FISH - Page 2

Dave,  There are many farmed salmon coming from the Pacific Northwest also, raised int he same waters as the wild salmon.   Much of the salmon in in the Pacific Northwest stores is fresh, never frozen.  I'm sure other areas are the same.

Anumules - That's fine - Freeze for three weeks to a month and feed to the dogs.

I feed raw, previously frozen, wild caught (which means they were not fed all kinds of crap at a fish farm) sardines about once a week. The whole fish with head, intestines, etc. Two of my dogs LOVE it, and the others will not touch it. I feed 2-4 sardines per dog per meal.

Sardines are cheap ($0.65/lb), and one of the richest sources of Omega 3, and all kinds of other useful stuff ( rich in calcium, protein, iron, potassium, phosphorus, etc). Oil content is highest in summer. Think of all the plankton and seaweed sardines feed on – it’s just great for your dog’s coat, color, digestive health, etc, etc. No issues with parasites.

I never had any problems with this fish, and I feel this is a very important way to add variety to my dogs' raw diet. I wish all my dogs would eat sardines. I started to give them to my 5 months old pups - they started to love them after some consideration, so I'm happy about that. Pups get one sardine each. Highly recommend it.

My dogs love fish but at room temp. I gave them still mildly frozen sardines once, they let them thaw before diving in. I thought the cold fish would be good treat for my pup who was teething. She did knaw on  them but not really eat them until they warmed up. Baden wouldn't eat them until I let my other dog out to have them. Then of course he lapped them up rather than lose a meal to her! I try t feed what fresh/frozen fish I can find but about 1/2 of what they get, is canned. Salmon, Mackrel or Sardines. When I am feeding kibble it's easy to throw a can on top of their food, so they get all that oil too.

My dogs ate fresh fish every single day, of each summer for 6yrs. They would get fish from the lake we had, as well as from our irragation ditch.  This youtube from a year ago was titled "fish eaters", because of their habits.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpK9agmJ6_c

Below is my big son, dining on a fish, after a swim

Kennel von Lotta: I feed raw, previously frozen, wild caught (which means they were not fed all kinds of crap at a fish farm) sardines about once a week. The whole fish with head, intestines, etc. Two of my dogs LOVE it, and the others will not touch it. I feed 2-4 sardines per dog per meal.

Ditto--I try to feed the raw sardines (even completely frozen) once or twice a week. Only my 12-year-old chowhound bitch acts as if I given her an unsavory "body part" and turns up her nose at the sardines.

A friend used to slice up raw, whole sardines/smelt and and include them in the weaning diet of her pups.

The Pacific-caught sardines cost considerably more than $0.65/lb.

Louise, do you happen to have any Bud longnecks in the Fridge?  Nothing I like better than Bud, sardines, and fresh lemon. I have never tried the sardines raw, but after a few longnecks, I might give em a try.

Good Grief Guys

I cannot afford to buy fish for my dinner let alone the Dogs

a 3oz piece of Salmon is a luxury, for me, and  a pIece of Cod is a No,No, at  $20 usa a pound weight

A small tin of sardines is about $6

Steve

i some times feed sardines when i get it cheap, its seasonal so right now its off season. I also feed jack, barracuda and whatever fish that I can catch when i go fishing.

My cousin she feed sailfish (marlin) and tuna.

All the fish is boiled with rice and fed. You cannot suddenly feed fish to a dog that had not eaten fish before, they tend to throw up the food.

Henry - Happy Birthday