The tuna fish is an excellent source of protein and other essential nutrients for humans. But what about dogs, It is frequently asked that can dog eat tuna? The answer is a little bit confusing because the answer is both yes and no. which means that tuna is safe for the dogs till given in a small amount. But as the amount in the dog food increases, it started creating problems for the dog’s health. So, behind a wise pet owner and being on the safe side, it will be good if you avoid giving tuna to the dog.

What is Tuna?

The tuna is a fish that live in saltwater. It is the most eaten fish worldwide and can be eaten in both forms, fresh and canned. This fish is used in many cosines. Tuna is a commercially significant fish because it is worldwide most eaten fish.

Nutritional Value of Tuna 

Tuna is a highly nutritious food for humans and dogs. As it stores several essential minerals and vitamins. The number of calories present in the 100 grams of the 132. Other important nutrients present in the 100 grams of tuna are as follows:

Is Tuna Safe For Dogs To Eat?

If the dog has eaten tuna in small amounts, it will be safe for the dog and cannot cause any health issues in the dog. So, you need to consult the vet to know how much tuna is safe for the dogs. 

Warnings About The Dog

When giving tuna to the dog, you have to keep the following points in your mind:

Keep The Amount Of Tuna In Moderation 

The tuna is considered safe for the dog while given in a small amount. You should not offer too much tuna to the dog. Because of the saltwater fish, and there are chances that the salt content in the tuna is high. The high salt content in the food can cause kidney damage and dehydration in the dog.

Avoid Giving Raw Fish

You should never offer raw fish to the dog. Because the raw fish can contain heavy metals, parasites, and other dangerous compounds, which can damage the dog’s health. When the dog eats the raw fish, these heavy metals and parasites in the fish meat will enter the body of the dog and will cause severe health issues to the dog. 

When the fish is heated for cooking purposes, the parasite and their eggs in the fish meat and the heavy metals and chemical compounds get denatured and will not damage the dog’s health.

What If The Dog Overeats Tuna?

Too much intake of tuna fish is very harmful to the dog. Because the tuna is a long live fish. And as long as they live, more will be the accumulation of heavy metals in it. So, if your dog has eaten the tuna too much, your dog has to suffer the following health issues:

Mercury Poisoning

 Mercury poisoning is a huge concern when giving fish to a dog. Because the fishes are living in water suffered from the accumulation of heavy metals like mercury, lead, and cadmium. The question from where do these heavy metals enter the water bodies? 

This is all the result of human activities, as the waste material from the industries contains these heavy metals, released to the water bodies, like rivers and lakes. This water then enters the larger water bodies like seas and oceans. The fishes living in the water polluted with industrial wastes have to suffer from heavy metal accumulation. 

If your dog has eaten raw fish or too much cooked fish, it is thinkable that your dog has to suffer from mercury poisoning. If your dog is suffering from mercury poisoning, you will see the following symptoms of illness in your dog:

• Hair loss
• Blindness
• Anxiety or nervousness
• Tremors
• Kidney damage 
• Loss of coordination
• Loss of feeling in paws
• Vomiting blood
• Diarrhea 

Parasites

The seafood usually contains the parasite eggs in the meat. These are microscopic and can not be seen with human eyes. So, if you give raw tuna to the dog to eat, these parasite eggs can be transferred to the dog. And your dog will have the stomach parasite. 

If you cook the fish properly, then the parasite eggs in the fish meat will die and will not grow in the dog’s stomach. 

Serving Tips Of Tuna 

You can serve the tuna to the dog in the following ways:

• Properly cook the tuna and do it to the dog.
• Don’t try to serve raw tuna to the dog.
• You can also give the canned tuna to the dog.
• While picking the canned tuna for the dog, you must choose the tuna canned in water, not in oil.
• Avoid giving the tuna to the regularly. 

It will be a wise step if you talk to the vet before giving tuna to the dog. To know the effects of tuna on your dogs According to the dog’s physiology and exact the amount of tuna safe for dogs.

FAQs

Can I give canned tuna to my dog?

You can give the canned tuna to the dog, but you should choose the tuna preserved in water, not in oil while picking the canned tuna. 

Can tuna kill a dog?

The tuna fish contain mercury. But the amount of mercury is not as high as to kill a dog when given in moderate amounts. But if your dog has eaten the tuna fish too much, then it can cause severe health issues to the dog. So you should never let your dog overeat the tuna fish.

How much tuna can you feed a dog?

The amount of tuna safe for the dog depends on the dog’s age, size, breed, and physiology. So you should talk to the vet to know how much tuna is safe for your dog’s health.

Conclusion 

The tuna fish is highly nutritious and can provide several health benefits to the dog. But you should keep the amount of tuna given to the dog in moderation. Because if your dog overeats the tuna, the dog may have to suffer from mercury poisoning and other health issues.  

Before giving the tuna to the dog, it will be best to consult the vet because it will clear all the doubts about the amount of tuna safe for the dog and its effects on your dog.