Fresh Water Fish - Page 1

Greetings,

Does anyone feed their dogs fresh water fish they catch?  I live in Minnesota and was told they can eat fish as long as it's frozen for 2 weeks to kill any potential parasites/worms.  Just curious on anyone's take on this.  I have never done it myself.  Looking at Northern, Bass and panfish...

Thanks!

Well, I would suggest one not read this on a full stomach! Freezing for 48 hrs at 0° F, per some specific nasties would be important if feeding raw. Cooking or smoking takes care of most of  the uglies.

http://www.seagrant.umn.edu/fisheries/parasites#id

According to raw feeders YES they do feed raw fish.  Certain types are better than others and not raw salmon I am told.  As a raw feeder, I do not do it.  Afraid for parasites and small bones puncturing something.  Know people that do feed  sardines and other fish are supposed to be OK;  to be safe I poach for a few minutes (boned only) and use canned salmon.  Guess I'm a whimp but feel better with that. 

If you google Jane Anderson's PWD's she does feed raw fish as well as others.  SOS;  Von Lotta GSD's;    but I suppose if your dog was used to it and  you were comfortable with it I might try it.  However for my guys it like other meats are not so readily available and definitely NOT economical at all therefore I don't do it.  Just my take  Nan

It's not just the parasites you need to worry about, it's all the contamination in the fish too. I live in MN too and  am well aware that you are not supposed to eat a whole lot of fresh caught fish because of contamination. I personally don't eat fish so don't pay a lot of attention to this, so not sure if it's just mercury or something else.

My dogs do eat canned sardines every day. Disgusting little things and can't imagine how anyone can voluntarily eat them, but they are part of my dogs' diet.

Greyhound,

There is definitely a difference in where you live in MN and what waters you fish in.  I stay away from any lakes that are anywhere close to the city or any suburbs.  I fish in the lakes area and the boundary waters where the waters are actually clean.  It certainly would not be their main souce of nutrition, it would only be added in on occassion for variety and a different protein source.  Just something I considered since I fish a lot.

Thanks everyone for your input and link!  I will continue researching.  Just curious if anyone had experience in doing it.  And sardines do smell bad.  lol.

~Jessi

I feed raw fish frozen according to the USDA Food Code - Section 3-402.11 (p. 30). Note the freezing temperature- a typical home chest freezer is only about -10°C. My supplier cheerfully freezes the fish for me at -35°C for a week in their commercial freezer. I feed Canadian wild caught herring, mackerel, etc. that are small sized (less than 8 oz) to minimize mercury contamination. Fish is also not a staple of their diet- just fed occassionally. I have fed raw salmon fillets from a raw dog food supplier but they were frozen at -35°C for an extended period of time.