CockersOnline Forum
Cocker Specific Discussion => Feeding => Topic started by: IonaD on November 04, 2020, 01:32:25 PM
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Hi All,
Hope everyone is keeping well?
I have a question on feeding the doggo raw sardines and I was hoping to find out what others might do.
So on a normal day Bella is eating cooked fish, potatoes and veg. I was hoping to add in some raw sardines as a bit of a treat and because I know they can help with skin, bones, fur etc.
I went to the fishmongers today and got two whole sardines. Sardines in a tin are normally tiny but these ones were monsters of about 25-30cm. I have cut them up into 4 pieces and popped them in the freezer to get rid of any parasites...but I’m now questioning giving them to the dog.
Will the bones be too big? Should I have taken the back bone out? Can she eat the head?
When I’ve done some googling it says that dogs can eat the whole lot but I feel like this is referring to the smaller sardines which would have smaller and softer bones.
Can anyone shed any light on this for me and let me know what they do?
Or maybe give me ideas on how I can supplement her meals with other foods/oils to keep her bones etc healthy?
As always...any help or ideas are welcome.
Thank you all in advance!!
Iona & Bella
x
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Hmmmmmmm? I think I‘d be a bit wary as well, not sure how hard/sharp the bones might be on a bigger fish, Humphrey has frozen sprats which he has no problems with but they‘re much smaller. Do you have a food processor or a mincer that you could maybe grind them up with?
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I do indeed have a food processor...Not sure how I feel about sardine pulp although I’m sure Bella will love it!!
I may just bin them and find smaller whole fish.
Does Humphrey have any other supplements with his food that you can recommend?
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I do give him a powder that I buy here (Germany) at the raw food shop although I‘m unsure if he really needs it, his food is pretty balanced but I just give him a spoonful a couple of times a week to be on the safe side. He‘s having a bit of a problems with bones occasionally though, he had a lamb’s rib this week and it made him sick, so I‘m now thinking I might ditch them and start giving him either ground bones or a supplement.
A teaspoon of salmon or other fish oil is also could for skin hair etc, maybe that would be an alternative?
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Yes, they are fine to give. The bones are soft when raw - I would chop them up to begin with and see how you go.
My dogs have both been fed raw and raw fish is fine - you can feed them whole if you dog likes them.
If you are worried, you could use tinned sardines or pilchards. I get the ones either in water or tomato sauce.
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I'm sure you know what's best for pooches but personally I'd have no qualms in giving Jack fresh sardines (but I'd cut those monsters in half). He can swallow a whole raw chicken wing at one go! Dogs have teeth evolved to cope with just about any bone, but If you're worried about bones you can always take out the backbone. I'm just wondering why you'd think you need to kill any parasites. Presumably they'll be fresh and have been kept frozen by your fishmonger.
I give him tinned pilchards twice a week as a treat but as for supplements, look for fish oils high in Omega 3, 6 and 9. There are plenty on the market. Get capsules rather than liquid oil. Less smelly!
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Not sure about raw ones, but I give Dylan a tin every now and then, preferably the ones in water, but if unavailable then I drain the ones in oil. He loves them. Have had no problems with the bones, they are quite gelatinous.
Don't Chuck your frozen sardines, they are very tasty for humans! LOL
Lesley and Dylan
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Another important thing to consider when giving raw fish is thiaminase content. I have given raw fish as a snack, but I would avoid it as part of the main diet due to the risk of thiamine deficiency caused by thiaminase in raw fish.
Just another thing to consider on top of the potential for bones, parasites and bacteria causing problems. And although raw bones are safer than heat-treated, they do still occasionally cause ham to the gastrointestinal tract of dogs.
That said, my cocker has chomped down a few raw mackerel heads and tails in her time. Don't know if it was safe or healthy, but she certainly enjoyed the crunchy snacks :005:
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Fab!! Thank you guys for all the tips. I’ll give her a chunk and see how we get on.
Barry - I read somewhere that freezing the fish for a week before feeding it would kill any parasites? I’m a sucker for what the internet tells me!!
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Fab!! Thank you guys for all the tips. I’ll give her a chunk and see how we get on.
Barry - I read somewhere that freezing the fish for a week before feeding it would kill any parasites? I’m a sucker for what the internet tells me!!
I‘ve read that too, apparently there can indeed be a problem with parasites. Glad you‘ve got your answer though, I can imagine Bella wiping her brow with relief now that COL’s given her the all clear, hope she enjoys her mega sardines!!! :luv:
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Barry - I read somewhere that freezing the fish for a week before feeding it would kill any parasites? I’m a sucker for what the internet tells me!!
You could well be right. I'm assuming that fresh fish is frozen from being caught to being sold so more freezing would be a bit pointless. Still, you could always ask your fishmonger. On the other hand, I could be wrong! I know that's hard to believe, but it has been known...
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Barry - I read somewhere that freezing the fish for a week before feeding it would kill any parasites? I’m a sucker for what the internet tells me!!
You could well be right. I'm assuming that fresh fish is frozen from being caught to being sold so more freezing would be a bit pointless. Still, you could always ask your fishmonger. On the other hand, I could be wrong! I know that's hard to believe, but it has been known...
I thought the whole point of "fresh fish" was that it has not been frozen? At least that's how it works over here. If they sell it as fresh, it's not supposed to have been frozen. But I live by the coast, so could be the definition of "fresh" is different according to availability :005: I have a friend who lives in the middle of the country and she described it as exotic when she heard we have access to fresh fish and shellfish every week :lol2: Of course I think it sounds exotic when she had reindeer and moose for dinner so location is everything.
I heard that thing about parasites too, no clue if it's correct. But I heard you're supposed to freeze fish if you are going to use it for sushi.
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Barry - I read somewhere that freezing the fish for a week before feeding it would kill any parasites? I’m a sucker for what the internet tells me!!
You could well be right. I'm assuming that fresh fish is frozen from being caught to being sold so more freezing would be a bit pointless. Still, you could always ask your fishmonger. On the other hand, I could be wrong! I know that's hard to believe, but it has been known...
Surely not :shades: :005:
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Surely not :shades: :005:
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Yes, it's true. Think it was back n 1976. But I was still a young colt full of raging hormones...
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:lol2: :lol2: :lol2:
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My dad says it's a burden to always be right. I wouldn't know :005:
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My dad says it's a burden to always be right. I wouldn't know :005:
:005: :005: nor me!
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So...I thought I had purchased sardines last week which prompted my original post on here. Turns out it was mackerel :005:
I assume I can still give her raw mackerel and it’s not much difference to raw sardines??
Don’t I feel silly!!
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So...I thought I had purchased sardines last week which prompted my original post on here. Turns out it was mackerel :005:
I assume I can still give her raw mackerel and it’s not much difference to raw sardines??
Don’t I feel silly!!
:005: oh I‘m SO glad its not just me.... :lol:
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It's fish... it's dead... it's frozen... Let the poor dog have it, otherwise you will be reported to the appropriate authorities by said pooch! :lol2: :lol2: :lol2:
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:005:
This weekend is the big weekend where we’ll be presenting this precious fish to Bella. After all this she will probably turn her nose up and walk away from it!!
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You've lost me - is Bella on for sardines or mackeral :005: :005:
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I reckon she deserves a nice fresh salmon after all this palava!! !! :lol2: :lol2:
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Mackerel. I though I got Sardines but realised after asking the question and getting everyone’s response that I had got mackerel.
I was having a moment and clearly hasn’t paid attention!!
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See the fresh frozen has been debated....well just to add OH loves mackerel but hate bones, he rates the Iceland ones as been best filleted bone freeish one.....me I hate them - smell the kitchen out, give me a nice piece of cod anyday.
Hope Bella enjoys
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Looking forward to Bella's review!!
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See the fresh frozen has been debated....well just to add OH loves mackerel but hate bones, he rates the Iceland ones as been best filleted bone freeish one.....me I hate them - smell the kitchen out, give me a nice piece of cod anyday.
Hope Bella enjoys
I like mackerel but can't abide the stink lingering in the house for days. I've got a little camping gaz stove, I cook them outside in the garden, bit chilly in the winter though :005:
Lesley
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I bought a monkfish that hadn’t been skinned. I threw it out when I saw the wiggly things that were living in its fins.
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I thought sardines were herring...definately not mackerel..at least not here in Cornwall.
I give Rosie tinned sardines every so often, she prefers the ones in Tomato sauce,lol... not sure I would give raw mackerel as they are not fussy with what they eat ..ok well cooked but wouldnt give raw .
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Have you looked at Fish4Dogs wet foods, they do Mackerel and Herring complete meals with potato and also Trout Moose, couldn't see any sardines though. Here is the link if anyone is interested. Postage is free, however little you order!(very rare these days :D )
https://www.fish4dogs.com/shop/dog/wet-complete
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When my lot eat fish from the river on a dog walk am sure they will be fine (mine have even eaten a whole squirrel before now) - if they're raw the bones will be soft