Many times, when hunger presses and we have nothing at hand, we rummage in the pantry and there it is, the canned tuna. In a salad, in an omelet, in a sandwich, with macaroni... There are a thousand ways to eat canned tuna. But do you know if dogs can eat canned tuna? Read on if you want to know more.
Canned tuna
Canned tuna is a very popular canned food, and a convenient and simple way to consume this fish at any time.
They are made with fish of the tuna family, of which we have the light tuna or the white tuna, the so-called white tuna. These are usually the most commonly used for canning. There are other types of tuna, such as bluefin tuna, for example. But this species, in particular, is in danger of extinction. Therefore, we are not going to find it canned.
Within canned tuna, we can find different types depending on the part of the piece of fish they contain. For example, we can find ventresca, which is of superior quality. Or cans of tuna made with other parts with less culinary value.
Nutritional properties of tuna
Let's focus on the general properties of tuna as a fish. The nutritional properties of canned tuna will vary as we learn more about the wide variety available. In this sense, the closest nutritional value to fresh tuna will be canned tuna in its natural state. Tinned tuna with oil will have a higher fat content, for example.
Tuna has around 12% fat, which makes it a fatty fish, and in addition, it is a fat rich in omega 3 fatty acids.
On the other hand, it has a high protein content of high biological value, around 23 grams per 100 grams of fish.
As for vitamins, niacin, B6 and B12 stand out. Tuna also contains very significant amounts of fat-soluble vitamins, such as D. As regards minerals, selenium and phosphorus stand out in the nutritional composition of tuna. It also has a good dose of iron, magnesium, and zinc.
Can dogs eat canned tuna?
The answer is yes, but with considerations. Dogs can eat other fish, such as sardines. Tuna is a fish perfectly tolerated by dogs. In addition, it provides them with all the nutrients and benefits mentioned above. What is more, there are dog foods on the market that are either made with tuna or contain tuna together with other fish, such as salmon or herring.
But if we talk about canned tuna, things change. The problem would not come from the tuna, it would come from the content of the can. Therefore, we are going to explain in which ways the dog can eat canned tuna.
Read also: Can Dogs Eat Chickpeas?
Ways to give canned tuna to the dog
First of all, we have to look for canned foods that are as natural as possible. For example, we must rule out tuna with sauces, such as tomato or other condiments. We should also look for tuna that does not contain too many additives, such as salt, for example.
In principle, there is no problem with tuna in oil. However, we must know that it will be more fatty and fattening. Therefore, if a dog is on a slimming diet, it may not be a good choice. Ideally, look for natural tuna with as few additives as possible.
When giving it to the dog, keep in mind that it should never exceed 10% of its usual feed dose.
With this in mind, we can mix a little canned tuna with his food. In addition to giving it more flavor, it will also provide those extra benefits mentioned above. For example, a medium sized dog can perfectly well eat a small can of tuna a couple of times a week.
We hope you found this post on whether dogs can eat canned tuna interesting.