Is fish-based dog food safe long-term, considering mercury levels?

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I recommend Hill's Science Diet, Royal Canin, Purina and Iams/Eukanuba. These companies employ veterinary nutritionists and have above industry standards regarding quality ingredients and care to prevent contamination at their facilities. These companies are far superior than the boutique brands. Have a good day!

Hi there and thanks for posting on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Feeding a fish based commercial diet that is nutritionally complete is just fine as long as Cinderella is not allergic to the fish in the food you are giving. Cats that are fed raw fish frequently is more of the concern as they can develop serious nutritional deficits and vitamin deficiencies such as Thiamine deficiency which can be deadly. It is for this reason feeding raw fish primarily to cats is not recommended. However, feeding a small amount of tuna from a can occasionally as a treat is okay and will not cause a vitamin deficiency as long as they are also eating a commercially prepared food. No need to change the food Cinderella is enjoying now. From what you described, it sounds like she has tried a few foods that may have been giving her runny stools so if she is doing well on this particular food from Taste of the Wild, then I would keep her on that. I hope this helps!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Usually if the diet you are using is of high quality, it should be ok as a long term diet. That is why I recommend diets made by companies like Royal canin, Purina and Science Diet as they have extensive research on these diets to confirm that they are a good all around diet for a dog. Again, if you are feeding a high quality diet made by a good company, you should be fine. Good luck!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Both foods are good! Personally I would save the novel protein (trout) for animals with GI or skin disease. My only requirements for food brands for my clients are: the dog likes the food and eats it well, has a good coat, defecates normal stool regularly and isn't too thin or overweight. Most of the dog foods on the market are aimed at making the owner happy and use marketing ploys to get owners to feed foods for incorrect reasons (grain free, listing ingredients on the bag in differnet orders making owners think that it is better than another brand). Expensive food doesn't equal better. I like Purina, Royal Canin and Hill's Science diet. I hope this helps!

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. My top recommendations of veterinary diets include Hill's Science Diet, Purina, and Royal Canin. These are well-known brands that are stocked in veterinary hospitals, and are AAFCO formulated to be balanced and appropriate. I recommend avoiding grain-free, boutique diets from other brands, as these are not regulated and often are do not have balanced nutrients. I hope this is helpful!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I definitely understand your concern. I do think it would be best to switch them to a regular diet. There are many types out there that are affordable and good. I like the Purina Pro Plan shredded blends in that category because they are palatable, affordable and of very good quality. Good luck and have a great day!

Yes, Butter can eat cooked deboned fresh fish as long as it is not cooked in oil which can cause pancreatitis and is not cooked with garlic or onions which can be toxic to dogs. Steaming, baking or grilling is preferable. As with humans, avoid feeding too much fish that could be high in mercury content such as swordfish. It is still recommended to primarily feed her a high quality balanced dog food. Definitely avoid feeding raw fish due to risks of parasites and salmonella poisoning. Butter’s a lucky dog!