Can Dogs Eat Canned Salmon Bones, Skin, or Fish?

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We will answer the question “Can dogs eat canned salmon bones, skin, or fish?” Salmon patties are delicious and nutritious. But are there any uses for the scraps that are left after making them?

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2023 Update

Prices on groceries have continued to increase in recent years but canned salmon is still an affordable option for getting high-quality seafood into your diet.

If you’re having a hard time finding fresh salmon at your local grocery store, I found an affordable online canned option! Azure Standard offers Rubinstein’s Fancy Wild Alaska Pink Salmon in the large cans for a good price. And when you buy in bulk to get 12 cans, the price is much cheaper per can!

Rubinstein’s Pink Salmon is produced here in the United States and is packed from a sustainable catch of Wild Alaska salmon. With no artificial ingredients or preservatives added, the entire contents of their package are completely edible, including the liquid, skin, and bones, which provide valuable nutrients. Each serving contains 1,000 mg of Omega-3!

Don’t forget to use the discount codes on my shop page!

What are the health benefits of salmon?

Salmon is full of essential nutrients. It’s a great source of omega-3 fatty acids, essential vitamins, amino acids, healthy fats, and minerals that our bodies need. It has a high nutritional value and is a great source of protein. Scientists tell us that we need omega-3 fatty acids for proper brain health. 

These healthy salmon patties help support so much more than just our brain, though! They’re good for our immune system, heart, thyroid, reproductive health, and they even help with the production of red blood cells. 

The American Heart Association released new research on the beneficial effects of seafood in preventing not just heart disease, but stroke, heart failure, sudden cardiac death and congestive heart failure.

Eating at least one serving each week may be better for cardiovascular health than eating no fish. Especially if it replaces foods high in saturated fat, salt and added sugar.

Salmon also contains large amounts of vitamins that help regulate our central nervous system! 

When I prepare meals for my family, I strive to make the meals nutrient dense. It feels good to know that I’m giving them food that will support healthy bodies.

How much salmon should I eat?

The American Heart Association recommends eating two 3.5-ounce servings of fish per week because fish is a good choice of brain-enriching omega-3 fatty acids.

Some fish contain high levels of mercury, so be careful what you pick…especially if you’re pregnant or nursing.

Wild and farmed salmon have low levels of mercury. WebMD lists salmon in its top four list of seafood with reduced mercury levels. The others on the list are shrimp, oysters, and scallops.

Fish and shellfish are an important part of a healthy diet. They contain high-quality protein, essential nutrients, are low in saturated fat, and contain omega-3 fatty acids.

A well-balanced diet that includes a variety of fish and shellfish can contribute to heart health and children’s proper growth and development. Women and young children in particular benefit from eating fish.

Seafood doesn’t have to be expensive.

Fresh fish like boneless salmon and other seafood is expensive. But canned salmon is a great, inexpensive way to get fish into our diets.

I like to buy the 14.75 oz cans of wild-caught Alaskan salmon at Aldi (my local grocery store). It’s the best price in my area, so shop around to see where the best deal is in your area!

Here’s a tip. Stock up when the cans go on sale and you can easily feed a large family nutritious seafood for less than $10. Also, check out online stores for bulk discounts on canned salmon. 

Instructions for making healthy salmon patties.

I need two of the 14.75 oz cans of salmon for my family of six and that gives us a little bit of leftovers. You can certainly adjust the recipe if your family is smaller or larger.

I also use oatmeal as the binder but you can use bread crumbs, flour, or even cornmeal if that’s what you have. You’ll also need eggs, Italian seasoning (I make mine in a half-pint jar as follows: 1/4 cup dried oregano, 4 tbsp thyme, 2 tbsp basil, 1 tbsp rosemary, and 1 tbsp sage), garlic powder (or fresh garlic), onion powder (or fresh onion, diced), salt, and pepper.

If you’ve never bought and used canned salmon before, don’t be alarmed if there are bones inside. If you’re unsure, you can check the outside of the can and it will indicate if there are bones.

I remember the first time I made salmon patties for my family. Canned salmon was not on the menu when I was a kid. I was shocked when I found bones inside and I threw away both cans thinking that there was a serious quality control problem at the factory!

Now I know better and it is very simple to remove the bones. All it takes is to gently open the salmon meat and the bones will generally be altogether so you can remove them.

Remove the larger bones if you can but if any bones are left behind, they will break up very easily and you’ll never notice them when you go to eat the patties. Fish bones basically soften into nothing when you pinch them with your fingers.

Now back to the recipe.

After the larger bones are removed, add in the eggs, oatmeal, spices, and herbs.

I like to use two forks to mix all the ingredients together because it’ll keep the patties light and fluffy.

Heat up the coconut oil in a skillet set over medium heat.

I have some expensive heirloom-quality cast iron skillets but I prefer to use my Lodge skillet for everything.

Shape the patties to the size you prefer and fry them in the coconut oil for about 4-5 minutes on each side until they are nice and brown. Then serve it up to your hungry family and enjoy knowing that it’s just as healthy as it is delicious!

Suggestions for Quick Side Dishes

These salmon patties taste great alongside roasted or sauteed vegetables. They also go great with rice, green beans, anything made from white or sweet potatoes, steamed broccoli or cauliflower, or any kind of salad.

I have a recipe for easy and cheesy zucchini casserole that makes a great side dish, too!

Can dogs eat canned salmon bones, skin, and fish?

Can dogs eat canned salmon bones, skin, and fish? The short answer is yes! But there are other variables to consider like your dog’s body size and age.

If you have leftover salmon skin, a small piece of smoked salmon, and small amounts of tiny bones, can you give it to the dogs?

Dog owners love to spoil their furry friend. We know that different types of fish are healthy for humans but it’s also a good idea to include some into your dog’s diet when you’re able.

High-quality dog foods are expensive compared to cheaper commercial dog foods. When we have leftovers and scraps, I love to give our dogs salmon as an occasional treat.

You should consider your dog’s body size and age before letting them eat lots of small bones, though. Bones could be a choking hazard and lead to health problems for older dogs and smaller dogs. But the good news is that fish have soft bones and dogs can generally eat them without much issue.

Oily fish may also lead to digestive issues. Portion control is key, so only give small portions of fatty fish to your pet. Otherwise they may develop an upset stomach.

But can dogs eat canned salmon bones? Salmon is a great addition to your dog’s diet and the bones are full of calcium.

First, give your dog salmon because it’s an excellent source of protein. Because of the other nutrients in fish, you’ll also notice that your dogs will develop healthy skin, better cognitive function, and your dog’s coat will be shiny and healthy! 

Raw salmon and undercooked salmon should never be consumed because of the harmful bacteria that it can have.

Consuming uncooked salmon can lead to health issues like salmon poisoning disease (SPD) if the fish harbor the neorickettsia helminthoeca parasite. Canned salmon is fine, though, because the raw fish gets cooked during the canning process. 

So go ahead and save your scraps the next time you cook salmon, and give the scraps to your dog as a tasty treat! Can dogs eat canned salmon bones? Absolutely!

Recipe for Healthy Salmon Patties

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Lodge Cast Iron Skillet with Red Silicone Hot Handle Holder, 12-inch

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