Can Dogs Eat Sushi?
Sushi is a great, healthy meal– it combines fresh fish with different vegetables and just enough rice to help fill you up!
If sushi is so nutritious, is it a good treat to share with your dog, too? Can Dogs Eat Sushi?
Yes, dogs can eat certain types of sushi, but you need to be careful with what types of ingredients are in the shushi. While there is no real reason to feed your dog sushi, and you should never use it as a meal substitute, some types of sushi are safe for your dog to eat. Read on to find out more.
What Is Sushi?
Sushi is a delicacy that is now enjoyed in many parts of the western world as well as in the east, where it originates. Many people believe that sushi hails from Japan, but in fact, it came from Southeast Asia first! Before making its way to Japan, sushi become popular at a location on the Mekong River and then made its way to China, too, after which it became popular in Japan as well.
Sushi is a dish that is made with either brown or red rice and can be customized with different ingredients such as fish and vegetables. Most sushi also includes seaweed and salt and sugar. When it comes to the fish in a sushi dish, it may be cooked, raw, or fried, tempura style.
Related – Can Dogs Eat Seaweed?
Related – Can Dogs Eat Fried Calamari?
Can Dogs Eat Sushi?
Now comes the question of whether or not dogs can eat sushi as we humans can! Generally, yes, sushi is safe to eat for dogs. It should only be used as a special treat, and you should be careful to avoid overfeeding your dog, which could lead to health issues or a more one-time occurrence where your dog gets sick, whether by vomiting or having diarrhea. That being said, feeding your dog just one or two sushi rolls should not pose any issues. The key here, as it is with any “human food”, is moderation.
You should also be sure that the sushi that you are feeding your dog does not contain any ingredients that could be allergens or could cause more serious issues, such as avocado and other potentially harmful or toxic food items.
Feeding Your Dog Sushi
There are so many kinds of sushi, but not all of them are going to be healthy for your dog. Raw fish can pose issues for your pet, and while one sushi roll will probably be fine, you may want to avoid it entirely if your dog has a weak or sensitive stomach. Some of the raw fish in sushi can cause issues such as salmon or mercury poisoning– both of which can be fatal. Farm-raised salmon, though, do not have the bacteria that can cause salmon poisoning.
Another variety of sushi is tempura sushi. Tempura shrimp is especially popular. When sushi is of the tempura variety, it means that the meat component is fried. This can be very tasty but is not a type of sushi that you should share with your pet. Dogs should not be eating fried food, and the oil involved can cause digestive issues such as loose stools, diarrhea, or vomiting. Even in small amounts, it is best to avoid this one.
Related – Can Dogs Eat Scallops?
Can Dogs Eat Sushi Rice?
The rice that is used to make sushi can be either brown or white, but regardless, it is of very high quality. Rice is generally a good addition to your pet’s diet, and sushi rice is no exception. In small amounts, it can be nutritious and can even calm your pet’s stomach if it is experiencing digestive issues. Your vet may have recommended before that you feed your dog boiled rice to treat such issues.
That being said, the rice that is used for sushi can be treated with sugar or salt or can be mixed with vinegar for flavor. It is important that you only feed your dog plain sushi rice, as these other ingredients are not a natural part of your pet’s diet. They could end up causing more harm than good. Again, the amount of salt in the rice of one sushi roll, for instance, is not going to do much, but you should be careful and only feed sushi rice to your pet in moderation. Fido will always benefit best from his regular diet.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I give my dog a sushi roll?
Generally, yes, you can give your dog a sushi roll. Of course, this does depend on the ingredients in the sushi roll, as certain ingredients could be toxic to your dog or could cause gastrointestinal distress. A small amount is typically just fine, though!
Can I give my dog sushi salmon?
Raw fish does have the potential to contain parasites, dangerous enzymes, and toxins, so it is not recommended that you feed your dog raw fish or make a habit of doing so repeatedly. That being said, some sushi is safe for dogs– as long as it does not contain certain other ingredients that are toxic for dogs, you can still give your dog sushi salmon.
Can dogs have sushi tuna?
Dogs can eat sushi tuna, since tuna is not something that is toxic to dogs. In small portions, sushi tuna will not have any adverse effects on your dog. However, it is important to note that raw fish can contain things such as parasites or toxins, so it is not the best food choice for your pet.
Can Dogs Have Sushi Crab?
Technically crab meat is ok for dogs to eat, but you don’t necessarily want to make it a regular part of their diet. Cooked crab is an excellent source of protein, omega-3 fatty acids, and essential minerals like zinc, phosphorus, and magnesium. Protein helps your pet maintain healthy muscles. However, you want to be really careful because raw crab often carries intestinal parasites, which can lead to a painful conditions for dogs. The shell (either raw or cooked) is very sharp and can easily shard and damage a dog’s gastrointestinal tract, leading to injury (a common sign of such injury is intestinal parasites vomiting blood).
What kind of sushi can dogs eat?
Dogs can eat most sushi, but you should avoid any sushi that has harmful ingredients that could be toxic to your dog. An example of this is avocado, which can cause health issues in dogs. It is also not recommended that you feed your dog raw fish, as there are some health concerns here, but you can still do so if you want, and if you feed your pet small quantities. If you are planning to share sushi with your dog, you should choose rolls that feature cooked fish, like cod or whitefish. Also, stay away from tempura rolls!