Food safety
Can Dogs Eat Sardines? Yes, Canned in Water, No Salt
Yes, dogs can eat sardines, and they are one of the easiest fish to share. Sardines canned in water with no added salt are already cooked, and their tiny bones are soft enough to eat, so there is no deboning. They supply protein and omega-3 fats. Skip sardines packed in oil, tomato sauce, mustard or heavily salted brine, and keep portions small. Here is how many to give and what to watch for.
By Matt GarnettUpdated November 13, 20264 min read2 sources
Why sardines are a good fish for dogs
The AKC lists plain, fully cooked fish as fine for dogs and names low-sodium sardines among the fish dogs can eat. Sardines are small and short-lived, so they carry far less mercury than tuna or swordfish, which the AKC advises limiting. They are also rich in the omega-3 fats EPA and DHA.
The AKC's human food guide makes one useful exception for sardines: canned sardines packed in water can be fed without deboning, because the canning process softens the tiny bones until they are fully edible. That makes them simpler and safer than most fish you would cook at home.
Which sardines to buy and which to avoid
Look for sardines canned in water with no salt added. Sardines in olive oil or other oils are not toxic, but the extra fat can cause loose stool and, in rich amounts, is linked to pancreatitis; if that is all you have, drain and rinse them well.
Avoid sardines in tomato sauce, mustard, hot sauce, lemon or garlic, and smoked or heavily salted varieties. Check labels for onion and garlic. Fresh raw sardines should not be fed, since raw fish can carry parasites and bacteria; if you buy them fresh, cook them plain and treat the bones as you would any cooked fish.
How many sardines by dog weight
Keep sardines inside the 10 percent treat allowance. A dog under 20 lb can have about half a sardine, a dog of 20 to 50 lb one sardine, and a dog over 50 lb one to two sardines, once or twice a week.
Reduce your dog's regular food slightly on sardine days to keep calories steady. If you are thinking of adding sardines more often, or your dog has pancreatitis, kidney disease or is on a prescription diet, ask your vet about whether and how much.
How to serve sardines
Drain the can, mash the sardines with a fork, and stir them into your dog's regular meal, or break them into small pieces as a high-value training reward. A spoonful mashed into a lick mat or frozen inside a rubber toy makes a long-lasting treat with a strong smell many dogs love.
Store any opened leftovers in a covered container in the refrigerator and use them within a day or two. Wash hands and bowls afterward, and keep the open can out of reach, since a dog licking the sharp lid can cut its tongue.
Spreading a few safe pieces across a snuffle mat or packing them into a puzzle toy turns a small treat into a few minutes of sniffing work.
Puppies and sardines
Puppies can have a small amount of plain, water-packed, no-salt sardine once they are eating solid food. Start with a teaspoon mashed into their meal and check the stool the next day before offering more.
A puppy's diet should still come mostly from a complete puppy food designed for growth, so sardines are an occasional extra. Mash the fish well so there are no larger pieces a puppy could gulp.
Signs sardines disagreed with your dog
Rich fish can cause vomiting, loose stool or fishy-smelling gas within a few hours, especially the first time or with oil-packed sardines. These usually settle within a day. Itchy skin or ear trouble after repeated fish meals can occasionally point to a sensitivity worth raising with your vet.
Call your vet the same day for repeated vomiting, bloody diarrhea, a painful or hunched belly, refusal to eat or lethargy, particularly after a large or oily portion. A dog that is gagging or pawing at its mouth after eating fish with hard bones needs to be seen promptly.
This page is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your pet.
Common questions
Can dogs eat sardines in olive oil?
Sardines in olive oil are not toxic, but the added fat can upset the stomach. Water-packed, no-salt sardines are the better choice. If you only have oil-packed ones, drain and rinse them and give a smaller portion.
Can dogs eat sardine bones?
Yes, the bones in canned sardines are soft and edible after canning, and the AKC says water-packed canned sardines can be fed without deboning. Bones in fresh fish you cook at home are different and should be removed.
Can dogs eat sardines every day?
Daily sardines are more than most dogs need and add a lot of calories and fat. Once or twice a week as a topper is a sensible pattern. Ask your vet if you want to feed fish more often.
Can dogs eat sardines in tomato sauce?
It is best not to. Tomato sauces often contain salt, sugar, onion and garlic, which can upset or harm dogs. Choose sardines canned in water with no added salt instead.
Are sardines better than tuna for dogs?
Generally yes. Sardines are small, short-lived fish with less mercury than tuna, and canned sardines in water can be fed with their soft bones. Tuna is best kept occasional and small.
Sources we checked
This guide is general information, not veterinary advice. If your pet is unwell or injured, contact your veterinarian.
