and sashimi. This type of tuna should not be offered to dogs.
Ahi tuna is a type of fish caught in salt water. Ahi tuna is commonly present in the pacific regions mainly in warm water regions. This kind of tuna is sold fresh. And that’s when some owners buy the fish to feed the dog.
Tuna should not be fed to dogs due to the excess of mercury in their meat which can bring some harm to the dog’s health. When feeding on excess mercury, the dog can become intoxicated, and when not treated properly it can lead to the animal’s death.
Main signs of dog’s mercury poisoning:
- Fur loss
- Anxiety
- Blindness
- Kidney damage
- Loss of coordination
- Tremors
- Vomiting blood
- Bloody diarrhea.
If any of these symptoms are identified after tuna ingestion by the gos, the veterinarian should be consulted urgently. This is the only way dogs can be clinically observed and treated appropriately.
Is it possible to supply tuna to the dog’s diet?
Yes, tuna can be supplied and added to the dog’s diet. However, before adding or removing any food from the dog’s diet, a veterinarian should be consulted. It will be through veterinary care that he will assess the animal’s caloric need and with that a specific diet will be prescribed for the dogs.
Tuna is rich in Vitamins D, B6, B12. Phosphorus, Selenium, Potassium that are important for the correct functioning of the dog’s body. However, many veterinarians may prefer to add these nutrients with other foods to avoid the possibility of poisoning the dogs.
Only in some rare cases may the veterinarian decide to add tuna to the dog’s diet. And in these cases, the tuna must be cooked in water, as fresh tuna contains high concentrations of mercury. In addition, you should not add spices that can also harm the dog’s health.
The vet will prescribe small amounts of tuna to be fed to the dogs every few days a month. The veterinarian’s guidelines must be followed correctly so that there is no risk of intoxication of the dogs.
Can dogs eat canned, industrialized tuna?
Dogs should not be fed industrialized products. The preservatives present in industrialized tuna in the long term can bring harm to the dogs health. In addition, the tuna sold are rich in sodium, fat and seasonings that can bring several harms to the dog’s health.
Can dogs eat sushi or tuna sashimi?
Dogs cannot eat either sushi or tuna sashimi. Raw fish can be a source of contamination and can lead to diseases such as Salmonellosis, coccidiosis and others. Therefore, when it is necessary to add tuna to the dog’s diet, the tuna meat must be thermally processed.
On some occasions where the animal must eat raw fish, it is recommended to freeze the fish for at least seven days in a freezer at an average temperature of -8°C before feeding it to the dog. In order to eliminate all microorganisms that can cause diseases in dogs.
After the dog has eaten the fish, any food left over after 20 minutes needs to be discarded. That’s why the recommendation is always to seek a veterinary doctor for better guidance on how to provide this type of food to dogs.
What other treats can dogs be offered instead of tuna?
In place of tuna, several other natural snacks can bring numerous health benefits to dogs. Among the snacks we can talk about meat, fruits, and vegetables. In addition, on the internet you can find recipes for snacks made from tuna mixed with crushed industrialized dog food. However, these foods are fed to dogs after being baked in an oven.
Several snacks can be made of meat, dogs are omnivorous animals and love the taste of meat, be it chicken, beef, lamb and even fish. In general, these meats can be added to the dogs diet and, before being fed to the animals, they must undergo thermal processing to eliminate microorganisms that can harm the health of dogs.
As for fruits and vegetables, there are a variety of foods that can be provided as a snack to dogs. Care must be taken with the amounts and the type of food, since among the fruits and vegetables there are several foods that can be toxic and can even bring harm to the dog’s health.
Other FAQs about Tuna that you may be interested in.
Can you eat tuna with gallstones?
Can you eat tuna with high cholesterol?
Can you eat tuna with gastritis?
Conclusion
In this short blog, we discussed the question “can dogs eat ahi tuna?”. In this post we also talked about the problems of using ahi tuna for dog food, in addition to the conditions that this type of food should be offered to dogs.
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