Can dogs eat Sardine?
Sardine（いわし）
Safe to feed
An oily fish with solid amounts of DHA, EPA, and vitamin D.
Safe to feed
Used bones and all, so you get calcium on top of DHA and EPA.
156 kcal per 100 g
What kind of food is this?
One of the oily fish. Per 100g: 870mg DHA and 780mg EPA — the EPA is far above the average of the seafood listed here.
Vitamin D is also high at 32µg, near the top of the seafood list. Vitamin D is known for its role in calcium absorption.
When feeding it raw, the thing to watch is Anisakis parasites. Sardines are among the fish named in Japan's national advisories as prone to carrying Anisakis.
Sardine used whole, with head and bones. With the bones included, calcium and phosphorus are higher than the flesh alone. The bone ratio varies with the size of the fish.
DHA is 870mg, EPA 780mg, and vitamin D 32µg. Even with the bones, its character as an oily fish is unchanged.
When feeding it raw, the thing to watch is Anisakis parasites. Sardines are among the fish named in Japan's national advisories as prone to carrying Anisakis.
How to serve
In red-fleshed fish, histamine can build up when the fish is left at room temperature. Once histamine forms, it is not destroyed by cooking. After buying, do not leave it at room temperature — refrigerate or freeze it right away and use it while it is fresh.
When you have these care goals
Skin & coat care — An oily fish containing EPA and DHA. One of the ingredients that comes up when thinking about skin and coat care.
Joint & mobility care — Along with EPA and DHA, it also contains vitamin D. It can also be a candidate when thinking about mobility in senior dogs.
Nutrition
Sardine (per 100 g, boneless)
Japan's Standard Tables of Food Composition (8th ed.)
| Energy | 156 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 19.2 g |
| Fat | 9.2 g |
| Carbohydrate | 0.2 g |
| Calcium | 74 mg |
| Phosphorus | 230 mg |
See more
| Fiber | 0 g |
|---|---|
| Moisture | 68.9 g |
| Sodium | 81 mg |
| Potassium | 270 mg |
| Magnesium | 30 mg |
| Iron | 2.1 mg |
| Zinc | 1.6 mg |
| Copper | 0.2 mg |
| Iodine | 24 µg |
| Selenium | 48 µg |
| Manganese | 0.04 mg |
| Vitamin A | 8 µg |
| Vitamin D | 32 µg |
| Vitamin E | 2.5 mg |
| Vitamin B1 | 0.03 mg |
| Vitamin B12 | 16 µg |
| Vitamin C | 0 mg |
| EPA | 780 mg |
| DHA | 870 mg |
| Alpha-linolenic acid | 59 mg |
This food is not listed in the public composition tables (Japan 8th ed. / USDA), so these notes do not show nutrition values for it.
In food-energetics terms
In food energetics this is classified as "warm." It is considered gently warming, so it is often chosen in cold weather.
(Food energetics is a long-standing idea of supporting the body through everyday meals. Treat it as one extra hint alongside the nutrition numbers.)
How much for your dog?
Get daily estimates from weight and activity level.