Seafood

A source of high-quality protein and omega-3 fatty acids (EPA/DHA) with good palatability, useful for short-term protein support (follow veterinary advice on amounts).

High in protein and low in fat, with selenium and vitamin B12, and well accepted as a small training reward or topper.

Tuna is good protein, but oil-packed, brine-packed and salad-style cans are heavy in oil and salt; fish cannot be a long-term main food because it unbalances the diet, and mercury builds up in large fish.

An easy-to-digest white fish with very low fat, useful as an occasional light extra; any bland diet during recovery from gut upset should be planned with your vet.

Most tins are oil-packed or in brine, so sardines are high in salt and fat; regular feeding strains the heart and kidneys and can trigger pancreatitis, and fish cannot be a long-term main food because the diet becomes unbalanced.

Raw or undercooked shellfish can carry Vibrio, Salmonella and other pathogens and may concentrate environmental toxins, while canned and ready-seasoned clams are very salty; too much sodium causes thirst, vomiting and even sodium toxicity.

Raw or undercooked oysters can carry Vibrio, norovirus and other pathogens and concentrate heavy metals from the water, a food-safety risk for pets as for people; grilled oysters with garlic or soy also bring a heavy salt load.

Raw or undercooked scallops can carry Vibrio, norovirus and other pathogens and concentrate algal biotoxins, a risk for pets as for people, and self-harvested shellfish are even less predictable; garlic butter or noodle cooking adds salt, oil and Allium risks.

Raw mussels can carry Vibrio and concentrate biotoxins made by algae, such as paralytic shellfish toxins, which poison people and pets alike, so never feed self-harvested shellfish; wine or garlic cooking also adds salt and Allium risks.

An easy-to-digest white fish protein with very low fat, useful as an occasional light extra; any bland diet during recovery from gut upset should be planned with your vet.

An easy-to-digest white fish protein with very low fat, useful as an occasional light extra; plan any recovery diet during gut upset with your vet.

A high-quality protein most dogs accept readily and useful as an occasional extra; mackerel is an oily fish, however, so it carries far more calories than white fish.

**Always cook crab through and remove all shell, gills and gut**: shell fragments can injure or block the gut, and raw crab carries bacteria and parasites. Crab meat is also a common allergen, and dressed dishes add alcohol, salt and oil.

A mild white-fish protein that is easy to digest and very low in fat, useful as an occasional light extra; plan any recovery diet during gut upset with your vet.

Flounder is a lean white fish, low in fat and easy to digest, so it works as an occasional light extra; plan any recovery diet during gut upset with your vet.

**Squid is extremely chewy, so a whole piece can choke or block the oesophagus**, a common foreign-body emergency; it must be cut very small, and raw squid carries parasites and bacteria while cephalopods are a common allergen.

**Octopus is extremely chewy, so a whole piece easily chokes or blocks the oesophagus**, and it must be cut very small; raw octopus carries parasites and bacteria, and cephalopods are a common allergen.

**Raw herring can carry parasites and bacteria, so always cook it through**; **salted, pickled and smoked herring are extremely salty**, and too much salt brings thirst, vomiting and even neurological signs, while this oily fish can trigger pancreatitis.

**Nearly all anchovies sold are salted, oil-packed or canned and are far too salty for pets**; **raw anchovies carry parasites and bacteria** and must be cooked through, and fish is a common allergen.

**Hard shell and claw fragments can cut or block the gut** and cause foreign-body emergencies; raw crustaceans carry bacteria and parasites so lobster must be cooked through, and it is a common allergen, while butter or cheese versions add fat and alliums.

**Kelp is very high in iodine**, so a small serving can exceed a dog's needs; long-term or large amounts disturb thyroid function, and dogs with thyroid disease should avoid it. **Salted kelp strips, kelp soup and kelp sprout snacks** add a salt load too.

**Laver (nori) is also very high in iodine**, so a small amount can exceed a dog's needs, and long-term or large servings disturb thyroid function, especially in dogs already treated for a thyroid condition; **seasoned nori snacks bring salt, sugar and oil**.