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Seafood, including different fish varieties like tilapia, is widely marketed for its high nutritional profile. These foods particularly abound in proteins and omega-3 fatty acids which are vital for healthy skin development.
The fact that seafood primarily constitutes white meat makes it all the more recommended for humans and carnivorous pets alike. And that precisely explains why tilapia is a healthy treat for cats and dogs.
So, if you’ve always wondered whether dogs can eat tilapia, the answer is a resounding ‘yes.’ In fact, tilapia is a common ingredient in commercial dog foods. That only proves how essential the food is for your canine friend.
This article will serve as a definitive guide to tilapia for dogs.
Health and Nutritional Benefits of Tilapia for Dogs
The primary benefit of tilapia for dogs is that the fish is high in protein. As with all animals, dogs require protein in their diets probably more than any other nutrient. Protein serves as the foundation for the development of muscles, bones, cartilage, tissues, and organs. Tilapia is particularly high in collagen. Collagen is a type of protein that can be useful in maintaining stronger bones and healthier skin in senior dogs.
Tilapia is also an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids can play an instrumental role in maintaining your dog’s skin, coat, and fur. The acids also contain anti-inflammatory properties and might protect your pooch from inflammatory conditions, such as cancer, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and arthritis.
Along with omega-3 fatty acids, tilapia also boasts decent amounts of omega-6 fatty acids. Omega-6 fatty acids are widely involved in brain function. The compounds can also aid your dog’s normal growth and development by stimulating skin and fur growth, regulating metabolism, maintaining bone health, and boosting the animal’s reproductive system.
The following are other important minerals in tilapia, along with their potential benefits for dogs;
1. Vitamin B3/Niacin
Niacin is one of the most useful B-complex vitamins. The vitamin can help lower your dog’s cholesterol levels, improve his blood pressure, and boost his brain function.
Niacin may also make certain chronic diseases like arthritis and type 1 diabetes more tolerable. Besides, it can work synergistically with the omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids in tilapia to improve your dog’s skin and fur.
2. Vitamin B9/Folate
Folate is involved in the formation of red blood cells. Your dog requires healthy blood cells to transport oxygenated blood and essential minerals to various body parts.
Folate also supports the immune system. The vitamin is especially important for dogs with suppressed immunity, including sick dogs as well as expecting and nursing dogs.
3. Vitamin B12
Another powerful B-complex vitamin in tilapia, Vitamin B12 can be useful in promoting the health of your dog’s blood and nerve cells. The vitamin is also involved in DNA synthesis, which is another reason to add tilapia to the diet of a pregnant dog.
Vitamin B12 also contains some anti-inflammatory properties. It’s especially important in preventing megaloblastic anemia, a life-threatening condition that manifests in chronic fatigue.
4. Vitamin D
Vitamin D is required for healthy never function and muscle development. The vitamin also regulates the absorption of calcium and phosphorous, ensuring that these minerals are neither deficient nor oversaturated in your dog’s body.
5. Phosphorus
Phosphorus helps in the formation of bones and teeth. If you’re worried that your dog’s bones are becoming too brittle, you should consider supplementing his diet with phosphorus-rich foods like tilapia.
Phosphorus also aids the absorption of fats and carbohydrates. Plus, it plays an instrumental role in protein synthesis.
6. Potassium
Your dog needs potassium for normal cell functioning. The mineral regulates heartbeat while enhancing the proper functioning of muscles and cells.
And like phosphorus, potassium is also involved in protein synthesis and carbohydrate metabolism.
7. Selenium
Selenium is best known for its antioxidant properties. Consuming foods high in this mineral, such as tilapia, can protect your dog from various chronic diseases like cancer and heart disease.
Selenium also helps in aiding neurogenesis. That makes it essential in combating mental decline in dogs.
Inherent Risks of Tilapia for Dogs
Despite tilapia’s numerous health benefits for dogs, the fish also comes with some inherent risks.
Bones are probably the biggest problem with tilapia for dogs. While dogs can safely chew through cow and sheep bone, we cannot say the same for fish bone.
Tilapia bones are dangerously brittle. The bones can easily become lodged in your dog’s teeth and cause discomfort. They could also get stuck in the animal’s throat and choke him. Worse yet, tilapia bones might get lodged in your dog’s gastrointestinal tract and cause severe gastrointestinal blockage or internal hemorrhage.
Besides causing your dog excruciating pain and even risking his life, the surgical procedures involved in removing stuck tilapia bones from your dog’s body are usually expensive.
Below are other inherent risks of tilapia for dogs;
a) Parasites
Parasites are usually a problem with raw tilapia. However, contamination can also affect cooked fish depending on how carelessly it’s handled.
As with all seafood, uncooked tilapia can harbor many parasites. Common ones include salmonella, listeria, and antiskid nematodes.
Ingesting any of these microorganisms could lead to gastrointestinal complications like vomiting and diarrhea, in addition to predisposing your dog to intestinal worms. Worse yet, your dog could transmit these pesky parasites to other pets and family members, causing even greater medical problems.
b) Mercury
Mercury is another serious concern with seafood like tilapia. The mineral is associated with extensive damage to vital organs, including the kidneys, liver, and nervous system.
The mercury content in tilapia depends primarily on the nature of the foods the fish consumed. Using excess antibiotics and pesticides has also been cited as a major risk factor.
c) Unhealthy Omega-3: Omega-6 Ratio
We’ve already outlined some of the core benefits of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids for dogs. Unfortunately, tilapia tends to contain more omega-6 than omega-3 fatty acids.
Some research indicates that consuming more omega-6 than omega-3 fatty acids could be more harmful than useful. Nutritionists recommend always going for a higher ratio of omega-3 and omega-6 or keeping the ratio as close to 1:1 as possible.
What Is The Best Way To Prepare Tilapia For Dogs?
The safest way to prepare tilapia for dogs is to start by deboning the fish. This helps to minimize the risks associated with swallowing sharp bones, including choking, obstruction, and internal hemorrhage.
After deboning the fish, be sure to cook it. Cooking destroys any pathogens, mercury, and harmful chemicals that the fish could be harboring.
However, it’s recommended to consider safe cooking methods. The best way to cook tilapia for your dog is to steam or boil the fish in plain water. Avoid using excessive oils, seasonings, and spices as these can cause severe digestive issues.
Lastly, slice a few portions of the cooked fish and mix it with commercial dog food before serving it to your pooch.
Conclusion
Tilapia is one of the most nutritionally beneficial foods you can ever feed to your dog, provided that it’s safely prepared and carefully served. The fish is also yummy, digestible, and easy to integrate into your dog’s diet.
So, the next time tilapia comes up on the menu, feel free to share this delicious seafood you’re your canine housemate.